Basic Shortbread Recipe

Cesar Chien August 18, 2023 basic , recipe , Recipes , shortbread Comment

Classic Scottish Shortbread Frugal Hausfrau from frugalhausfrau.com

Introduction

Shortbread is a classic Scottish dessert that is known for its crumbly texture and buttery taste. It's a simple recipe that only requires a few ingredients, making it perfect for beginners. In this article, we'll be sharing a basic shortbread recipe that you can easily replicate at home.

Ingredients

To make this basic shortbread recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

1 cup of unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup of granulated sugar
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon of salt

Instructions

Now that you have your ingredients ready, let's dive into the instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add in the flour and salt, and mix until the dough comes together.
Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until it becomes smooth.
Roll the dough out into a 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) thick circle.
Cut the dough into shapes using cookie cutters or a knife.
Place the shortbread on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges start to turn golden brown.
Remove the shortbread from the oven and let it cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes.
Transfer the shortbread to a wire rack and let it cool completely.

Nutrition

Shortbread is not the healthiest dessert out there, but it's okay to indulge once in a while. Here's the nutrition information for this basic shortbread recipe:

Calories: 160
Total Fat: 10g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Cholesterol: 27mg
Sodium: 28mg
Total Carbohydrates: 16g
Dietary Fiber: 0g
Sugars: 5g
Protein: 1g

Tips and Variations

Now that you know how to make basic shortbread, here are some tips and variations to help you customize your recipe:

Tip 1: Chill the Dough

Chilling the dough before rolling it out can help prevent it from sticking to your surface or breaking apart. You can chill the dough for 30 minutes to an hour before rolling it out.

Tip 2: Use Different Flours

You can experiment with different flours to create different textures and flavors. For example, you can use almond flour for a nutty taste or rice flour for a lighter texture.

Tip 3: Add Flavors

You can add different flavors to your basic shortbread recipe by incorporating ingredients like vanilla extract, lemon zest, or cocoa powder.

Variation 1: Chocolate Shortbread

To make chocolate shortbread, simply add 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder to your dry ingredients. You can also add chocolate chips for extra chocolatey goodness.

Variation 2: Jam-Filled Shortbread

To make jam-filled shortbread, cut out your dough with a cookie cutter and then cut a smaller shape in the center of half of the cookies. Bake the cookies as usual, and then spread some jam on the solid cookies. Place the cut-out cookies on top of the jam-covered ones to create a sandwich.

Variation 3: Shortbread Bars

To make shortbread bars, press your dough into a square baking dish and bake as usual. Once the shortbread has cooled, you can cut it into bars and serve.

Conclusion

Shortbread is a classic dessert that is easy to make and customize. With this basic shortbread recipe, you can create a simple and delicious treat that everyone will love. So go ahead and give it a try!