Shortbread cookies are one of the first developed types of cookies, dating back to as early as the 12th century. It is said to have evolved from the medieval biscuit bread, in fact!
A traditional shortbread cookie recipe is made of one part sugar, two parts butter, and three parts flour. As you can see, this recipe follows that formula nearly exactly, which makes it great for people who have never baked shortbread cookies before.
Today, classic shortbread cookies are enjoyed by the millions and it’s baked into being one of the most profitable cookies for Girl Scout sales!
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup flour, sifted
- 1/4 cup superfine sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup room temperature unsalted butter
Directions:
1) Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
2) Combine the flour, sugar and salt in a mixing bowl. Work in the butter with a fork or pastry cutter until the dough has the consistency of short crust. Pulsing in a food processor will work also.
3) Sprinkle a board or your counter top lightly with flour. Turn the dough onto the board and knead until it’s smooth. Refrigerate the dough for a couple of hours or overnight.
4) You should have approximately 8 ounces of dough. Divide the dough into four equal portions for large cookies or eight equal portions for small cookies and shape into rounds. For consistency you might want to pull out your kitchen scales.
5) Place each round on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and flatten them with the bottom of a glass to about 1/4 inch thickness. Prick with a fork. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 20 to 30 minutes, until the cookies begin to brown slightly. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet.
After you’ve baked and cooled your cookies, you can either enjoy right there or you can take it one step further. For a fun twist, try dipping a side of your cookies into some chocolate. As it hardens, this chocolate will create an extra sweetness.
Sometimes, after dipping the shortbread cookie into the chocolate, I will add on some colorful sprinkles. Not only does this add an exciting texture, but it also allows you to theme your cookies for any occasion; enjoy!