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    Home » Recipes » Cookies

    Grandma's Shortbread

    Nov 28, 2021 · Modified: Dec 12, 2021 by Sandra Flegg

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    Take a bite into these melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies! Grandma's Shortbread recipe has only four ingredients and no chilling required. An easy recipe for your holiday Christmas baking tray!

    Shortbread cookies with red and green sprinkles on red plate. this recipe!

    These tender shortbread cookies are well-loved in our household. Sprinkled with sanding sugar, they take on a festive appearance the minute they come out of the oven.

    These are sturdy enough that you could package them up in a pretty holiday box for gift-giving.

    Shortbread cookies with red and green sprinkles on two-tiered cookie plate.

    ingredients

    Ingredients for shortbread cookies with text overlay.
    • butter - since butter is one of the main ingredients in this recipe, use the best quality that you can find for best results. Butter should be softened at room temperature.
    • powdered sugar
    • all-purpose flour
    • cornstarch - be sure to check the best before date!
    • Christmas coloured sanding sugar or sprinkles

    step-by-step instructions

    Preheat oven to 300°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

    The secret to the best texture in these shortbread cookies is to make sure that your hands are not too warm. The warmer they are and the more the you handle the dough, the softer the dough will be. This will change the texture and cause the cookies to spread.

    Work quickly and with cool hands! This is such an easy recipe and you will love the simplicity and lovely texture of these cookies.

    Dry ingredients and butter in mixing bowl with wooden spoon.

    Start by sifting together all-purpose flour, cornstarch and powdered sugar. If you don't have a sifter, place the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and give it a really good whisk or mix with wooden spoon.

    Dough for shortbread cookies gathered into a ball in mixing bowl.

    Using a wooden spoon, or with clean hands, blend in the butter until a soft dough forms. Do not overwork the dough. As soon as the dough forms, shape it into a ball.

    Unbaked shortbread dough rolled into balls on cookie sheet with parchment paper.

    I like to divide the dough into four equal portions and know that I am getting six cookies out of each section for a total of 24 cookies.

    Shape dough into one inch balls and place a few inches apart on baking sheet. They will spread a little as you flatten them with a fork.

    Unbaked cookies that have been pressed down lightly with fork and sprinkled with sanding sugar.

    Press down lightly on each cookie with a floured fork. Sprinkle with sanding sugar or sprinkles. I have really been enjoying Ann Clark's sanding sugar. It is very light and has a beautiful sparkle.

    Bake in 300°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes. I took my cookies out in 17 minutes and let them sit on the cookie sheet for two minutes before transferring to a cooling rack and that was perfect.

    storage instructions

    Store shortbread in airtight container for up to four weeks.

    Shortbread may be frozen between layers or parchment paper in a freezer safe container. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

    Shortbread cookies with red and green sprinkles on red plate.

    Don't forget to pin this recipe to your Christmas Baking board!

    Shortbread cookies on red plate with evergreen boughs in background and text overlay.
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    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Shortbread cookies on red plate.

    Grandma's Shortbread


    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 reviews

    • Author: Sandra Flegg
    • Total Time: 25 minutes
    • Yield: 24
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Take a bite into these melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies! Grandma's Shortbread recipe has only four ingredients and no chilling required. An easy recipe for your holiday Christmas baking tray!


    Ingredients

    ½ cup cornstarch

    ½ cup powdered sugar

    1 cup all-purpose flour

    ¾ cup butter, softened at room temperature

    Sanding sugar or sprinkles


    Instructions

    1. In a large mixing bowl, sift together cornstarch, powdered sugar and all-purpose flour.
    2. Use a wooden spoon, or clean hands to blend in butter until a soft dough forms.
    3. Divide dough into four equal portions. Shape dough into  1-inch  balls. 
    4. Place rolled balls on cookie sheets, 1 and ½ inches apart.  Press down lightly with a floured fork.
    5. Sprinkle with sanding sugar or sprinkles
    6. Bake in 300°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes until edges are lightly browned.
    7. Transfer to cooling rack. 

    Notes

    Recipe adapted from Canada Cornstarch.

    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Oven Baked
    • Cuisine: American

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 cookie
    • Calories: 90
    • Sugar: 2.5 g
    • Sodium: 46 mg
    • Fat: 5.8 g
    • Saturated Fat: 3.7 g
    • Trans Fat: 0.2 g
    • Carbohydrates: 8.9 g
    • Fiber: 0.2 g
    • Protein: 0.6 g
    • Cholesterol: 15.3 mg

    Keywords: Shortbread Cookies

    Did you make this recipe?

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Karen Walter

      November 30, 2021 at 10:09 am

      you didn't mention- cookie sheet UNgreased? Also, when I've made shortbread cookies, they come out a tan color, not white like yours. How come? Pretty much the same ingredients except regular sugar instead of powdered sugar.

      Reply
      • Sandra

        December 02, 2021 at 9:29 am

        Hi Karen, Shorbread cookies tend to darken the longer that they bake. I believe that is what you're referring to? I use a parchment-lined cookie sheet for this recipe. Thanks so much for stopping by! Sandra

        Reply
    2. Erica

      December 17, 2021 at 1:14 pm

      Could use a stand mixer for these?

      Reply
      • Sandra

        December 17, 2021 at 5:09 pm

        yes! A stand mixer is great for these cookies! Sandra

        Reply
    3. SuAnne

      February 21, 2022 at 4:54 pm

      When I was a kid a friend of my mom’s would sandwich these between a pastel colored frosting. She called them Melting Moments. They were so tender and special. Do you happen to know what the frosting between the wafers might have been?

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Sandra

        February 24, 2022 at 7:19 am

        I'm not sure about those cookies, but I will leave the comment on this post and maybe someone will see it and remember the cookies 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! Sandra

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Sandra! Welcome to my kitchen. A self-taught cook, I love being in the kitchen. My inspiration is the people who I love the most - my family. Here you will find simple family recipes with photos that will inspire you to cook from scratch.  More about me

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