Classic Shortbread Cookies

 

Classic Shortbread Cookies

There's something irresistibly delightful about buttery shortbread cookies. Perfect for dunking in milk or enjoying with a cup of afternoon tea.

However, Aunt Kate explained that during the tough times in Ireland and the UK, mothers had limited supplies of ingredients, so they had to invent dishes and desserts from the limited ingredients that they had on hand. The ingredients listed below were staples in any household in the UK in the 1700s, 1800s, and early 1900s. This classic recipe is super easy, requiring just four ingredients. Expect flaky, crispy bites that melt in your mouth—simply divine!

While traditional shapes are great, I prefer using ither a cookie cutter or just dropping a spoonful onto a baking sheet and using a fork to flatten them.

Keep it simple and enjoy!

Ingredients

¾ cup butter (softened)

½ cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

Instructions

In a medium size bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract.

Stir in the flour until a crumbly dough forms. Press together. Cover or wrap in wax paper or plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.

On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out until 1/4 inch thick or even a little thinner. The dough may be crumbly so you may need to press together as you work and roll slowly. Use a cookie cutter to cut out 15-18 cookies. Or drop a spoonful onto a cooking sheet and press down with a fork. Then Sprinkle with sprinkles then bake.

Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Remove to a cooling rack and allow to cool before eating or storing.

Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with forty years of experience in writing with 12 of those years in the online content sphere. Author of 5 books and a Graduate with an Associate of Arts from Phoenix University in Business Management, then a degree. Mass Communication and Cyber Analysis from Phoenix University, then on to Walden University for her master’s in criminology with emphasis on Cybercrime and Identity Theft and is currently studying for her Ph.D. degree in Criminology. Her work portfolio includes coverage of politics, current affairs, elections, history, and true crime. Elizabeth is also a gourmet cook, life coach, and avid artist in her spare time, proficient in watercolor, acrylic, oil, pen and ink, Gouche, and pastels. As a political operative having worked on over 300 campaigns during her career, Elizabeth has turned many life events into books and movie scripts while using history to weave interesting storylines. She also runs 7 blogs that range from art to life coaching, to food, to writing, Gardening, and opinion or history pieces each week. 

British Fare, Potpourri of Frugality. Kilbride