I first tasted genuine Scottish shortbread throughout a wet afternoon in Edinburgh. Sheltering in a small tea store, I used to be served a plate of those easy but good butter cookies alongside a steaming pot of black tea. That first chew—crumbly, wealthy, and undeniably buttery—created a reminiscence that adopted me house.
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For years afterward, I’d attain for these iconic crimson tartan containers of Walkers Shortbread at any time when nostalgia struck. However once I found how easy they’re to make at house with simply 4 elements, all the things modified. After quite a few take a look at batches (and loads of taste-testing!), I’ve perfected this copycat recipe that captures the precise texture and taste of these well-known Scottish treats—with out the premium price ticket.
What Makes Walkers Shortbread Cookies So Good?
Walkers Shortbread has been crafting their well-known cookies since 1898, utilizing a conventional Scottish recipe that hasn’t modified in generations. The sweetness lies in its simplicity—pure butter, flour, sugar, and a contact of salt create that signature melt-in-your-mouth texture and wealthy taste that’s unimaginable to withstand.
This do-it-yourself model stays true to the basic, specializing in high quality elements and correct method. The result’s a buttery shortbread with the right steadiness of sweetness and that particular crumbly-yet-tender texture that makes it practically unimaginable to eat only one.
Why You Ought to Attempt This Recipe
Walkers Shortbread are high-quality cookies, however they aren’t low-cost. A small packet can take a fairly large chew out of your snack price range. However if you make them at house, you should use premium elements and nonetheless lower your expenses.
Even for those who don’t thoughts splurging on shortbread on the retailer, when you see how simple and attractive this conventional Scottish shortbread cookie recipe is, you’ll by no means need to purchase premade shortbread once more.
This conventional shortbread recipe doesn’t comprise eggs, which is nice for these with an egg allergy.
Walker Shortbread Cookies Elements
To make this Walker shortbread recipe, you’ll want:
- Unsalted butter – Offers the wealthy, creamy basis and distinctive taste that defines shortbread; utilizing unsalted permits exact management over salt content material
- Powdered sugar – Creates a extra delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture than granulated sugar would supply
- Vanilla extract – Enhances the buttery taste with delicate heat and depth
- Salt – Balances the sweetness and intensifies the butter taste
- All-purpose flour – Varieties the construction of the cookies whereas sustaining tenderness when dealt with correctly
Tools Wanted
- Stand mixer or hand mixer with massive bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- 9×13-inch baking tray
- Parchment paper
- Rolling pin
- Dough scraper
- Pizza cutter or sharp knife
- Fork (for docking)
- Wire cooling rack
Why Use Unsalted Butter
Whereas at present’s store-bought salted butter comprises much less salt than the do-it-yourself butter of the previous, with out requirements for a way a lot salt is added to butter, most recipe writers want to name for the unsalted selection. That manner, you possibly can add salt as wanted.
Methods to Bake Walkers Shortbread Cookies
To make the shortbread dough:
- Take the unsalted butter out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature.
- Within the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the softened butter and the powdered sugar. Combine at medium velocity for about two to a few minutes or till the sugar is totally included and the butter quantity will increase. In the event you don’t have a stand mixer, you should use a hand mixer or perhaps a fork (though the dough is kind of stiff).
- In a separate bowl, use a fork to whisk collectively the vanilla extract and the salt. Because the vanilla extract is the one liquid on this recipe, all of the salt should dissolve totally throughout this step, or the cookies could develop into gritty.
- Whereas the mixer is operating, add the combination to the creamed butter.
- Step by step add the flour to the bowl and proceed mixing till the dough is clean.
To form the cookies into shortbread fingers:
- Frivolously grease a 9 x 13-inch baking tray and line it with parchment paper. The oil helps the parchment paper keep on with the pan, so don’t skip this step. If you’re new to baking, try this video to learn to line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Use a dough scraper to assist switch the dough into the ready baking tray.
- Unfold the dough out on the baking tray and flatten. Shake the baking tray to interrupt up air bubbles and get the dough into the corners.
- Place one other sheet of greased parchment paper excessive of the tray with the greased facet down. Roll over the parchment paper with a rolling pin to clean the highest as a lot as doable. Take away the parchment paper and discard it.
To bake the cookies:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Place the shortbread within the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, take away the baking tray from the oven. Use a brief knife or a pizza cutter to chop the shortbread into 18 items, about 1.5 x 4 inches.
- Press the tines of a fork into each bit of shortbread to type two parallel traces of tiny holes in each bit. Docking the shortbread-like this may forestall it from puffing up.
- Return the shortbread to the oven and bake for 8 to 9 minutes.
- Place the baking tray on a wire and permit the shortbread to chill utterly earlier than consuming or storing.
Shortbread baking suggestions
🧈 BUTTER TIP: Room temperature butter is essential for correct creaming
📏 MEASURING TIP: Cautious flour measurement prevents dry cookies
⏰ TIMING TIP: Don’t skip the cooling step
What to Serve Walker Shortbread Cookies With
Shortbread goes exceptionally effectively with tea, particularly robust black tea. Since shortbread comprises a lot butter, nibbling on the cookies between sips of tea will assist cut back a number of the tea’s acidity with out including sugar or cream. Shortbread goes virtually as effectively with espresso if you’re not a tea individual.
You may as well use the cookies to make a shortbread crust for pies. Place the cookies in a meals processor and course of them till crumbly however not powdery, or place them in a plastic ziptop bag and roll over it with a rolling pin to crush them. Use the crumbs as an alternative of graham cracker crumbs.
Recipe Variations
- Chocolate dipped: Soften high-quality darkish or milk chocolate chips and dip half of every cooled shortbread finger for a sublime twist.
- Chocolate drizzle: Use a fork to drizzle melted chocolate throughout the tops of cooled cookies.
- Festive decorations: Add colourful sprinkles or finely chopped nuts to the chocolate whereas nonetheless moist.
- Lemon shortbread: Add 1 tablespoon of lemon zest to the butter and sugar combination for a citrus variation.
- Lavender shortbread: Add 1 teaspoon of culinary lavender to the flour for a delicate floral observe.
Methods to Retailer Shortbread Cookies
To maintain shortbread cookies recent, place them in an hermetic container.
You may as well freeze shortbread:
- Wrap particular person serving parts in plastic wrap.
- Freeze in a freezer-safe container.
- Defrost within the fridge in a single day.
How Lengthy Will They Final?
🍪Counter storage – retailer in an hermetic container in a cool and dry place for the most effective taste. These will keep recent for 4 to five days.
📅Prolonged storage – Refrigerate in an hermetic container for one week. Freeze for one month in an hermetic container.
Extra Copycat Cookie Recipes to Make
Favourite DIY Recipes
Take a look at extra of my simple recipes for cookies and the most effective DIY recipes on CopyKat!
Walkers Shortbread Cookies
Selfmade Walkers Scottish shortbread cookies are a scrumptious deal with to get pleasure from and share with mates.
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Servings:18
Energy:167kcal
Elements
- 2sticksunsalted buttersoftened at room temperature
- 1cuppowdered sugar
- 1teaspoonvanilla extract
- 1pinchsalt
- 2cupsall-purpose flour
Directions
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Gently spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray and line the pan with parchment paper. (See notes for recommendations on tips on how to greatest reduce the parchment paper and line the dish.)
In a big mixing bowl,mix the butter and powdered sugar utilizing a fork or electrical hand or stand mixer. Mix for two to three minutes till the combination is clean and totally mixed. Add the vanilla and salt and mix once more. Add 1/3 to 1/2 of the flour and mix till included. Proceed including the remainder of the flour in batches and mixing till all of the flour is included and clean. The dough ought to be thick and velvety.
Switch the dough to the ready baking pan and press it flat along with your palms. Make sure to press throughout the whole floor and towards the corners. Place one other sheet of parchment paper on high of the dough and rub your palms,a small rolling pin,or a flat-bottomed glass over the parchment to additional clean the dough and create a superbly flat floor. Take away the highest parchment piece.
Bake the shortbread within the preheated oven for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes,take away the pan from the oven,however preserve the oven on.
Utilizing a pointy knife,make 5 even cuts parallel to the size of the pan,dividing the shortbread in 6 equal strips (the strips ought to be about 1 1/2 x 13 inches). Then make 2 even cuts parallel to the width of the pan,dividing every lengthy strip into thirds. This can make 18 items of shortbread,every about 1 ½ x 4 inches.
Gently press the tongs of a fork into each bit of shortbread,forming two parallel traces of equally spaced holes. These holes will create the standard Walker’s look.
Return the pan to the oven and proceed to bake for 8 to 9 minutes. Take away the pan from oven and permit the shortbread to chill utterly earlier than having fun with.
Notes
Professional Suggestions for Excellent Shortbread
- Temperature issues:Butter should be at true room temperature—gentle sufficient to go away a slight indent when pressed,however not melting or greasy.
- Measure flour appropriately:Spoon flour into measuring cups and stage with a knife somewhat than scooping immediately with the measuring cup,which compacts flour and can lead to dry cookies.
- Don’t rush the cooling:Permitting the cookies to chill utterly within the pan helps them agency up and obtain that good shortbread texture.
- Mild dealing with:Shortbread dough ought to be dealt with minimally to keep away from growing gluten,which makes cookies robust as an alternative of tender.
- Even thickness:Use the rolling pin with parchment methodology to make sure your shortbread is completely even for uniform baking.
- Though these cookies received’t rise,use a baking dish that’s at the least 1 to 2 inches deep for greatest outcomes.
This shortbread isn’t “crunchy.” It’s gentle and barely chewy,however agency sufficient to carry its form after reducing.
LINING A BAKING DISH WITH PARCHMENT PAPER:Lower a sheet of parchment paper massive sufficient to cowl the dish with about 2 inches of overhang. Utilizing your thumbs and index fingers,press the parchment paper down into the dish,extending your fingers strongly into the corners to make an indentation. Take away the parchment from the dish and use a pair of scissors to make 8 cuts within the parchment:2 cuts main to every indentation from either side of the paper. Make sure your cuts don’t meet each other;the corners of the paper ought to stay hooked up. There ought to be about 2 inches from every indentation to the top of the paper,so chances are you’ll must trim the surplus if it exceeds this size. Place the parchment paper again into the dish,tucking the corners behind the perimeters of the parchment. Press the paper along with your fingers alongside the sides of the dish to clean it into place. It ought to maintain up properly.
Diet
Energy:167kcal| Carbohydrates:17g| Protein:2g| Fats:10g| Saturated Fats:6g| Polyunsaturated Fats:0.4g| Monounsaturated Fats:3g| Trans Fats:0.4g| Ldl cholesterol:27mg| Sodium:4mg| Potassium:18mg| Fiber:0.4g| Sugar:7g| Vitamin A:314IU| Calcium:5mg| Iron:1mg
Frequent Questions &Troubleshooting
Q:Why did my shortbread unfold an excessive amount of?A:The butter was possible too heat. Subsequent time,in case your kitchen is scorching,chill the formed dough for quarter-hour earlier than baking.
Q:Why are my cookies too crumbly and falling aside?A:You could have added an excessive amount of flour. Measure fastidiously and do not forget that shortbread ought to be considerably crumbly—it’s a part of its attraction!
Q:Can I exploit salted butter as an alternative?A:Sure,however omit the extra salt within the recipe.
Q:Why dock the cookies with a fork?A:Docking creates small steam vents that forestall the shortbread from puffing up and helps it bake evenly.
Scaling the Recipe
- For a smaller batch:Halve all elements and use an 8×8-inch pan. Scale back preliminary baking time to fifteen minutes,retaining the second bake at 8-9 minutes.
- For a bigger batch:Double the recipe and use two 9×13-inch pans,or a single half-sheet pan (roughly 18×13 inches).
- Particular person cookies:As a substitute of baking as one sheet,you possibly can roll out the dough to ½-inch thickness and reduce with cookie cutters. Scale back whole baking time to about 15-18 minutes.
Dietary Modifications
- Gluten-free:Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking mix. Add ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum in case your mix doesn’t already comprise it.
- Vegan:Substitute butter with a high-quality plant-based butter designed for baking. Earth Stability buttery sticks or Miyoko’s cultured vegan butter work effectively.
- Lowered sugar:The sugar could be decreased by as much as 25% with minimal influence on texture.
Artistic Makes use of for Shortbread Cookies
- Pie crust:Course of cookies in a meals processor till crumbly however not powdery. Use as a substitute for graham cracker crust in cheesecakes or no-bake pies.
- Ice cream topping:Crumble over vanilla ice cream with a drizzle of caramel sauce.
- Parfait layers:Create elegant dessert parfaits by alternating crumbled shortbread with whipped cream and fruit compote.
- Present giving:Package deal in ornamental tins or containers lined with parchment paper for a do-it-yourself vacation reward.
