Indulge in the timeless classic of Vanilla Shortbread Cookies, a delightful treat that has captivated taste buds for generations. These melt-in-your-mouth cookies, characterized by their delicate crumb and rich vanilla flavor, are perfect for any occasion. With variations ranging from traditional to festive, this article offers a comprehensive guide to crafting these delectable cookies. Discover the secrets of creating the perfect dough, shaping techniques for various designs, and tips for achieving a golden-brown finish. Whether you prefer classic vanilla or crave a touch of adventure with flavored variations, this article has something for every cookie enthusiast. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and embark on a delightful journey into the world of Vanilla Shortbread Cookies.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
VANILLA SHORTBREAD
Simple pleasure. That's what this is. A buttery little bite that's crunchy and crumbly. I use it in Banana Pudding, but it's delicious on its own too. My shortcut to shortbread? Pack the dough into a resealable plastic bag. No messy rolling or gaping holes in a dough log. Pressing the dough into the bag makes a nice even layer that's easy to store and cut.
Provided by Carla Hall
Categories dessert
Time 2h10m
Yield About 5 dozen cookies
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Whisk the flour and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until creamy. Beat in the vanilla until incorporated.
- Reduce the speed to low and gradually add flour mixture. Beat, scraping the bowl occasionally, until the dough comes together in large clumps.
- Transfer the dough to a gallon-size resealable plastic freezer bag and press into a 1-inch thick, 9 by 5-inch rectangle. The bag is 9 inches wide, so you're pressing the dough to the edges. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cut the dough into thirds to form rectangular logs that are 3 inches wide. Cut each log into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place the slices on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them 1/2 inch apart.
- Bake one sheet at a time until the edges are browned and the tops are golden, 14 to 18 minutes. Let cool completely on the sheets on wire racks. The shortbread keeps at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
CLASSIC SHORTBREAD COOKIES IN 4 INGREDIENTS WITH ADDED 1 INGREDIENT VARIATIONS
Provided by Claire Robinson
Categories dessert
Time 1h4m
Yield approximately 65 cookies
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Add the flour, salt, and powdered sugar to a food processor and pulse to combine. Add in the vanilla, the butter and the 1 teaspoon of water. Pulse together just until a dough is formed. Put the dough on a sheet of plastic wrap and roll into a log, about 2 1/2 inches in diameter and 5 inches long. Tightly twist each end of the wrap in opposite directions. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
- Slice the log into 1/3-inch thick disks. Arrange on nonstick cookie sheets, parchment lined or silpat lined baking sheets, 2 inches apart. Bake until the edges are just light brown, about 12 to 14 minutes, rotating the pans half way through the baking process. Remove from the oven and let cool on the cookie sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer to wire racks and cool until room temperature. Enjoy!
- Variations:
- Pulse together the tea with the flour and salt in a food processor just until the tea is in small pieces evenly distributed throughout the flour. Then add the powdered sugar, vanilla, the butter and the 1 teaspoon of water. Continue as instructed above.
- Pulse the toasted and chopped pecans into the dough and then shape into a flattened round disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. On a flour dusted surface, roll the dough out to approximately 1/3-inch thick. (If the dough is too hard to roll or begins to crack, let it rest at room temperature for a few minutes until pliable.) With a sharp knife, cut the dough into rectangle shapes about 1 by 3-inches. Arrange on the prepared baking sheets and follow the cooking instructions as above. Dust slightly cooled cookies with powdered sugar through a fine mesh strainer.
SHORTBREAD COOKIES
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
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 COOKIES II
Use only butter in these for best flavor.
Provided by Sally
Categories Desserts Cookies Butter Cookie Recipes Shortbread Cookie Recipes
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
- Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Stir in vanilla; add flour and mix well.
- Put through cookie press and form cookies onto baking sheets. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 489.5 calories, Carbohydrate 48.6 g, Cholesterol 81.3 mg, Fat 31.1 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 4.6 g, SaturatedFat 19.5 g, Sodium 218.8 mg, Sugar 16.9 g
VANILLA SHORTBREAD COOKIES
Categories Cookies Mixer Dessert Bake Buffet Vanilla Bon Appétit Kidney Friendly Vegetarian Pescatarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Makes about 3 dozen
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Sift flour, 3/4 cup powdered sugar, cornstarch, and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Gradually beat in granulated sugar and vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients in 3 additions, mixing until just blended each time. Gather dough into ball; divide in half. Roll each half into 6-inch-long log; wrap each log in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Position racks in top third and center of oven; preheat to 325°F. Cut each log crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices. Arrange slices on 2 heavy large baking sheets, spacing 1/2 inch apart (cookies will spread very little). Bake cookies 9 minutes. Reverse baking sheets; bake just until cookies turn golden brown at edges, about 9 minutes longer. Cool cookies on sheets 1 minute. Using thin metal spatula, transfer cookies to racks; cool.
Tips:
- Use high-quality butter. This will make your cookies richer and more flavorful.
- Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This will help to incorporate air into the dough, making your cookies lighter and more tender.
- Chill the dough before baking. This will help to prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.
- Bake the cookies until they are just set. Overbaking will make them dry and crumbly.
- Let the cookies cool completely before storing them. This will help to prevent them from becoming soft and sticky.
Conclusion:
Vanilla shortbread cookies are a classic for a reason. They are simple to make, delicious, and perfect for any occasion. The tips in this article will help you make the best vanilla shortbread cookies possible. So next time you are looking for a sweet treat, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
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