Description
These classic buttery shortbread cookies are incredibly tender and melt in your mouth. Made with just four simple ingredients—butter, sugar, vanilla, and all-purpose flour—they are easy to prepare and perfect for decorating or adding to any holiday cookie tray. Their delicate texture and rich flavor make them a timeless treat everyone will love.
Ingredients
Shortbread Cookies Ingredients
- 2 cups butter, softened
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Assemble all ingredients needed for the recipe to ensure a smooth cooking process.
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (180°C) and let it fully heat while you prepare the dough.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and white sugar together using an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and creamy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add Vanilla and Flour: Stir in the vanilla extract then gradually add the all-purpose flour, mixing continuously until a smooth dough forms.
- Shape Cookies: Fill a cookie press with the dough and press cookies onto two ungreased cookie sheets, spacing them about 1 ½ inches apart. Alternatively, if you do not have a cookie press, roll the dough into 1-inch balls and flatten each with a fork.
- Bake: Place the cookie sheets in the preheated oven and bake the cookies until the edges are just starting to turn golden brown, about 10 to 12 minutes.
- Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and place the cookie sheets on a wire cooling rack for a few minutes. Transfer the cookies to the rack to cool completely.
Notes
- If the dough is too soft to press, chill it in the refrigerator for 10 minutes before shaping to make it easier to handle.
- For a festive touch, dip the cooled cookies halfway in melted chocolate and sprinkle with green and red sprinkles.
- Instead of using a cookie press, rolling dough balls and flattening with a fork is an easy alternative method.
