Snack
Scottish-Style Butter Shortbread
Three main ingredients, butter, sugar and flour, pressed into a pan and baked low and slow until pale gold and sandy-crisp. Keeps for weeks and packs well for gifts.
โฑ 1 hr 20 min (15 min prep, 35 min cooking, 30 min waiting)
๐ฝ Serves 24 ยท 1 finger
make aheadfreezer friendly
vegetarian
ContainsMilk, Wheat. Check the labels on what you buy; brands differ.
Ingredients
- 1ยฝ cup Butter, unsalted, softened (3 sticks)
- ยพ cup Granulated sugar, plus 1 tablespoon for the top
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 3 cup All-purpose flour
- ยฝ cup Cornstarch, or rice flour, for extra tenderness
- ยฝ tsp Table salt
Nutrition
Nutrition coming: the USDA numbers for these ingredients are being added.
Steps
Youโll need: mixing bowl, 9-by-13-inch pan, fork, sharp knife.
- Heat the oven to 325ยฐF. Beat the butter, ยพ cup sugar and vanilla until creamy but not fluffy, about 1 minute.
- Whisk the flour, cornstarch and salt and mix them in on low until the dough just comes together in crumbly clumps.
- Press it evenly into the ungreased pan with your fingers, then smooth it with the back of a spoon. Prick all over with a fork and sprinkle with the 1 tablespoon sugar.
- Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until pale golden at the edges and firm in the middle.
- Right away, cut into 24 fingers (3 rows by 8). Cool completely in the pan before lifting them out; they crisp as they cool.
Make aheadShortbread is the best keeper on the cookie tray: bake up to 2 weeks ahead.
โ๏ธ FreezerFreeze baked shortbread up to 3 months.
โบ LeftoversKeep in an airtight tin at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
๐ง With kidsKids can press the dough into the pan and prick the pattern with a fork.
Brown butter swapBrown the butter, chill it until soft-solid, then go on as written.
Dipped swapDip one end of each finger in melted dark chocolate.
An original Teddy Rook Book recipe, written for our Christmas baking and holiday dinner collection; safety steps follow USDA. Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central and changes with brands and portions.