Description
Classic buttery shortbread cookies with a delicate crumbly texture, perfect for tea time or festive occasions. These simple cookies combine softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and all-purpose flour to create a melt-in-your-mouth treat that’s easy to make and delightful to enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter (softened)
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 325° F. Line two lightly colored baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside to prepare for baking.
- Mix Dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and all-purpose flour (fluff the flour before measuring to ensure accuracy). Mix slowly until a crumbly dough forms that holds together when squeezed.
- Shape Cookies: Form the dough into a ball then roll it out between two sheets of parchment paper to a thickness of 1/3 to 1/2 inch. Cut into approximately 3-inch circles or your preferred shapes and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes on the hot baking trays.
- Cool and Store: Transfer the cookies to cooling racks to cool completely. Store cooled cookies in airtight containers for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Be sure to use lightly colored baking sheets to prevent the cookies from browning too quickly on the bottoms.
- Fluff the flour before measuring to get an accurate quantity and maintain the perfect texture.
- You can cut the dough into any shapes you prefer, such as squares or rectangles, instead of circles.
- Cookies will hold shape better if the dough is not overmixed; mix just until crumbs form.
- For a richer flavor, consider adding a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: shortbread cookies, buttery cookies, easy cookies, classic cookies, tea time cookies, vanilla cookies
