Shortbread is a biscuit or cookie that has become increasingly popular. It is known for its unique taste and flavor, created by combining butter, sugar, and flour. It is often served as an accompaniment to tea or coffee and can also be enjoyed on its own.
Brief History and Origin
The origin of shortbread dates back to the 12th century in Scotland. At this time, it was made with oats and was referred to as “biscuit bread.” By the 16th century, shortbread had become a popular treat throughout Scotland. During the 17th century, bakers began adding sugar to their recipes, resulting in a sweeter version of shortbread. This new recipe quickly became a favorite among Scots and was often served at special occasions such as weddings or Christmas celebrations.
In the 18th century, shortbread began to spread beyond Scotland’s borders when it was introduced to England and other European countries. As it gained popularity across Europe, bakers began experimenting with different ingredients, such as nuts and fruits. By the 19th century, shortbread had become an international favorite, with variations being found worldwide. Shortbread remains one of the most popular cookies and can be found in many different shapes, including circles, rectangles, hearts, stars, and more!
Shortbread – The Recipe
- Preparation Time: 20 mins
- Cooking Time: 30 mins
- Total time: 50 mins
- Servings: 20
Ingredients
- 125g unsalted butter, softened
- 55g white sugar,
- 180g all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and preheat it to 170 degrees C. Also, prepare a baking tray by lining it with parchment paper.
- Add sugar and butter to a bowl, beat until consistent and smooth, add flour, and mix until a smooth paste.
- Transfer the mixture to a flour-dusted work surface, roll into a ½” thick sheet, cut into shortbread fingers or rounds, and arrange on the prepared baking tray.
- Place in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the color turns pale golden-brown. Then remove from oven and place on the wire rack to cool completely. Then serve or store in an air-tight container for future use.
Popular variations
Here are a few ways you can change this basic recipe to adjust it to your liking:
- Chocolate Shortbread: The traditional three-ingredient shortbread spiced with chocolate is deliciously decadent. We love the simplicity of these shortbread cookies; they are perfect for any time of the day.
- Salted Chocolate Chunk Shortbread Cookies: These Shortbread cookies have a little bit of saltiness from the flaky salt and salted butter and sweetness from the cookie itself. We also love the chunks of semi-sweet chocolates in the cookies; these complement the hint of saltiness very well.
- Matcha Shortbread Cookies: The Matcha-flavored shortbread cookies are light, crumbly, and buttery. We love the green hue on them, and they have a distinct earthiness to them also.
- Pistachio Shortbread Cookies: These Pistachio Shortbread cookies have delicious sweetness, followed by saltiness and nuttiness from the pistachio. We love how fancy they look and are still so easy to make.
- Strawberry and cream shortcakes: Inspired by the shortbread, these shortcakes are buttery and have a filling of cream and fresh strawberries. They are fruit, buttery, and filled with creamy joy.
