Shortbread recipe is the 'easiest you'll ever make' with 3 ingredients (2024)

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Shortbread is known for its simple buttery taste and is easy to make from scratch, unlike most other biscuits. Plus, it requires just three ingredients.

By Phoebe Cornish, Lifestyle Reporter

Home-baked shortbread is hard to beat for both its buttery aroma and sweet flavour.

While many recipes overcomplicate this traditional Scottish treat, one food blogger has a no-fuss formula that anyone can make.

Sharing the recipe on her blog, Bake Play Smile, chef Lucy claimed: “The famous three-ingredient shortbread recipe is the easiest melt-in-your-mouth shortbread you'll ever make... all you need is butter, plain flour and icing sugar!”

Whether they’re enjoyed straight from the oven or as a gift for loved ones, the creamy biscuits are perfect for winter.

They’re great for saving for a later date too and will keep at room temperature in an airtight tin for up to one week after baking, or, the premade dough can be frozen for one month.

READ MORE: Make 'intense' chocolate brownies using 6 ingredients including cocoa powder

Shortbread recipe is the 'easiest you'll ever make' with 3 ingredients (3)

The shortbread can be cut into festive shapes for a Christmas twist (Image: Getty)

Ingredients

For 35 cookies:

  • 340g salted butter, cold
  • 130g icing sugar
  • 375g plain or all-purpose flour

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Shortbread recipe is the 'easiest you'll ever make' with 3 ingredients (4)

Shortbread is easy to make with just three ingredients at home (Image: Getty)

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How to make shortbread

Preheat oven to 160C (fan-assisted), then line two large, flat baking trays with greaseproof paper and set aside.

Beat the butter in a large bowl using an electric mixer on medium strength until smooth, which should take around 30 seconds.

Next, slowly add the icing sugar and continue mixing this in until everything is well combined.

Scrape down the sides of the bowl to avoid losing any mixture, then add the flour and mix on low speed until combined.

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    The mixture should be crumbly at this stage, but it will come together when gently kneaded.

    Knead the dough into a ball (but don't overwork it) and place into the fridge for at least 30 minutes to chill.

    When time is up, take the chilled dough and roll out to a thickness of 1cm thick. Use cookie cutters to cut the dough shapes out, or create your own using a cardboard template, mug, or glass base.

    Place the shapes onto the prepared trays and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until just very lightly golden, taking care not to overcook.

    Allow to cool on the trays for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

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    Shortbread recipe is the 'easiest you'll ever make' with 3 ingredients (2024)

    FAQs

    What are the main ingredients in shortbread? ›

    Put the flour, butter and sugar into a mixing bowl. Use your hands to combine the ingredients until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs, then squeeze until it comes together as a dough.

    What is the mistake in making shortbread? ›

    The most common mistakes when making shortbread are over-working the dough, and incorporating too much flour.

    Why do you put an egg in shortbread? ›

    This unexpected addition will make buttery confections like shortbreads and shortcakes even more tender and flaky. “Biscuits should be crumbly, buttery and sweet,” reads a headnote for a cinnamon sugar-spiced shortbread recipe in the Ritz London Cookbook.

    What is traditional Scottish shortbread made from? ›

    Traditional Scottish Shortbread Cookies has always been one of my favorite cookies. Made with four simple ingredients, flour, butter, sugar and salt, these crumbly, buttery, delicious shortbread cookies will be a sweet treat your whole family will love!

    What is the difference between Scottish shortbread and regular shortbread? ›

    As mentioned above, the main differences between the two styles of cookies are butter content and inclusion of leavening agents. These differences result in very different texture and taste experiences. No matter your preference, you can be sure to get a quality product from Walkers Shortbread.

    What's the difference between Irish shortbread and Scottish shortbread? ›

    Irish Shortbread Is Distinct From Scottish Shortbread

    As cornstarch is a potent thickener relative to flour, this creates a denser cookie. Whichever version of shortbread you prefer, though, the original -- which is often just called "shortbread" -- came from Scotland.

    Why do you put cornstarch in shortbread? ›

    Making shortbread cookies with cornstarch is necessary for a tender and delicate cookie. Next time you make chocolate chip cookies, I suggest you try adding 1 Tbsp of cornstarch to the batch to help keep them extra soft and tender.

    What is the new name for shortbread? ›

    Samoas are now “Caramel deLites.” Do-si-dos are “Peanut Butter Sandwiches.” Tagalongs are “Peanut Butter Cookies” and Trefoils are “Shortbreads.” But how are we going to move cookies with dull names like “Peanut Butter Patties?” And won't we get tired of explaining to customers what happened with the names?

    What is the world's famous shortbread? ›

    Walker's Shortbread is honoured to carry a Royal Warrant, granted by Her Majesty the Queen, for the supply of Shortbread and Oatcakes. Walker's Shortbread is a gift fit for a king, and a treat befitting any special occasion.

    Why is it called Millionaire shortbread? ›

    The name "millionaire's shortbread" appears to have originated in Scotland. The "millionaire" prefix to millionaire's shortbread or millionaires slice implies a level of decadence and wealth to the sweet treat, that it is an upgrade from regular shortbread.

    What is the difference between a butter cookie and a shortbread cookie? ›

    Compared to butter cookies, shortbread uses a higher ratio of butter to flour, and is baked at a lower temperature. This gives it its signature delicate consistency that crumbles in the mouth when bitten. It's also often baked in a pan and cut up after baking, rather than being cut into shapes before baking.

    What's the difference between shortbread and shortcake? ›

    Shortbread is similar to shortcake but doesn't include baking powder. Lots of rich butter gives shortbread a high fat content, resulting in a fine, crumbly texture. Shortcake and shortbread biscuits are delicious on their own, with fruit and cream, or simply topped with a delicate dusting of sugar.

    How is shortbread different from cookies? ›

    They're both delicious cookies, but different. Sugar cookies are lighter, while shortbread is dense. Shortbread is more rustic, while sugar cookies work best for cutting and decorating. Sugar cookies will have a leavening (baking powder or soda) while shortbread has a short and simple ingredient list.

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