Everyone loves these melt-in-your-mouth cookies. Discover our favorite shortbread recipes that will please all palates.
22 Shortbread Recipes Every Baker Has to Try
Updated on Apr. 06, 2023
Scottish Shortbread
My mother, who is of Scottish heritage, passed this shortbread recipe, along with other favorite recipes, on to me. When I entered this treat at our local fair, it won a red ribbon. —Rose Mabee, Selkirk, Manitoba
Discover the secret to the best shortbread (no extra tools or ingredients required!).
1/22
2/22
Lemon Shortbread Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I received this recipe from my cousin who tried to duplicate cookies she loved from a restaurant. It was in a cookbook she made for the family for Christmas! —Lorie Miner, Kamas, Utah
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 77 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 39mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
3/22
Scottish Shortbread
Total Time
35 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother, who is of Scottish heritage, passed this shortbread recipe, along with other favorite recipes, on to me. When I entered this treat at our local fair, it won a red ribbon. —Rose Mabee, Selkirk, Manitoba
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 123 calories, 8g fat (5g saturated fat), 20mg cholesterol, 62mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
4/22
Chocolate Hazelnut Shortbread
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 7-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
We love hazelnut flavor and cookies that aren’t too sweet, so this recipe is perfect for us! If you like your cookies on the sweeter side, bake up these crisp beauties and slather some Nutella between two to create an extra-special sandwich cookie. —Karla Johnson, East Helena, Montana
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 51 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 33mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
Millionaire Shortbread Bars
You have to try the million-dollar version of shortbread: millionaire bars. They’re topped with scratch-made caramel, chocolate ganache and flaky sea salt. And don’t forget to try more million-dollar recipes. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
5/22
6/22
Shortbread
Total Time
25 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
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
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 57 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 44mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
7/22
Butterscotch Shortbread
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
After sampling these tender cookies in a specialty store, I knew I had to duplicate them. My version has lots of toffee bits and butterscotch chips. I’ve given away dozens as home-baked gifts. —Sandra McKenzie, Braham, MN
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 76 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 45mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 fat, 1/2 starch.
8/22
Homemade Chocolate Shortbread
Total Time
30 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe has been in my files for a long time…probably from when I first learned to bake. Any chocolate lover will like these melt-in-your-mouth cookies. I make them year-round with variations. They’re even richer with a thin coat of icing or as a sandwich cookie with frosting in the middle. —Sarah Bueckert, Austin, Manitoba
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 64 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 31mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
9/22
Rosemary Shortbread Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
5-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Five simple ingredients, including fresh rosemary, create these tender, delicate sweets. —Amavida Coffee, Rosemary Beach, Florida
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 42 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 38mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
10/22
Coffee Shortbread
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
You’ll be remembered for these cookies when you serve them for a morning coffee or at a gathering. Melted chips drizzled on top make them look fancy, but they’re so easy to make. —Dixie Terry, Goreville, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 137 calories, 8g fat (5g saturated fat), 17mg cholesterol, 73mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
11/22
Cranberry Shortbread Stars
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My family loves shortbread and I love cranberries, so I decided to put the two together to make cranberry shortbread cookies. The star shape is a festive addition to my holiday cookie tray. —Sonya Labbe, West Hollywood, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 87 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 14mg cholesterol, 74mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
12/22
Rosemary-Lemon Shortbread Sandwich Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These beautiful shortbread sandwich cookies are always a welcome addition to our annual ladies holiday tea luncheon. The distinctive rosemary flavor, paired so well with the tangy lemon curd, has made them a favorite in our group for years! —Jamie Jones, Madison, Georgia
Nutrition Facts:
1 sandwich cookie: 144 calories, 8g fat (5g saturated fat), 25mg cholesterol, 91mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
13/22
Shortbread Sandwich Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I layer a creamy, coffee-flavored filling between buttery shortbread, then dip the sandwiches in chocolate. Guests always love them.—Bertha Seyer, Oak Ridge, Missouri
Nutrition Facts:
1 sandwich cookie: 130 calories, 8g fat (5g saturated fat), 17mg cholesterol, 55mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
14/22
15/22
Shortbread Hearts
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 2 dozen
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 171 calories, 10g fat (7g saturated fat), 20mg cholesterol, 83mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
16/22
Buttery 3-Ingredient Shortbread Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
16 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
With only a few ingredients, these butter shortbread cookies are so simple to prepare. —Pattie Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 183 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 31mg cholesterol, 2mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.
17/22
Caramel Pecan Shortbread
Total Time
45 min
Servings
about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandchildren look for Grandma’s “candy bar cookies” every Christmas. I recommend doubling the recipe for these sweet treats because they go so fast. —Dorothy Buiter, Worth, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 126 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 61mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein.
18/22
Chocolate Chunk Shortbread
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 dozen
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 105 calories, 7g fat (4g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 46mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
19/22
Whipped Shortbread
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
8 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These whipped shortbread Christmas cookies melt in your mouth. Mostly I make them for the holidays, but I’ll also prepare them year-round for wedding showers and afternoon teas. —Jane Ficiur, Bow Island, Alberta
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 87 calories, 6g fat (4g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 46mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
20/22
Crisp Lemon Shortbread
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Fresh juice and zest pair up to give my buttery cookies a lemony pop. Sprinkle sugar on top for extra sparkle. —Marcia Whitney, Gainesville, Florida
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 91 calories, 6g fat (4g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 46mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
21/22
22/22
Lavender Shortbread
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Lavender flowers can be used fresh or dried in cooking and baking. Their floral flavor is perfect for delicate shortbread cookies! —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 cookie: 71 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 37mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
