Classic Shortbread
A beautiful, buttery shortbread cookie recipe. This classic recipe is where it all begins. With only a few simple ingredients and one of our shortbread pans you can make a wonderful delicious treat.
1/2 cup butter at room temperature
1/3 cup powdered sugar (unsifted)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour (unsifted)
Using the back of a large spoon, cream the butter until it is light. Cream in the powered sugar, then the vanilla. Now work in the flour. Knead the dough on an unfloured board until nice and smooth. Spray the shortbread pan very lightly with a non-stick vegetable oil spray. Put the ball of dough in the middle of the pan, and working out from the center, firmly press the dough into the pan. Prick the entire surface with a fork, and bake the shortbread right in the pan at 325 degrees for about 30-35 minutes, or until it is lightly browned. Be sure that the middle is thoroughly cooked and doesn’t look slightly opaque or the shortbread might stick in the pan.
Let the shortbread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before you loosen the edges with a knife and flip the pan over onto a wood cutting board. If the shortbread does not come right out, hold the pan upside down over the cutting board and firmly tap one edge of the pan against the board. This should loosen the shortbread and it should drop out. Cut the shortbread into serving pieces while it is still warm.
Let the pan cool before washing it in the sink or dishwasher.
I discovered your cookie molds and shortbread pans about 12 years ago. I was doing some Christmas shopping in Branson, MO., and saw this thing sticking out from under the bottom shelf of a bookcase that was being used for displays in a Vermillion store. I was curious so I went over and pulled it out to see what it was. The clerk was a little surprised when I took it to the counter to purchase, and i was equally surprised to find out it had been marked down to a ridiculously low price, although how they expected to sell it when it was UNDER a bookcase I have no idea. Anyway, I drove the two hours to get home, and that evening I made my first shortbread. I’ve never been a fan of shortbread, and if you have ever tried the store bought variety that’s been sitting in some warehouse for God only knows how long, you can understand why I wasn’t impressed. However, when I took out my first pan of shortbread, and my husband and I tried it, it was like manna fro heaven. I now make shortbread every Christmas that I give away as gifts. I have two of your shortbread pans, several molds and cookie stamps. I never fail to get requests for more shortbread, and that which I give away as gifts to co-workers rarely makes it home because they eat the entire piece I’ve given them, no matter how big, at their desks by the end of the day. I’ve never been able to find another Vermillion store, and that first mold I’m afraid was taken from me, but thank goodness for ebay because that is how I’ve been able to build up my collection. I’m now getting ready to begin my Christmas baking for a brunch/cookie swap party I’m having next weekend and my friends and co-workers, and I have a variety of seasonal molds to use. I will forever be grateful for that first shortbread pan I found, and your wonderful shortbread recipe!
What a lovely letter! Thank you so much. This is a real Christmas present for me.
Best,
Lucy
Where can I purchase these shortbread molds? I recently had a devastating fire and lost all of my shortbread molds. I traditionally make shortbread for Christmas, but unfortunately will not be able to this year. I am very heartbroken.
There is a tab on this site that says”Find a Store”. Click on that. There you will find a list of retailers who carry my products, arranged by states. There is also a category that lists stores that sell over the internet and many of the “brick and mortar”stores mail order as well..
Lucy
Dear Lucy,
I have 4 of your pans and a cookie mold, and my 7 year old grandson just loves to make the cookies. I am a hospice nurse, and these cookies make easy and lovely gifts to take to my families at Christmas. It brightens their holiday and elicits many stories of the old timey Christmases they had in their youth. Thank you so much for making these!
Tracy
Tracy, this means more to me than you could know. My mother went into Hospice care about a month ago. I have all the respect in the world for the work you do. You make such a huge difference for so many people, and I am grateful that I have an opportunity to play a very small part in that work… and to thank you.
My very best,
Lucy
Thank you for posting this recipe. I’ve had a shortbread pan for years, but managed to lose the recipe. I was getting frustrated with an on-line search because none of the recipes I found were like what I remembered. Then I found yours. Not sure if this is the same one, but it is so close it doesn’t matter. It might even be better!
Happy baking!
Yesterday I found a 1988 shortbread mold for $5 at my local thrift store…. what a bargain. I went straight home and baked shortbread, and then served it as part of dessert when friends came to dinner last night. Yum!
Great bargain! I love thrift stores.
Lucy