Description
Whipped shortbread cookies melt like pure buttery clouds right on your tongue, leaving behind a delicate crumb that whispers sweet comfort. Baked with simple ingredients and pure love, these tender treats bring warmth to your holiday gatherings and cookie platters.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 ½ Cups Salted Butter
- 2 ¼ Cups All-Purpose Flour
Supporting Ingredients:
- ¾ Cup Confectioners’ Sugar
- ¾ Cup Cornstarch
Optional Toppings:
- 2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
- 2 Teaspoons Lemon Extract
- 2 Teaspoons Orange Extract
- ¼ Cup Sprinkles
Instructions
- Cream 1 ½ cups room-temperature salted butter and ¾ cup confectioners’ sugar in a large mixing bowl for 3-4 minutes until the mixture becomes incredibly light and fluffy. Add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract if you desire extra flavor.
- Sift 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour and ¾ cup cornstarch together. Gently fold dry ingredients into butter mixture until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
- Roll 36 uniform cookie balls using your palms. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them 1 inch apart.
- Press down each ball gently with a fork dipped in cornstarch. Sprinkle ¼ cup non-pareils or decorative sprinkles across the tops if you want added color.
- Refrigerate cookie dough balls for 2 hours until completely firm. For faster chilling, place tray in freezer for 45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 300°F with rack in center position. Remove chilled dough from refrigerator.
- Bake cookies for 19-20 minutes until edges are barely golden and centers appear set. Cookies should remain pale.
- Remove tray from oven and let cookies rest on baking sheet for 10 minutes. Transfer to wire rack for complete cooling.
Notes
- Whip the butter and sugar thoroughly to create an ultra-light, melt-in-your-mouth texture that makes these shortbread cookies so special.
- Avoid overworking the dough when adding flour, which can make the cookies tough instead of delicate and crumbly.
- Chilling the dough is crucial for preventing spread and maintaining the cookies’ delicate shape during baking.
- For dietary variations, swap wheat flour with gluten-free flour blend, and use dairy-free butter to accommodate different nutritional needs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 19-20 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Scottish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 142
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 45 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg