Best 12 Shortbread Base Recipes

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**Shortbread Base: A Versatile Foundation for Classic Treats**

A beloved staple in the realm of baking, shortbread captivates taste buds with its crumbly texture and delightful buttery flavor. Originating in Scotland, this classic cookie base has evolved into a versatile foundation for a plethora of delectable treats. From traditional shortbread cookies to mouthwatering tarts and decadent cheesecake, this versatile dough adapts effortlessly to suit a variety of culinary creations.

Our comprehensive guide delves into the art of crafting the perfect shortbread base, ensuring a solid foundation for your baking endeavors. We present a collection of meticulously curated recipes, each offering unique flavor profiles and textures to suit diverse preferences. Master the basics of shortbread with our foundational recipe, then embark on a culinary journey as you explore variations that incorporate nuts, chocolate, and zesty citrus.

Indulge in the nostalgic charm of classic shortbread cookies, their crumbly texture and buttery flavor evoking memories of childhood. Elevate your baking skills with sophisticated shortbread tarts, their flaky crust perfectly complementing a variety of fillings. Discover the elegance of shortbread cheesecake, its creamy richness harmonizing beautifully with the crumbly base.

Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting your culinary adventure, our shortbread base recipes provide a solid foundation for creating memorable treats. With detailed instructions and helpful tips, we guide you through each step of the process, ensuring success in every bite. Join us on this delectable journey as we explore the world of shortbread, one delicious recipe at a time.

Here are our top 12 tried and tested recipes!

SHORTBREAD CRUST



Shortbread Crust image

Simple and easy shortbread crust you'll love. Especially wonderful if your planning to make a peach pie.

Provided by Silly Rabbit

Categories     Desserts     Pies     100+ Pie Crust Recipes     Pastry Crusts

Time 30m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 4

1 cup butter
½ cup confectioners' sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Stir together flour and baking powder; blend into butter mixture. Pat into a 9 inch pie plate.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 347.8 calories, Carbohydrate 31.7 g, Cholesterol 61 mg, Fat 23.3 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 3.5 g, SaturatedFat 14.6 g, Sodium 179.4 mg, Sugar 7.8 g

SHORTBREAD CRUST, SABLE BRETON CRUST



Shortbread Crust, Sable Breton Crust image

This is a recipe for a basic shorbread crust that can be used as a crust for pies, cheesecakes, tarts, or cookie bars. This recipe will work in an 8x8" (20x20 cm) or 9x9" (23 x 23 cm) square baking dish, a 9" (23 cm) pie plate, or a spring form pan.

Provided by Bettie

Categories     All Recipes

Time 40m

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 stick (112 gr) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup (65 gr) granulated sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
1 cup + 2 TBSP (134 gr) all-purpose flour (*see note for gluten free substitution)
1 1/2 sticks (168 gr) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup (98 gr) granulated sugar
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
large pinch of salt
1 1/2 cup + 3 TBSP (200 gr) all-purpose flour (*see note for gluten free substitution)

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 F (177 C). Prepare your pan by lightly oiling or lining with parchment paper.
  • In the bowl or a stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment, or a large bowl with a hand mixer, mix together all of the ingredients at once. The mixture will be very crumbly.
  • Using damp hands, transfer the dough crumbs into the prepared dish and pat down evenly. Use a fork to dock the dough all over.
  • Bake on the middle rack at 350 F (177 C). If the filling will need to be baked, par-bake the crust for 20-23 minutes until the edges are lightly browned. If the filling will not need to be baked, bake for 30-33 minutes until the crust is completely cooked and let cool completely.
  • Use as the crust for lemon bars, cheesecake, ice box pie, fruit bars, etc.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 177 calories

SHORTBREAD



Shortbread image

I live in Missouri, but many family recipes come from New Zealand where I was born. My parents moved there when I was a year old, so I have a "Down Under" heritage. This easy shortbread recipe brings back warm memories of my childhood, and I'm going to make sure they're passed on to the next generation in my family...no matter where they live! -Allen Swenson, Camdenton, Missouri

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 25m

Yield 5 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • In large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Combine flour, cornstarch and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Roll dough into a 15x2x1-in. rectangle; chill. , Preheat oven to 325°. Cut into 1/4-in. slices; place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Prick with a fork. Bake 10-12 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 57 calories, Fat 3g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 8mg cholesterol, Sodium 44mg sodium, Carbohydrate 7g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 0 protein.

SHORTBREAD, 10 WAYS



Shortbread, 10 Ways image

Shortbread is not only one of the easiest desserts you can possibly make, it's also one of the most adaptable. As long as you keep the butter-to-flour ratio constant (1 stick butter to 1 cup flour), everything else is negotiable. You can reduce or increase the sugar and salt, or mix in any type of flavoring from citrus zest to vanilla to herbs and spices. You can even alter the type of flour, swapping in some rice flour for all-purpose flour for increased crunch, or cornmeal for a nubby texture. Just be cautious about adding liquid to the dough; any more than one tablespoon could interfere with the texture. Here we give a master recipe and nine variations to play around with.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     cookies and bars, dessert

Time 1h

Yield 24 servings

Number Of Ingredients 4

2 cups/250 grams all-purpose flour
2/3 cup/150 grams granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon fine salt
2 sticks/1 cup/226 grams cold unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch chunks

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 325 degrees. Pulse together flour, sugar and salt in a food processor. Add butter and pulse to fine crumbs. Pulse a few more times until some of the crumbs start to come together, but don't overprocess; the dough should be somewhat crumbly. (You can also mix the dough in a bowl using two knives or a pastry cutter.)
  • Press dough into an even layer in an ungreased 8- or 9-inch-square baking pan, or a 9-inch pie pan. Prick dough all over with a fork. Bake until golden brown, about 35 to 40 minutes for the 9-inch square or pie pan, 45 to 50 minutes for the 8-inch. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Cut into squares, bars or wedges while still warm.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 130, UnsaturatedFat 2 grams, Carbohydrate 14 grams, Fat 8 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 1 gram, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 61 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams, TransFat 0 grams

EASY MILLIONAIRE'S SHORTBREAD



Easy millionaire's shortbread image

Combine the crunch of a shortbread base with a gooey caramel middle and chocolate topping, and you have millionaire's shortbread - the ultimate sweet treat

Provided by Member recipe by fetchgirl

Categories     Afternoon tea, Dessert, Treat

Time 1h

Yield Makes up to 24 squares

Number Of Ingredients 7

250g plain flour
75g caster sugar
175g butter, softened
100g butter or margarine
100g light muscovado sugar
397g can condensed milk
200g plain or milk chocolate, broken into pieces

Steps:

  • Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Lightly grease and line a 20-22cm square or rectangular baking tin with a lip of at least 3cm.
  • To make the shortbread, mix 250g plain flour and 75g caster sugar in a bowl. Rub in 175g softened butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
  • Knead the mixture together until it forms a dough, then press into the base of the prepared tin.
  • Prick the shortbread lightly with a fork and bake for 20 minutes or until firm to the touch and very lightly browned. Leave to cool in the tin.
  • To make the caramel, place 100g butter or margarine, 100g light muscovado sugar and the can of condensed milk in a pan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Continually stir with a spatula to make sure no sugar sticks to the bottom of the pan. (This can leave brown specks in the caramel but won't affect the flavour.)
  • Turn up the heat to medium high, stirring all the time, and bring to the boil, then lower the heat back to low and stirring continuously, for about 5-10 minutes or until the mixture has thickened slightly. Pour over the shortbread and leave to cool.
  • For the topping, melt 200g plain or milk chocolate slowly in a bowl over a pan of hot water. Pour over the cold caramel and leave to set. Cut into squares or bars with a hot knife.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 248 calories, Fat 13 grams fat, SaturatedFat 8 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 29 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 21 grams sugar, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Protein 3 grams protein, Sodium 0.3 milligram of sodium

MELT - IN - YOUR - MOUTH SHORTBREAD



Melt - In - Your - Mouth Shortbread image

This quick and easy shortbread will literally melt when you take a bite. Great for Christmas parties with a little bit of decorating.

Provided by Jennifer Wilton

Categories     Desserts     Cookies     Drop Cookie Recipes

Time 25m

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 4

1 cup butter, softened
½ cup confectioners' sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  • Whip butter with an electric mixer until fluffy. Stir in the confectioners' sugar, cornstarch, and flour. Beat on low for one minute, then on high for 3 to 4 minutes. Drop cookies by spoonfuls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
  • Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Watch that the edges don't brown too much. Cool on wire racks.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 111.1 calories, Carbohydrate 9.7 g, Cholesterol 20.3 mg, Fat 7.8 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 0.9 g, SaturatedFat 4.9 g, Sodium 54.8 mg, Sugar 2.5 g

BASIC SHORTBREAD



Basic Shortbread image

This wonderful recipe for basic shortbread can be used to make Black-and-White Triangles, and Candied Ginger Shortbread Wedges.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cookie Recipes

Yield Makes 8 to 10 wedges

Number Of Ingredients 4

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 cup confectioners' or granulated sugar

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter an 8 1/2-inch round cake or springform pan. Sift together flour and salt in a small bowl. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium, cream butter until fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add sugar, and continue to beat until very light in color and fluffy, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary, about 2 minutes more. Add flour mixture, and beat on low, scraping bowl if necessary, until flour is just incorporated and dough sticks together when squeezed.
  • Pat dough into prepared pan. Use a paring knife to score dough into wedges; prick all over in even intervals with a wooden skewer or fork.
  • Bake until firm in the center and just starting to color, about 50 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Cut into wedges. Cookies will keep, in an airtight container, at room temperature 3 weeks.

SHORTBREAD COOKIES



Shortbread Cookies image

Bake Ina Garten's chocolate-dipped Shortbread Cookies for the perfect bite with tea, from Barefoot Contessa on Food Network.

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories     dessert

Time 1h15m

Yield 20 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 6

3/4 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 to 7 ounces very good semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the butter and 1 cup of sugar until they are just combined. Add the vanilla. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter-and-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
  • Roll the dough 1/2-inch thick and cut with a 3 by 1-inch finger-shaped cutter. Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Allow to cool to room temperature.
  • When the cookies are cool, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Put 3 ounces of the chocolate in a glass bowl and microwave on high power for 30 seconds. (Don't trust your microwave timer; time it with your watch.) Stir with a wooden spoon. Continue to heat and stir in 30-second increments until the chocolate is just melted. Add the remaining chocolate and allow it to sit at room temperature, stirring often, until it's completely smooth. Stir vigorously until the chocolate is smooth and slightly cooled; stirring makes it glossier.
  • Drizzle 1/2 of each cookie with just enough chocolate to coat it.

SHORTBREAD BASE



Shortbread Base image

Categories     Cookies     Dairy     Dessert     Bake     Vegetarian     Quick & Easy     Gourmet

Number Of Ingredients 4

1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Cut butter into 1/2-inch pieces. In a food processor process all ingredients until mixture begins to form small lumps. Sprinkle mixture into a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan and with a metal spatula press evenly onto bottom. Bake shortbread in middle of oven until golden, about 20 minutes. While shortbread is baking, prepare topping.

BUTTERY 3-INGREDIENT SHORTBREAD COOKIES



Buttery 3-Ingredient Shortbread Cookies image

With only a few ingredients, these butter shortbread cookies are so simple to prepare. -Pattie Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 40m

Yield 16 cookies.

Number Of Ingredients 4

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
Confectioners' sugar, optional

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325°. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in flour. Press dough into an ungreased 9-in. square baking pan. Prick with a fork., Bake until light brown, 30-35 minutes. Cut into squares while warm. Cool completely on a wire rack. If desired, dust with confectioners' sugar.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 183 calories, Fat 12g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 31mg cholesterol, Sodium 2mg sodium, Carbohydrate 18g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 2g protein.

EASY BASIC SHORTBREAD



Easy Basic Shortbread image

This buttery cookie gets better with age: It can be stored up to a month, and over that time its flavor deepens. Dip the tips of the cookies in melted chocolate for a decorative touch.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cookie Recipes

Yield Makes 36 bars

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 1/3 cups (2 sticks plus 6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans
2/3 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Butter a 9-by-13-by-1-inch baking pan, and line bottom with parchment paper. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add salt and vanilla, and beat to combine. Add flour, 1 cup at a time, beating on low speed until just combined.
  • Press dough into prepared pan, leveling and smoothing the top. Using a dough scraper or the back of a knife, cut dough lengthwise into nine strips, each slightly less than 1 inch wide. Cut the strips crosswise into thirty-six 3-inch bars. Using the tines of a fork or a wooden skewer, create a decorative pattern on the surface.
  • Bake shortbread until evenly pale golden, but not browned, 70 to 85 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack to cool. Invert pan, and remove parchment. Turn shortbread over, and carefully break, or cut with a serrated knife, into bars. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

SHORTBREAD



Shortbread image

This is a compilation of several Shortbread recipes I have from British cookbooks. I have been to England three times and REAL shortbread is a favorite. It should use real butter and not be TOO sweet.

Provided by Norita Solt

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     UK and Ireland     English

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 4

¼ cup white sugar
½ cup unsalted butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
⅓ cup white rice flour

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  • Line a baking sheet with greaseproof (parchment) paper. Sift the flour and rice flour into a medium mixing bowl. Add the sugar and mix.
  • Cut butter into pieces and rub into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture begins to bind together. Knead into soft dough.
  • Roll the dough into an 8 inch round (or for exact round, mold it in an 8 inch cake pan). Place on baking sheet. Using a fork, prick top and make tine marks along edge. Using a table knife, score top with wedge marks. (This is where it will break when cooled)
  • Bake 45 minutes or until pale golden in color. Sprinkle a little superfine sugar over top and cool on baking sheet. Cut into wedges. Keeps for weeks in airtight tin.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 275.8 calories, Carbohydrate 31.3 g, Cholesterol 40.7 mg, Fat 15.7 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 2.8 g, SaturatedFat 9.8 g, Sodium 2.5 mg, Sugar 8.4 g

Tips:

  • Use cold butter: This will help to create a more crumbly texture.
  • Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy: This will help to incorporate air into the mixture, making the shortbread lighter.
  • Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition: This will help to prevent the mixture from curdling.
  • Stir in the flour and salt until just combined: Overmixing will make the shortbread tough.
  • Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking: This will help to firm up the dough and make it easier to handle.
  • Bake the shortbread in a preheated oven: This will help to ensure that it bakes evenly.
  • Do not overbake the shortbread: It should be lightly golden brown around the edges.
  • Let the shortbread cool completely before cutting it: This will help to prevent it from crumbling.

Conclusion:

Shortbread is a delicious and versatile cookie that can be enjoyed on its own or used as a base for other desserts. With its crumbly texture and buttery flavor, shortbread is a classic treat that is sure to please everyone. Whether you are a beginner baker or a seasoned pro, these tips will help you make the perfect shortbread every time.

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