My Christmas cheer always starts with Boney M’s Christmas Album…yup ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ is the one song that gets that feeling started. By the time we get to ‘Feliz Navidad’, my KitchenAid mixer is out and ready to start the first (of many) batches of perfect, melt-in-your-mouth Shortbread cookies. The sound of the music is quickly muffled by the sound of the mixer busily creaming the butter and in no time, the scent of Christmas fills my house as the first sheet of cookies hits the oven.
Melt-In-Your-Mouth Shortbread Cookie Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of room temperature unsalted butter
- ½ cup of confectioners’ sugar
- ¼ cup of cornstarch
- 1 ½ cups of all purpose white flour
Preparation:
There are 2 secrets to making the perfect Melt-In-Your-Mouth Shortbread. The first secret is that great shortbread is all about the butter. It is imperative that you use a premium brand of butter. There are lots of butter options out there, and I am the first to buy whatever is on sale, but I never skimp or try to save when it comes to my baking!
The 2nd secret to perfect Melt-In-Your-Mouth Shortbread cookies is PATIENCE!! Place 1 cup of room temperature unsalted butter in your mixer. Turn your mixer on high for 10-15 minutes. Your butter will be perfectly creamed and will be white rather than yellow. That’s how you know the timing is right. (While the butter is mixing, preheat your oven to 375 degrees).
Once the butter is creamed, add in ½ cup of confectioners’ sugar and ¼ cup of cornstarch. Allow that all to mix together for a minute or two before adding in 1 ½ cups of all purpose white flour. Mix on low for one minute and then on high for 3-4 minutes. Spoon your cookie dough onto a cookie sheet about an inch apart. If you want people to think you are really fancy, use a piping bag with the biggest star tip to pipe them into swirls or use a small ice cream scoop to get perfect balls of dough.
Now….get ready for the glorious Christmas smell that fills your house! 10 minutes in the oven for these guys is PERFECTION! Keep an eye on them because the edges can burn quickly if you aren’t paying attention. Once they come out of the oven, allow them to cool completely before transferring them onto a plate – this will help to ensure they don’t crumble
Go put on some Boney M, get that festive feeling and get ready to bake dozens of these! They are a holiday favourite at my house (and they make a great gift in a lovely cookie tin) This perfect Melt-In-Your-Mouth Shortbread is my definition of Simple Perfect Holiday Memories.
For another of my Shortbread Cookie Recipes, see my Whipped Shortbread Cookie Recipe
How about Apple Crisp Shortbread Bars
Or perhaps these 10 Shortbread Recipes
If you’re looking for something different, how about my Peppermint Chocolate Shortbread Bar – Perfect for a Christmas Cookie Exchange
- 1 cup of room temperature unsalted butter
- ½ cup of confectioners’ sugar
- ¼ cup of cornstarch
- 1 ½ cups of all purpose white flour
- Place 1 cup of room temperature unsalted butter in your mixer & turn your mixer on high for 10-15 minutes. Your butter will be perfectly creamed and will be white rather than yellow
- While the butter is mixing, preheat your oven to 375 degrees
- Once the butter is creamed, add in ½ cup of confectioners’ sugar and ¼ cup of cornstarch
- Mix together for a minute or two before adding in 1 ½ cups of all purpose white flour
- Spoon your cookie dough onto a cookie sheet about an inch apart and bake for 10 minutes
Wow you did an amazing job with your Shortbread cookies. I wish I could drop it to taste them :)
Not a big baker or cook for that matter. But this? This might just turn me into one. Just call me Betty Crocker if I did win! Lol…
My family has used this recipe, only doubled, for as long as I can remember, when the cookie presses came o to the market my mother started using one of them for these cookies, we get festive shapes such as stars, fir trees, pointsetta etc make a nice presentation on the cookie platter.
Those shortbread cookies look really good… I would love to do some shortbread cookies this Holiday season!
My favourite short bread recipe is the Best of Bridge whipped shortbreat…mmm mm good!
My Mom always made cookies about the same as these. We put a piece of candied cherry on top.
I use the shortbread recipe my mother and grandmother have always used. It has the same 4 ingredients that your recipe does but we roll it out and use a cookie cutter.
I would love to win a Gay Lea cookbook because you know, if it’s made with butter it’s going to be amazing. So I bet that cookbook is full of really good recipes.
Your shortbread look lovely btw.
This is my fruit pizza with a shortbread crust. It is AMAZING!
FRUIT PIZZA
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 (8) oz package cream cheese
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and 3/4 cup sugar until smooth. Mix in egg, combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until just blended. Press dough into an ungreased pizza pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 8 – min, or until browned. Cool.
In a large bowl,, beat cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla until light. Spread on cooled crust.
Arrange desired fruit on top of filling and chill.
I use the one on the back of the corn starch box
I actually don’t have one because I’ve never made shortbread, but I’m thinking of trying this recipe. Looks good!
i use the one that was passed down to me from my grandma its been past down 4 generations…
I actually use the recipe you posted, and love it!
I don’t but I will try yours. It sound so easy.
This look delicious! and easy! I’m going to add these to our holiday baking party.
I have several shortbreads that I like but will certainly add this one to my list.
I have never made a good recipe…maybe this one will become my fav!
Would love the cookbook as I am a cookbook junkie.
Growing up, our shortbread was always butter, cornstarch, brown sugar, flour and 2 drops of vanilla, baked up in festive shapes by using a cookie press
I don’t have my own recipe, but I will definately be giving your recipe a try this year.
I love collecting cookbooks and trying new recipes, my youngest has turned into a great cook my oldest has just started getting interested. we love looking at the recipes.
My mom’s best friend, Janie, makes the best shortbread cookies. She always brings us a batch for the holidays.
My Grams! But yours looks pretty Incredible! Adding to the List
Shortbread is easy and one of those classically delicious recipes not only for the holidays, but any time of the year!
Yours look delicious, and melt in your mouth, wow, my auntie had cookie like these too, but I don’t have the recipe, gonna try your recipe! Thanks for sharing!
I am always on the lookout for the ‘perfect’ shortbread cookie recipe. I have tried several and will definitely be making this recipe soon. Thanks for sharing
I don’t have a favorite shortbread recipe. I can’t wait to try your recipe this holiday season!
I make these cookies and put minnie rolloes in the center, Then roll up in little balls, Have also carmell in the centers
I don’t have a shortbread recipe, but I would like to use yours!! ;-)
I don’t have a shortbread recipe.
similar recipe but i chill the dough, roll mine out and cut into shapes. then the kids decorate them.
Winning that mixer would make Christmas baking a real party.
I don’t ever make shortbread
..but I always have those ingredients so maybe I should!
This sounds so yummy. I am definitely going to give it a try this year. One of my favourite shortbread recipes is for Rocky Mountain Shortbread. Unfortunately I can’t find my recipe right now, but it is basically a shortbread with chopped up Tobblerone bar in it…..so good!
shortbread are my hubbies fav , he likes then straight up, I dip mine in orange chocolate yum.
i dont have a favorite shortbread recipe — I’ve always failed at making shortbread, so i’m excited to try this one over the holidays
love the shortbread recipe. another one added to my list of favorites to try. great one for the holiday, not too complicated
i used to have a go to recipe for shortbread but i haven’t made it in years and now im not sure i still have it!
I love shortbread and have been using the same recipe for over 45 years, but I am going to try this one because of it’s simplicity and ease to make.
Everyone in our family loves homemade short bread so much that its hard to keep in the house.
I don’t have a fav shortbread recipe but I am darn good at eating them :)
Yes I have a favourite recipe, but my shortbread never taste as good as everyone elses.
I’ve actually been looking for a good short bread recipe to try.
These look yummy! I just might be making these for Christmas Eve.
I use my Grandma’s recipe, it just melts in your mouth :)
I use my moms recipe yummyyyyyy
LOVE shortbread but I have actually never tried making it. I may attempt it this holiday season because I dont think my kids have tried shortbread :)
I’ve never made shortbread before. I think I’ll try your recipe!
I dont. Usually just go with the flo to which ever one google chooses. :)
I do not have a recipe but my moms neighbor makes a really good shortbread! This book would be great to add to my just starting out collection, I love to bake and my kids love to eat! This mixer looks awesome too! Mine is an old sunbeam mixer, still works but is on its last legs =)
I dont have a recipe for shortbread but will be trying yours for sure. oh how I love shortbread cokkies
I have never been able to find a good recipe or successfully make shortbread so I am going to have to give this recipe a go and see if I can’t be a shortbread queen by the end of holiday season :)
I make a super delish shortbread. I add chopped up Toblerone bar pieces. The sweet and melt in your mouth taste of traditional shortbread and the pop of chocolate is a win win!
My husband makes shortbread cookies every year for Christmas and he will be using your recipe this time
My mom makes the shortbreads every year and they are so good! I may give it a whirl and try the recipe here and see how it goes. They look good!
Thanks for the recipe, I do not have a good one .
Thanks for the tips as well.
I’ve never used a mixer to make shortbreads, I always mix by hand. This sounds MUCH smarter!
It is the Skor Shortbread cookies my step mom makes us every year! Best ever
have not made them
I add Toblerone bars to mine!
I always love coming to check out your recipes & mocktails, I leave with ideas and inspiration every time :) No special recipe but I liked whipped short bread cookies when my wife made them. As long as you use extra vanilla any short bread cookie recipe is good in my books, and tummy ;)
Oh, Julie! Shortbread cookies are the best thing about Christmas! :) I always get a hankering for them around this time of year! I live in the UK & there’s a bit of rival between English shortbread & Scottish shortbread, but I’ve never met a shortbread biscuit I didn’t like! Haha. I followed you here from the link party at Chef in Training & I’d like to invite you to come link up to my party, too. It’s Tasty Tuesdays & I pin EVERY POST that gets linked up! You can find this week’s party here from tomorrow: http://anyonitanibbles.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=tasty+tuesdays
Just letting you know your cookies were featured in What’s Cooking Wednesday this week! Thanks for linking up and hope to see you again this week! http://www.turningclockback.com/2013/12/link-up-to-the-whats-cooking-wednesday-recipe-linky.html
Can you make these as cut out cookies? The batter seems to be a bit too moist for that.
This recipe is awesome! I followed your instructions EXACTLY (i.e. Whip butter until white, I use Lactantia butter, and WATCH them in the oven). I used a pastry bag with the largest star tip to make a spritz style cookie and topped with a little chunk of red or green glazed baking cherries. Heaven! Thank you :)
I would love to know how you make the chocolate drizzle on the cookies that is displayed in the pictures.
I used your shortbread recipe today and they are fabulous!! Thank you very much :)
I made these yesterday following your instructions carefully and they are wonderful! Thank you!
I put a fresh blueberry once they were out of the oven…sooo good.
Hello all,
Can anyone who has made the recipe tell me:
Would this recipe do well as a base for lemon bars or is it too delicate?
Appreciate any input. Thanks!
Absolutely love,love,love this recipe!!! Cookies truly melt in your mouth and taste like you spent a long time preparing them yet they are so fast to whip up!!!! I’m sure they’d make killer best sellers at a bake sale!!!!
Thanks a million!!!
I made these and they were the best cookies ever! literally melts the second you put it in your mouth. For some reason though my cookies were extremely flat, but still were the best short breads i’ve ever tasted! i also used salted butter instead of unsalted as it was all i had at my house
You had me at Boney M’s Christmas album…
I’m wondering how long the cookies will stay good in a tin?
OMG!I just made these! Excellent recipe, instructions and tips. Delectably divine! The only difference was that I was multitasking as a result I had to put the batter in the fridge – about 5 mins or so- before scoping onto the baking sheet -, also.. I added a 1/4 tsp almond extract -.
Well. I haven’t got a mixer anymore but the battery for my cordless drill is charged. Let’s see if I can make shortbread!
Thank you for your wonderfully delicious recipes. I added your shortbread cookies to my Christmas goodie gift platters – what a success. So once again thanks for sharing and keep up the great work! Much appreciated…
Melt in your mouth shortbread….sounds really good but………
I’m not sure these melt in your mouth, it’s more like they turn to a fine powder in your mouth. I followed this recipe exactly, it’s not that these cookies were bad, they are definitely lacking something from flavor to texture.
I just made these cookies and oh my gosh!!! They are sooooooo delicious! Whatever you do once you take them out the oven, make sure you follow the instructions and “Let Them Completely Cool” before removing them from the sheet pan or else they will crumble and fall apart. After mixing the ingredients, I chopped up about 3/4 cup pecans and dried cranberries and added it to the mixture. Once the cookies were cool, i melted some of my favorite Cadbury Milk Chocolate and dipped half of the cookie in it, then let it harden. This is the BEST Shortbread cookie i have ever made! I took your advice and listened to my favorite Boney M and Smokey Robinson. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!