Delicious Shortbread Cookies That Melt in Your Mouth

Step 4: Incorporate the Flour

Gradually add the flour and salt to the butter mixture. Use a spatula or your hands to gently combine. Do not overmix—overworking the dough can develop gluten, resulting in a tougher cookie. The dough should come together but remain soft and slightly crumbly.

Step 5: Shape the Cookies

You can shape your shortbread in several ways:

1. Traditional Round Cookies: Roll the dough into a log, wrap in plastic, chill for 30 minutes, then slice into ½-inch thick rounds.
2. Classic Shortbread Fingers: Press dough into a rectangle, score into fingers with a knife, then bake.
3. Individual Cutouts: Roll out the dough to ¼-inch thickness and use cookie cutters for fun shapes.

Pro tip: Lightly flour your surface and rolling pin to prevent sticking, but avoid adding too much flour as it can make the cookies dry.

Step 6: Chill Before Baking

For the best texture, chill the shaped dough for 15–20 minutes before baking. This helps the cookies hold their shape and enhances their delicate crumb.

Step 7: Bake to Perfection

Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between them. Bake in the preheated oven for 18–22 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn a light golden color.

Do not overbake! Shortbread should remain pale and tender. It may look slightly underdone in the center, but it will firm up as it cools.

Step 8: Cool and Serve

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This prevents them from breaking. Once cooled, they are ready to enjoy. Optionally, drizzle with chocolate, dust with powdered sugar, or serve plain to savor the buttery flavor.

Tips for Truly Melt-in-Your-Mouth Shortbread

1. Use high-quality butter: The flavor and texture depend heavily on butter quality.
2. Powdered sugar instead of granulated: It gives a smoother texture that melts beautifully.
3. Handle dough gently: Overworking will make cookies dense.
4. Avoid high heat: Baking at a lower temperature ensures even cooking without browning too much.
5. Chill for extra crispness: Shortbread tastes better when slightly chilled before baking.

Conclusion

These Delicious Shortbread Cookies That Melt in Your Mouth are buttery, tender, and perfect for any occasion. With just a handful of ingredients and some careful technique, you can create cookies that are sophisticated in flavor and delightfully simple in texture. Whether enjoyed with a cup of tea, gifted in a festive tin, or savored straight from the cooling rack, these cookies are sure to become a cherished favorite.

If you want, I can also provide a variation for chocolate-dipped shortbread that keeps the cookies soft inside but adds a luxurious chocolate coating—perfect for gifting.

Do you want me to do that?