Shortbread cookies originated in Scotland in the 16th century and are now hugely popular in Ireland, too. There is something so special about these sweet treats, with their flaky, buttery texture and delicious flavor. Making your own Irish shortbread cookie isn’t difficult – just follow this easy guide for perfect results every time!
Gather Your Ingredients
The essence of shortbread is flour, butter, and sugar, and this is what you’ll need for a perfect batch. Start by combining 8 ounces (1 2/3 cup) of all-purpose flour, 6 ounces (3/4 cup) of salted butter, and 3 1/2 ounces (1/2 cup) of caster sugar in a food processor and pulse until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs.
Add Egg for Extra Richness
For extra richness, you can add one lightly beaten egg. If you choose to use the egg, add it to the dry ingredients before pulsing in the food processor.
Combine and Knead the Dough
Tip the mixture into a bowl (not metal as the butter can react) and add 1-2 tbsp of cold water. Use a wooden spoon to bring the mixture together into a soft dough. Knead gently until the mixture is smooth and pliable. Wrapping the dough in clingfilm keeps it from drying out while you roll it out.
Time to Roll
Preheat your oven to 160 C/ 320 F. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface until it is 0.5cm (1/4 inch) thick. Cut the dough into rounds using a cookie cutter. Place the cookies on a baking tray lined with baking parchment. Prick each cookie a few times with a fork to allow steam to escape during baking.
Bake Your Shortbread
Shortbread should be a light golden brown when done. Bake the cookies in the oven for around 15-20 minutes until they are a light golden brown. Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
Customize Your Recipe
You can give your shortbread a unique twist by adding different flavors to it. Try adding ground cinnamon or citrus zest to the dough. Or you could add a drizzle of melted dark chocolate or white chocolate, or a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar before baking.
Enjoy!
Once your shortbread is completely cool, enjoy with a cup of tea or store in an airtight container. Your perfect Irish Shortbread cookies are ready!
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Irish Shortbread Cookie
This delectable shortbread cookie is made with an authentic Irish recipe, featuring butter, flour, sugar, and salt.
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Yield: 20 cookies 1x
Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a medium bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in flour and salt until mixture forms a soft dough.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to about 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) thick.
Cut with cookie cutters into desired shape and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
Notes
For extra flavor, add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
To store, place in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Irish
- Diet: Halal
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 115 kcal
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 135mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: Irish Shortbread Cookies, Irish Cuisine, Easy Cookie Recipe, , , ,
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