Description
Delectable Scottish shortbread melts in your mouth with buttery, crumbly perfection. Crisp edges and rich flavor make this classic treat an irresistible companion to afternoon tea or coffee moments you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (250 g/8.8 oz) all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1 cup (225 g/8 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (60 g/2.1 oz) powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 tbsps cornstarch (for extra tenderness)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- Melted chocolate (for dipping edges)
- Sprinkled sugar or sprinkles
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 325F (160C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat, creating an ideal baking environment.
- Creaming: Utilize an electric mixer to whip softened butter and powdered sugar until the mixture transforms into a cloud-like, pale composition with exceptional volume and lightness.
- Flavor Infusion: Integrate vanilla extract thoroughly into the butter mixture, ensuring a uniform and aromatic distribution of flavor throughout the dough.
- Dough Formation: Carefully combine sifted flour, salt, and cornstarch into the creamy base, mixing on low speed until a tender, cohesive dough emerges with a smooth, consistent texture.
- Shaping and Positioning: Elegantly shape the dough by either rolling into delicate spheres or flattening to a uniform 1/4-inch thickness. Precisely arrange cookies on the prepared baking sheet, maintaining slight spacing between each piece.
- Baking Technique: Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, monitoring carefully to achieve a subtle golden edge without compromising the delicate nature of the shortbread.
- Cooling Process: Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, facilitating initial setting, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to complete the cooling journey.
- Finishing Flourish: Elevate the visual and gustatory experience by embellishing the cooled shortbread with an optional chocolate dip, intricate icing drizzle, or a gossamer dusting of powdered sugar.
Notes
- Temperature Precision: Use room temperature butter for smoother mixing and consistent cookie texture, avoiding cold or melted butter that can disrupt the delicate shortbread structure.
- Flour Handling: Sift flour and cornstarch together to eliminate lumps and create a lighter, more uniform dough that ensures a melt-in-your-mouth consistency.
- Gentle Mixing: Mix ingredients on low speed to prevent overworking the dough, which can develop gluten and result in tougher, less tender cookies.
- Baking Watchfulness: Monitor cookies closely during the last few minutes of baking, aiming for a pale golden edge rather than a dark brown color to maintain the classic shortbread delicacy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Scottish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 23
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 0.1 g
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg