Shortbread Cookies

37 mins
Serves 1
instagram.com

Directions

  1. 1Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C).
  2. 2Fork the softened butter in a bowl until soft.
  3. 3Add salt to the butter.
  4. 4Add sugar to the butter and salt mixture.
  5. 5Fork the butter, salt, and sugar mixture some more.
  6. 6Add good vanilla extract to the mixture.
  7. 7Fork the vanilla into the mixture.
  8. 8Add AP flour to the mixture.
  9. 9Fork the mixture until there are no visible ribbons of flour and it has a pebbly, dry look.
  10. 10Add the mixture to a 9-inch (or 8-inch) square pan.
  11. 11Spread the butter pebbles evenly throughout the pan using a bench scraper.
  12. 12Flatten the mixture in the pan with the bench scraper until it's flat.
  13. 13Bake in the oven for 37 minutes (adjust as needed for your oven, typically 35-39 minutes).
  14. 14Sprinkle sugar on top of the shortbread right after taking it out of the oven.
  15. 15Let the shortbread cool for a few minutes.
  16. 16Cut the shortbread into cookies while they are still a little warm, using the bench scraper.
  17. 17Remove the seam of the shortbread as a 'chef's tax'.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup softened butter
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 thirds cup sugar
  • 1.5 teaspoon good vanilla extract
  • 2 cups AP flour

Equipment

ovenbowlsquare panbench scraperfork

Tips

  • If you forget to take your butter out of the fridge, melt a little bit and mix it with the cold butter to get the right consistency.
  • Use good vanilla extract for a significant difference in taste.
  • Cut the shortbread while it's still a little warm.
  • You can eyeball the cuts or measure for perfect shortbread cookies.
  • These are the Ted Lasso biscuits, an Alexandra Stafford recipe.