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Butter Shortbread Cookies (3-Ingredients)

These Butter Shortbread Cookies are the easiest, most flavorful shortbread cookies we’ve had the joy of making. They’re melt-in-your-mouth tender, with just the right amount of crispy bite. They’re great for freezing or gifting.

shortbread cookies with colorful sprinkles.
These are the EASIEST Scottish shortbread cookies, and they’re absolutely melt-in-your-mouth perfect.

Video: Watch Us Make This Recipe

Why This Recipe Stands out

  • 3 Ingredients: Your pantry is probably already stocked with flour, butter, and sugar.
  • Melt-in-Your-Mouth: Your family and friends will absolutely adore these melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies.
  • Perfect Gifts That Stay Fresh: These are the perfect holiday cookies for gifting. They keep well and can even be shipped.
  • Use Any Colors and Shapes: You can change out the sprinkles and switch up the shapes to your heart’s content – for any occasion throughout the year.
  • Dough Can Be Made Ahead: Make the dough several weeks in advance.
  • Freezes Beautifully: Baked cookies freeze beautifully up to several weeks.

What is Scottish Shortbread?

Scottish shortbread cookies are the most simple cookies you can make during Christmas season and beyond. They’re called “short” because of the traditional ratio of the 1:2 ratio of sugar to butter, providing a higher fat content to the dough. This ratio is what yields a soft, buttery crumb that is literally melt-in-your-mouth amazing.

Scottish shortbread cookies use only flour, sugar, and butter, and are famous for their ultra-buttery, tender texture as well as their extraordinary flavor. They’re the perfect canvas for rolling and slicing, shaping with cookie cutters, and decorating any which way you’d like.

shortbread cookies with colorful sprinkles.
Shortbread cookies have a special butter to sugar ratio, which yields the tenderness they’re famous for.

Only 3 Ingredients

flour, butter, brown sugar for shortbread cookies.
Flour, butter, and brown sugar are all you need for perfect shortbread cookies. Coarse sugar or sprinkles are optional.

These buttery, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies contain only 3 simple, pure ingredients and nothing else. No fillers, no additives, nothing artificial at all.

  1. Salted Butter – you’ll want to keep the butter cold. No need to soften or melt the butter. No extra salt is needed in the recipe, since you’ll be using salted butter. However, if you use unsalted butter, you’ll want to add 1/4 tsp table salt.
  2. Light Brown Sugar – the tip for brown sugar is to use fresh brown sugar that has not lost any of its moisture from sitting in the pantry too long. Many shortbread recipes use white sugar or powdered sugar, but light brown sugar is the secret to a deliciously caramelized flavor.
  3. All Purpose Flour – simple, all-purpose flour will do just fine for this easy recipe.

Variations and Substitutions

These traditional shortbread cookies are perfect, but if you like to tinker with variations, here are a few suggestions:

  • Butter: If you only have unsalted butter, go ahead and use that – just add 1/4 tsp fine table salt to the dough mixture.
  • Shapes: Change up the shapes! You can cut these cookies into 3×1″ traditional shortbread rectangle shapes and poke decorative holes with a fork. You can also make cookie rounds, like we do with 4-Ingredient Pecan Sandies.
  • Caramel: Transform this traditional shortbread recipe into caramel shortbread cookies!
  • Chocolate: Drizzle or dip these cookies with chocolate, for an amazing treat. See our Shortbread Cookies with Chocolate.
shortbread cookies cut into shapes with colorful sprinkles.
Switch up the sprinkles and shapes to fit any occasion throughout the year.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add cold butter slices and brown sugar. Cream until mixture has a pasty texture. Scrape down sides and paddle. Add only 3 1/2 cups of the flour and mix on medium-low speed just until combined; do not over-mix.
  2. On a large board, sprinkle 1/2 cup flour to keep dough from sticking to the board. Knead dough by hand, adding only as much of the remaining 1/2 cup flour as needed to make a soft dough, while continuing to knead. The dough should end up soft and pliable, similar to play-dough, not sticky.
  1. Divide dough into 3 balls, and flatten them into discs. Wrap tightly with cling wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes or until firm enough to roll and cut shapes.
  2. Take out one of dough discs and roll it out to about 1/2 inch thickness – lightly flour board if needed. Either cut into 3×1 rectangular strips, triangles, or use cookie cutters (I use 1-2″ cookie cutters). Chill and bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes.

    For complete list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.

Make Ahead, Freeze, or Gift

These 3-ingredient buttery shortbread cookies make my top 3 favorite holiday cookies every single year. Not only are they easy to make and taste magnificent, they’re perfect for gifting:

  • These cookies keep nicely for days, making them a tasty edible gift.
  • The dough and baked cookies both freeze beautifully for several weeks.
  • Once I make a batch of this cookie dough, I often use half and freeze the other half for all those seasonal cookie emergencies that inevitably pop up during busy holiday season and beyond.

** Love crisp yet tender cookies? You’ll adore these Russian tea cakes!

Commonly Asked Questions

Are butter cookies and shortbread cookies the same?

The main difference in the two types of cookies is the amount of sugar to butter ratio. Butter cookies generally contain more sugar and are baked a higher temperatures. Shortbread cookies contain a higher fat content, which yields a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

What is the difference between Scottish shortbread cookies and regular shortbread cookies?

Texture is the main difference. Scottish shortbread recipes uses flour, butter, sugar and optional salt. Regular shortbread often incorporates leavening agents like baking soda or baking powder.

Are shortbread cookies soft or crisp?

Shortbread is a wonderful balance of tender and slightly crisp textures. There will be a light crunch, followed by a wonderful melt-in-your-mouth sensation.

Can shortbread be made with margarine?

It’s important that shortbread be made with 100% pure, quality butter. It’s the high butter content that makes these shortbread cookies so incredible.

Why does shortbread dough need to be chilled before using?

Chilled dough allows butter to re-solidify and helps the cookies keep their shape during baking, preventing them from spreading too much.

Can the dough be made ahead of time and frozen?

Shortbread cookie dough freezes well. Divide dough into 3 even portions, wrap them airtight, and freeze for up to 1 month. Defrost desired amount of dough in the fridge a the night before and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes prior to rolling out.

Can baked shortbread cookies be frozen?

Baked shortbread cookies freeze beautifully. Wrap them airtight and freeze for up to 1 month.

Shop This Recipe

  • cookie cutters

    A must-have for all the holiday cookies, from Christmas to Easter. Stainless steel.

  • cooling racks

    Ever run out of counter space for all the cooling racks? This multi-tiered rack even collapses for further space saving.

  • silicone baking mat

    This is a must-have for anyone who loves to bake cookies. Non-stick, reusable, easy to clean.

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shortbread cookies with colorful sprinkles.

3-Ingredient Buttery Shortbread Cookies

4.52 from 735 ratings
These buttery shortbread cookies are simply divine. They are melt-in-your-mouth amazing, bursting with the goodness of butter, and easily dressed up or down.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 3 dozen
Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients  

Instructions

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, add cold butter slices and brown sugar. Using paddle attachment on medium-high speed, cream until mixture is combined and has a pasty texture. Scrape down sides and paddle.
  • Add only 3 1/2 cups of the flour and mix on medium-low speed just until combined; do not over-mix.
  • On a large board, sprinkle 1/2 cup flour to keep dough from sticking to the board. Use rubber spatula to transfer dough to the board. Knead dough by hand, adding only as much of the remaining 1/2 cup flour as needed to make a soft dough, while continuing to knead. The dough should end up soft and pliable, similar to play-dough, not sticky.
  • Gently work in desired amount of sprinkles, if using them.
    Important Note: You may not end up using all the flour, depending on how dough feels; it's important to stop adding flour as soon as your dough feels like soft play dough.
  • Divide dough into 3 balls, and flatten them into discs. Wrap tightly with cling wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes or until firm enough to roll and cut shapes.
  • Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325F, with rack on lower middle position. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats; set aside.
  • Take out one of dough discs and roll it out to about 1/2 inch thickness – lightly flour board if needed. Either cut into 3×1 rectangular strips, triangles, or use 1-2" diameter cookie cutters.
  • Place cookies 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Poke cookies with fork on top for a design, if not using sprinkles. Place entire baking sheet in fridge for 15 minutes.
  • Bake chilled cookies for 15-20 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. For smaller cookies, bake closer to 15 minutes; bake longer for larger shapes. Repeat with the remaining dough, working in batches so dough stays chilled.
  • Cool completely on wire rack before serving. Cookies keep very when sealed airtight, at room temp.

Notes

  • Note that 2 cups butter = 4 sticks butter.
  • Many shortbread recipes use granulated or confectioner’s sugar, but light brown sugar is the secret to a wonderfully caramelized flavor. 
  • If you need to use unsalted butter, add 1/4 tsp fine table salt to the dough.
  • I use 1-2″ cookie cutters, but feel free to use your favorite shapes, as long as the dough is rolled out to 1/2″ thick. 
  • If you have unbaked cookies waiting to go into the oven, place them in the fridge to keep cold until it’s their turn to bake.
  • Unbaked dough can be frozen for up to 2 months. Wrap completely airtight; defrost dough when ready to roll/cut.
  • These cookies are part of our delicious Cookie Recipes Collection
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If you enjoyed these cookies, please come back and give them a rating. We ❤️ hearing from you! 

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 128kcal | Carbohydrates: 13.4g | Protein: 1.3g | Fat: 7.8g | Saturated Fat: 4.9g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 20.3mg | Sodium: 62.3mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 4.5g
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian
Method: baking, Oven

More to Bake and Eat

4.52 from 735 votes (623 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




300 comments

    • Stephanie Stebbins
    • 5 stars

    YUM, yum, yum! This looks so easy that I have to try! Thank you so much!

      • chewoutloud

      You’re so welcome, Stephanie 🙂

    • Renata

    wow, just 3 ingredients that is easy to shop for then and I think they would be gone fast here too 🙂

      • chewoutloud

      They’re also very popular when I wrap them in cute little bags for gifts 🙂

    • Stephanie
    • 5 stars

    I came across this recipe last year on Pinterest, and made a batch of these (along with several other cookies) to give away as Christmas cookies to friends and neighbors. My husband LOVED them so much they have become a staple in our house. He has them almost daily with his tea. I make them without the sprinkles (except at Xmas). The recipe makes a lot of cookies, so I divide the dough in half and freeze half until the first batch is gone. The only note I have is that I divide the dough in half (or thirds) as soon as I take it out of the mixer. I find kneading in the rest of the flour is easier with a smaller amount of dough. Thanks for the recipe – I’ll be making another batch soon!!

      • chewoutloud

      So happy you guys love these! I’m making more of them tommorrow with my boys as well…Annual tradition

        • Cooper

        Do you have to use salted butter?

        • chewoutloud

        I would definitely use salted butter, as it gives a bit of salt to balance out the sweet. If you have only unsalted butter, you’ll want to add about 1/2 tsp salt to the dough.

        • Rhonda

        Can these be just rolled in balls and baked?

        • chewoutloud

        Rhonda, you can roll them into balls and slightly flatten them into circle-shapes, since they shouldn’t spread too much in the oven. Bake time may vary, depending on how thick your cookies are. Enjoy and happy holidays!! 🙂

    • Sara

    I need help! So I made the mix and I don’t know exactly where it went wrong, but they are so soft and sticky but Ive added tons of flour and it tastes like pure flour, any way to salvage these guys? Thanks!

      • chewoutloud

      Sara, the dough should definitely not be sticky, so let’s see…did you use 2 cups cold butter (4 sticks?)
      The butter needs to be cold/chilled. Once it’s beaten to fluffy/light with the sugar, you should only need the amount of flour specified in recipe, and it should feel like play-dough. Did you divide the dough and chill it long enough? Those are the main things I can think of. (P.S. If you added a ton of extra flour, it will change the mixture, so the only way to salvage would be to add back proportionately correct amount of butter and sugar.) Wish I could be there to help sort it out alongside of you 🙂

        • Sara
        • 5 stars

        I couldn’t figure how much flower I added, since I am making this in germany, maybe there was biiit of a difference in the ingredients. I did manage to salvage them thoguh by turning them into chocolate butter cookies so with 4 ingredients. Which turned out actually REALLY good. When I realised there was too much flour, I added 2 spoons of melted dark chocolate to each third and
        a bit more of sugar, they became simply YUM! Thanks so much for your help and for the amazing recipe! I loved also your quick reply! Amazing! Im so happy!!!!

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