Shortbread Cookies Recipe: Buttery Scottish Classic Treat 2026

Shortbread are Scottish cookies prized for their rich butter flavor and delicate, crumbly texture. Despite their elegant look, they come together with just five pantry staples and minimal effort. This recipe walks you through making classic shortbread at home, from mixing the dough to the signature fork-pricked decoration.

The dough is forgiving but does need a little patience with chilling, especially in a warm kitchen. Because it contains so much butter, keeping it cold helps the portions hold their shape in the oven. Once baked, the cookies keep beautifully in a metal tin for two or three days.

Ingredients for Shortbread Cookies

This recipe yields 24 cookies.

• 220 g butter, at room temperature
• 110 g powdered sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 230 g wheat flour
• 100 g rice flour

How to Make Shortbread Cookies Step by Step

1. Beat the butter, sugar, and salt

In a bowl, whisk 220 g of room-temperature butter with 110 g of powdered sugar and 1 pinch of salt until combined.

2. Add the flours

Add 230 g of wheat flour and 100 g of rice flour, and beat just until the mixture is homogeneous. Let it rest in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

3. Roll out the dough

Roll the dough between parchment paper and plastic wrap until you get a rectangle about 21 x 28 cm and 1 cm thick.

4. Cut the dough into portions

Cut portions about 3 x 7 cm and prick them with a fork, as shown in the images, to create the characteristic decoration of these cookies. Let the dough portions rest in the refrigerator again for 30 minutes.

5. Arrange on a baking tray

Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Place the cut dough portions, spaced apart, on a baking tray.

6. Bake the shortbread

Bake for 15 minutes, until the edges begin to brown lightly. Let cool on the same tray to prevent them from breaking.

7. Cool and serve

Once cool, they are ready to serve. They are ideal alongside tea or a coffee with milk.

Tips for the Best Shortbread Cookies

Keep the dough cold

If your kitchen is warm, it is advisable to keep the dough in the refrigerator to work with it more easily, as we did, since with so much butter the portions could easily lose their shape.

Store them properly

Once baked and cooled, these butter shortbread cookies can be kept in a metal cookie tin, where they will last about 2 or 3 days.

Watch the edges

Bake only until the edges start to turn lightly golden, then let them cool on the tray so they firm up without breaking.

30 Top Recipes I Keep Coming Back To at Home

If you're anything like me, your kitchen rotation probably includes a blend of cozy comfort classics, well-loved dishes from around the globe, and desserts that make everyone happy.

When a rich, indulgent treat is calling my name, I typically reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever something fruity and soothing sounds right, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my go-to.

For mornings that need an easy start or lighter fare, these fluffy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe are frequent picks. And for a gluten-free staple I can count on, this straightforward Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I enjoy putting together.

Whenever tapas and Mediterranean cooking are on my mind, I bounce between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cooling Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit more upscale.

Come lunch or a comforting supper, I'm always quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. Should I be after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply satisfying French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Some nights I'm after street-food vibes or party-ready plates, and that's when I'll whip up this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crunchy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine to set out as a snack or starter.

And when I'm building drinks and a whole spread for company, I'll regularly match dinner with this cooling Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a potent Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the table, I like to add this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or finish things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Additional Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of testing and fine-tuning dishes in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the finest recipes are built on straightforward steps, dependable methods, and serious flavor.

What follows are the dishes I genuinely cook over and over—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something memorable for friends and family.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to when I want something impressive yet simple. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, understanding how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll usually go with the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For richer comfort cooking, I'm quick to point people to the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the smooth Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also fond of sharing dishes with global roots, such as the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crisp Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I return to often, since it cuts down on time while still delivering excellent results. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that classic baked pasta can still be decadent, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

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