Best Shortbread Recipe

This is absolutely the best shortbread recipe!

If, for some weird reason, you have a fear of baking cookies, this is the recipe that will free you forever. Just 3 ingredients and about an hour of your time will convince family and friends that you have been baking forever.

Once you get going, you can make several batches of these shortbread cookies and freeze them.

Come holiday time, take them out of the freezer, sprinkle the tops with some colored sugar, package them up with a pretty bow, and you have the perfect holiday party gift!

Best Shortbread Recipe

2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar

With an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar on high speed until it is light and fluffy. Stir in the flour and mix well. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Lightly flour a work surface and roll out the chilled dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into shapes with your favorite cookie cutters, or just plain rounds. Place the cookies on ungreased cookie sheets, at least 2 inches apart.

Bake the cookies for 12 to 15 minutes, until the edges just begin to turn golden brown. Remove the sheet pans from the oven and let the cookies set for a few minutes, then remove them to wire racks to cool completely.

Store the shortbread cookies in an airtight container for several days. To freeze, wrap them well in plastic wrap.

Food For Thought - You can decorate your favorite shapes in many different ways, but the classic finishing touch is just a sprinkling of sugar. Since true shortbread cookies aren't overly sweet, this may be just the touch you need to make this your favorite treat.

You Might Need:

• Kitchen Supply Aluminum Half Size Sheet Pan 18-inch by 13-inch

• Calphalon 12-by-17-Inch Rectangular Nonstick Cooling Rack

• Silpat 11-5/8-by-16-1/2-Inch Nonstick Silicone Baking Mat

• Oxo Good Grips Cookie Scoop