Traditional Scottish Shortbread Cookies

What comes to mind when you think about shortbread cookies?

For me, shortbread is so associated with Scotland, red tartan boxes automatically come to mind. Walkers Shortbread is the gold standard of commercially made Scottish shortbread, and they even did a tie-in with Outlander.

And while Walker’s is very good, homemade shortbread cookies are actually incredibly easy to make, using only three ingredients!

Well, maybe four...I’ll get to that in a few minutes.

Why is it called shortbread?

To answer this question, let’s turn to that most trusted of sources…Wikipedia:

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"Shortbread is a biscuit traditionally made from one part white sugar, two parts butter, and three parts flour. Other ingredients like ground rice or corn flour are sometimes added to alter the texture."

Originating in Scotland, the first printed shortbread recipe appeared in 1736, from a Scotswoman named Mrs. McLintock.

But even before that, shortbread cookies (or more accurately, shortbread biscuits) were widely associated with Christmas and Hogmanay (New Year's Eve).

It was even said that "Mary Stuart, the 16th century Queen of Scots, was famously fond of shortbread and contributed to the beloved pastry's elevation in status.," according to The History of Shortbread.

Shortbread's popularity is universal. Walkers Shortbread is exported around the world in their iconic Royal Stewart tartan.

Lots of info here…definitions, history, and some math, too (yay!). But nary a word about why it’s called shortbread.

What being short does to pastries

For that, let’s visit British Food: A  History:

"The large amount of butter is what makes shortbread short: the term short, when applied to biscuits and pastry, means crumbly, like shortcrust pastry should be. It is the reason why the fat added to biscuits and pastries is called shortening."

Alright, so it’s the presence of lots of butter that makes it short?

Still not answered...why shortbread?

We're getting closer, but we’ve still not answered the etymology question. Why is it called shortbread?

Well, The History of Shortbread mentions "(i)n medieval times, the word "short" applied to crisp, crumbly things. In the 17th century, this term began to include baked goods such as bread, cakes, and biscuits rich in fat such as shortening or butter."

Ironically enough, those medieval chefs described not only the name of the pastry, but what happens chemically in the dough. For that, let's turn to HuffPost Taste:

"Shortening got its name because of what it does to flour. Introducing fat into baked goods interferes with the formation of the gluten matrix in the dough. As a result of its interference, gluten strands end up shorter which in turn creates a softer, more crumbly baked good.

It’s the reason that cakes and pastries are soft and breads not so much. But funny enough, shortening got its name way before anyone knew anything about the chemical reaction of fat and gluten, and that’s because the word short used to mean tender in reference to food."

Now we’re getting somewhere! Math and Science in one little cookie. Fabulous!

What you need

Whew…that was exhausting! But don’t throw in the towel just yet (especially since I have enough laundry to do as it is).

Let’s look at the info from Wikipedia again.

There’s made mention of two interesting trivia tidbits: the recipe ratio of 3-2-1 flour-butter-sugar, and something about altering the structure using other ingredients.

Shall we dive in a bit deeper, then?

Flour, butter, and sugar

There are many different versions of the flour-fat-sugar amounts in shortbread recipes, and how soft, sweet, soft, or buttery the results are varies considerably.

Interesting, considering that you'd think only having three ingredients wouldn't leave much wriggle room.

I had never seen the ratio of flour, butter, and sugar mentioned before I started researching this post. Naturally I had to check to see if my basic recipe fit the bill.

The answer is…almost. My recipe is 18-16-7 and the ratio would have it as 18-12-6. So I have slightly more sugar (2 tablespoons), and about ¼ cup more butter.

No wonder my shortbread is buttery goodness!

The type of butter matters

I keep saying there are only three ingredients to homemade shortbread cookies, and that's true, up to a point.

There's an assumption that you'll be using salted butter. If you're using unsalted butter you have to...say it with me now...add salt.

Why does the recipe assume salted butter is being used?

Remember that the original recipe was first written in the early 18th century, and presumably made even before that. Salt was used to keep butter fresher longer without the need for refrigeration.

Nowadays, most bakers use unsalted butter so we can control the amount of salt in the dish.

Use either kind of butter you'd like, but add salt if needed. So there are three (and possibly four) ingredients in a traditional shortbread recipe.

How to make Scottish Shortbread

Step 1: Make the shortbread dough

There are two different ways to make the shortbread dough.

One technique mixes the flour and sugar together, then cuts in the butter, like if you were making scones (before adding cream, that is).

The other creams the butter and sugar together (photo 1), then adds in the flour (photo 2).

Step 2: Transfer dough to pan

Press the dough in a 9- x 9-inch baking pan, smoothing it out as evenly as possible, then pick the dough with a fork (photo 3).

I cover my dough with plastic wrap and start by using my hands, then use a pie pan roller to get the dough as even as possible.

Chilling the dough while the oven preheats gives the butter time to firm up so the resulting shortbread is nice and tender.

If you prefer a thicker and softer shortbread, bake the dough in an 8- x 8-inch baking pan. You can also be double the recipe and bake it in a 9- x 13-inch baking pan for 30 to 35 minutes.

Step 4: Bake, then portion

The shortbread bakes 25 to 30 minutes. It's best to cut the shortbread into squares or bars when it first comes out of the oven. The dough will be soft and forgiving (photo 4).

If you wait until the shortbread cools before you cut it, you'll have a lot of crumbs to contend with.

Questions asked and answered

Here are some questions you might have...

Pro Tip: The many uses of shortbread cookies

Shortbread is a very versatile cookie. It's like the vanilla ice cream of the cookie world. Make a plain dough, or flavor it with different add-ins like lemon zest, almond extract, or essence of lavender. Maybe substitute brown sugar for the white sugar for a richer flavor.

I've even made savory shortbread with garlic powder and parmesan cheese (yes, I omitted the sugar).

Shortbread is also commonly used as a base for pies and bars. You don't think about it, it's just there. Think lemon bars (or maybe Mint Lemon Lime bars?). Most pies that use a pastry crust can also be turned into pie bars (aka slab pies). Pecan bars and Brown Sugar Pie bars come to mind.

Think of the possibilities!

Whenever I have a craving for a cookie that doesn't take too much effort, I make a batch of shortbread cookies. They're easy, tasty, and really fun to play with variations.

These traditional Scottish Shortbread Cookies might have short in its name, but it’s big in flavor!

Related Recipes

Shortbread isn't just for eating out of hand (although that's a big plus!). It's also used as a base for cookie and pie bars. Quick and easy!

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