Name: Scotch Shortbread Cookies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 0
Ingredients: 2 sticks salted butter, softened; 1/2 cup powdered sugar; 2 cups flour; 1 tsp vanilla extract

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Only 4 ingredients, delicious Scotch butter shortbread cookies are a perfect holiday treat but so easy, you can enjoy them any time of year!

What’s the Difference Between Sugar and Shortbread Cookies?

Shortbread cookies have a higher butter-to-flour ratio while sugar cookies have a higher flour-to-butter ratio. Shortbread cookies are cooked at a lower temperature and for longer time.

The result is a buttery, slightly crunchy cookie. Whereas sugar cookies are cooked at a higher temperature and have a softer texture.

What Are Butter Cookies Made of?

Just a few simple ingredients create the recipe for these delicious cookies: Butter, powdered sugar, flour, and I like to toss in some vanilla extract.

You could certainly leave out the vanilla extract and they would be just as delicious.

Can Scotch Shortbread Cookies be Made Ahead of Time?

Yes! These are the perfect make-ahead cookie! They will last on your counter for at least a week.

That’s why these are my favorite cookies to share especially when mailing to friends and family.

Do Shortbread Cookies Need to be Chilled?

Great news! This dough does not need to be chilled ahead of time. And it’s not as crumbly a texture as some buttery cookie doughs. The dough is ready to roll out as soon as the mixing is complete.

How to Make Shortbread Cookies

This is the easiest shortbread cookie recipe. Just toss all of the ingredients into your electric mixing bowl and mix away! If you don’t have an electric mixer, a hand mixer will do the trick.

At first, the mixture will look crumbly but then soon it comes together and will look like this:

Scotch Shortbread Cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Cooling Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

A delicious butter shortbread cookie made with just 4 ingredients! Scotch shortbread cookies are the perfect holiday treat but easily made so you can enjoy them at time of year!

Ingredients

2 sticks salted butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Heat oven to 325°
Line baking sheets with parchment paper
Place all of the ingredients into the bowl of an electric mixer or use hand mixer and mix until dough begins to form.
At first, the mix will look dry and crumbly. Mix until it looks like this
Remove from bowl and using a rolling pin or your hands, press the dough down to about 1/4" or as thick as you'd like.
Using a cookie cutter, cut shapes and place them onto the baking sheets.
These cookies don't spread so no need to space them too far apart.
Bake for 10 minutes then remove and cool.
I melted some chocolate and dipped the cooled cookies and sprinkled a few with Maldon sea salt.
You could frost them or leave them as is; they are buttery and delicious any way you decide!