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This is the best shortbread cookies recipe – buttery melt-in-your-mouth treat that is perfect all year long and especially for the holidays.
Best Loved Shortbread Cookies
You just can’t beat a classic shortbread cookie during the holiday season. Our family is especially obsessed (it’s one of Lo’s favorite cookies) and mostly because these are so delicious and butter-y that they melt in your mouth!
Not only do these cookies look like a work of art (one of the prettiest cookies in our opinion), but they are also perfect to wrap up and gift to your friends, family and neighbors.
We enjoy our Easy Shortbread Cookies recipe for simplicity’s sake, but this version has everything you would expect from the classic favorite. It’s also very similar to our Spritz Cookie Recipe and Butter Cookies. All favs for the holidays!
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- Tender and delicious. We love the flavor of shortbread cookies – buttery, crunchy, and melt-in-your-mouth amazing.
- Just 5 ingredients. They only require 5 ingredients that you probably already have on hand!
- Perfect for holidays. These have always been our go-to Christmas Cookies because they’re classic, great for parties, and on cookie plates.
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 15 minutes
BAKE TIME: 10 minutes
- 2 cups unsalted butter – For best results use high-end butter like unsalted European-style butter. It has a higher milk fat content giving the best flavor and texture. Salted butter works too.
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract – Try other flavors like lemon, orange, or almond extract.
- 4 cups all-purpose flour – How to Measure Flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
How to Make Shortbread Cookies
- PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- WET INGREDIENTS. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or an electric hand mixer) cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and mix well to combine.
- DRY INGREDIENTS. Add the flour and mix until the dough comes together. Add milk as needed until the dough reaches the consistency of play dough.
- PRESS. Scoop the dough into a cookie press. Hold the cookie press down on an ungreased, unlined baking sheet, (otherwise the dough won’t stick to the pan) and press to form the cookies.
- BAKE. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until very lightly golden on the bottom. Do not over-bake! Cool on a wire rack.
- Add sprinkles if desired (before baking). We like to use white sparkling sugar sprinkles. You could also top this best shortbread cookies recipe with powdered sugar or lemon zest!
No Cookie Press?
If you do not have a cookie press try an alternative:
- Smooth top cookie. Roll into a log and use a sharp knife to slice even circles.
- Use a cookie cutter. Roll into a 2-inch thick log and slice with a knife, or roll the dough out to about ¼ inch thick and use cookie cutters to stamp out shapes.
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Best Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1-2 tablespoons milk, as needed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and mix well to combine.
- Add flour and mix until the dough fully combines. Add milk as needed until the dough reaches the consistency of Play-Doh.
- Scoop the dough into a cookie press. Hold the cookie press down on an ungreased, unlined baking sheet and press to form cookies.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, until very lightly golden on the bottom.
- Let cookies sit on the cookie sheet for a few minutes, then remove to a rack to cool.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Store in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks at room temperature or freeze in a freezer-safe container, for 2-3 months.
Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap refrigerate for 3-4 days or wrap it again with aluminum foil and freeze for 4-6 weeks.
Sounds delicious ty for sharing. Will be making these this week. TY
These were so delicious!! I used your recipe just as called but I did also add some confectioners sugar to it. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Cookie press did not work .
In the midst off trying to make these cookies.
Very frustrating.
I love your recipe for Shortbread cookies. So easy to make and wonderful to decorate for whatever occasion is coming up on the calendar. This time I piped on some chocolate buttercream frosting and they were a huge hit!
i made other shortbread recipes 3 times, and failed every time the dough was too thin the first 6 cookies came out of the press ok but the rest were all mashed together. yours has more flour in it. i am going to try yours after i recuperate from my failures they also have cornstarch in some recipes
Outstanding cookies! I made these for an English Tea in our senior mobile home park and everyone wanted the recipe!
Oh yay! That makes me so happy to hear!
These are the absolute worst cookies I’ve ever made. They literally taste like a ball of flour.
Thanks for the feedback and for giving the recipe a try!
I want to try this one,Mindoro the 3 ingredient that you refrigerate for 30 minutes or more and they are delicious. However, I wondered if I could make this one and bake them as drop cookies as I do not have a press. Thank You
Bought a cookie press to make these and the press was a dud and had to send it back. Ordered a second one and it arrived broken with cookie dough inside. I used a small glass to press and it worked fine. I used regular unsalted butter and not the European as was suggested. They were delicious! Ordered some pretty cookie stamps with the wooden handles. Now that I’d found the perfect recipe they could also be beautiful. This time I bought the fancy expensive European butter. The dough stuck like crazy to the little presses. Tried everything so finally decided to use the glass method. Stuck horribly to the glass. Chilled the dough, still stuck. I finally was able to get them all in some sort of ugly flat shape to bake. This time they tasted nothing like the first batch. Very bland. The only difference was the butter. I’ll make again because the first time they were so good but I’ll stick to regular Land O Lakes.
Thanks for sharing your experience and what worked for you. Glad you enjoyed the cookies!!
My husband loves Shortbread cookies. So glad you sent us this one. I love this too. I even like to put icing on them and decorate them. Your recipes are so yummy ❤️
Shortbread always reminds me of my Scottish Granny and these are the best!!
Is there a link anywhere to this cookie press? I can’t find that design anywhere
Just wondering if you can use self rising flour?
I have never tried, but I imagine you could. The texture might be slightly different? You’ll have to let us know how they turn out if you do!
Do you mean icing auger or regular sugar ??
Just regular white sugar is what we used.
these sound great but in all the description not once is there quantities. how much flour? how much sugar? how much vanilla? how much butter? how much Milk?
Hi Scott! If you scroll down to the bottom of the post, the recipe (including quantities) is listed. There’s also a tab at the top of the post that says “Jump to Recipe” that will take you to the measurements as well. Hope that’s helpful!
What if you don’t have a cookie press?
You can still make them! Here are a few easy alternatives:
Smooth top cookie: roll into a log and use a sharp knife to slice even circles
Use a cookie cutter: roll the dough out on top of a piece of parchment/wax paper. To keep the dough from sticking to the rolling pin, place a second piece of paper over the top of the dough. Roll to about ¼ inch thick, then use a cookie cutter to make your shape. A scalloped cookie cutter is particularly pretty.
Pipe a design: Use a large piping tip. Put the dough in the bag and pipe it out in a circular motion. Make the size and shape as uniform as possible.
Love me some shortbread! These are amazing!
Love how simple and delicious this is!
Very light, not too sweet I wish they were a little more buttery but overall good and fun
Glad you think so 🙂 Thank you!
This recipe looks so yummy and easy. Can’t wait to try it
Thank you!! I hope you like them!!
Is “white sugar” granulated sugar or powdered sugar? Thanks!
Granulated 🙂 Enjoy!!
Love this recipe and the way you wrote it up. Makes everything so much easier for us no so great bakers. Thank you
You are so welcome! I Love to hear that! Thank you so much for saying that!
Do you have to use cookie press
No 🙂 Enjoy!
How many per serving
Awesome successful batch, all of the family were very happy how they turned out!
Happy to hear that!! Thank you for trying them & for letting me know!
Just the recipe I was looking for, started the batter and then found out my daughter broke my cookie press….. I was livid!!! So I pressed them out and used a heart shaped cookie cutter….it worked! Still mad about the press!!
LOL..I would be too! Glad it still worked out 🙂 Thank you!!
fantastic!!! Worked peerfectly.
Great!! Thank you so much for letting me know!
Hi Kristyn,
I have to admit, before I baked these cookies the dough was kinda yucky. It smelled strongly of vanilla extract and I had to hold my breath. But after it baked, voila, it was perfect! I could just smell the cookies from the kitchen. Delicious aroma. I couldn’t wait to eat them because of the smell. Biting into one of the cookies was like . . . heaven.
Thank. You. So. Much!
I’ll be sure to make these often.
Thank you!
Maya
Awe, I am so glad you thought they tasted like heaven! Thank you so much!!
Judging by the battter, I forward to enjoying a freshly made proper batch.
Batter tasted good and instructions are very clear and simple.
Sadly my first attempt I read 350degrees I assumed it was celcius (yes I did think it was high, but it was my first time making shortbread biscuits so I didnt question too deeply)
Again, batter was yummy
This is an awesome , easy recipe and turns out delicious.
Thank you for saying that! Glad you like it 🙂
These cookies are delicious. Because of gluten issues, we swapped regular flour for some pulverized pecan meal (couldn’t quite chop it up to a flour consistency) with some almond and chickpea flour.
We also cut a half-cup of butter due to the natural pecan oil. but will add it back in next time. reminded us of pecan sandies when wewere kids!
That sounds perfect!! Thank you for sharing that 🙂 Happy you liked them!
AWESOME
Happy you think so 🙂 Thank you!
Can put chocolate cocoa and food coloring
I have not personally tried, so I am not sure how they would turn out. Worth a try 🙂
The best ever
I’m happy to hear that! Thank you!
Nutritional information does not show how many cookies equals a serving.
I love shortbread cookies!!!
Glad you do! I hope you like these!
salted or uNsalted butter?
I use unsalted when baking 🙂
Interesting to try it, but how many gram is 1 cup of butter? I am always confused with American measuring. Thank you.
You would have to find a measurement converter on google. I don’t know the gram amounts, I’m sorry. Good luck!
These cookies sound delicious.
Thank you! They are 🙂 Hope you try them!
I”ve been looking for an easy recipe like this to make thanksgiving and holiday treats for the grandkids.thank you for posting this one
You are so welcome! Enjoy!!
They are awesome!!!!!!!! I pulsed them up in my food processor and added 1/2 cup of finely chopped pistachio nuts. Best short bread cookies I have ever had. Thank you for this rescipe!
You are so welcome!! Glad you think so 🙂 Thank you for letting me know!
I tried this recipe today and I loved it! The cookies were delicious. Thank you for this recipe, Kristyn!
You are so welcome! Thank you for trying them & for letting me know!
So easy to make. They barely Lasted for 4 days in my house – too moreish.
Thanks for sharing that!
I like short bread cookies, do you hAVE TO PUT THE DOUGH THROUGH A COOKIE PRESS
I don’t think you have to. I hope you try this recipe!
Can inuae while wheat flour in theSe?
I personally have not tried, but I am sure you could.
I love the taste of shortbread cookies! Pure butter that melts in your mouth.
Is that powdered sugar or GRANULATED sugar
Granulated sugar 🙂 Enjoy!
Not only are these beautiful in their simplicity but they Are meant in your mouth delicious!
THESE COOKIES WERE SO SOFT AND BUTTERY! THEY TURNED OUT ABSOLUTELY PERFECT! THANK YOU!!
Looks delicious, I don’t have a cookie press… can I just form them?
You sure could 🙂 Enjoy!
This recipe reminded my kids of those packaged frosted cookies from Walmart that they love so much!! These are delicious and so very easy to make!! Definitely have a little milk handy, just a drizzle worked for me. I also added a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of baking powder. I didn’t have a press, so, I hand formed them. This one’s a keeper!!
Awe, thanks for saying that 🙂 Glad you tried them!
My parents love these! I will have to make these for them. They look easy to make!