This shortbread cookie recipe will make delicious cookies that melt in your mouth. You’ll WANT this easy recipe for parties, holidays, birthdays, or any time! Theyre are terrific to include when you’re entertaining with tea or hosting a dessert party. 

Today I’m sharing one of my go-to recipes for a sweet snack. This is my classic shortbread cookie recipe and the cookies just melt in your mouth! It’s the perfect recipe to use for holiday cookies or other shaped cookies, because they keep their shape and don’t spread out when baking.

I love to add food coloring to the dough, and use themed cookie cutters to make special cookies for St. Patrick’s day, Valentine’s day, or Halloween. You can also decorate them for Christmas, using icing and dragées. They’re so versatile!

If you don’t have a cookie cutter, just roll the dough into small balls and press them down to form round cookies.  You can also roll them out into small log shapes.

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A while back I found these great “cuppie” cutters at World Market, and couldn’t wait to make my own cuppie cookies. These cookies look so adorable hanging on the side of a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. For these I decorated them using cookie icing, which is great for adding color as it dries to a hard, candy-like coating.

This Shortbread Cookie Recipe is the BEST!

Yield: 3 dozen cookies

This is my go-to shortbread cookie recipe. Why veer away when you've got a good thing? These cookies are light as a feather and melt in your mouth. You MUST make these asap!

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Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• cookie icing if desired

Instructions

1. In a bowl, cream butter and sugar together with an electric mixer on low.
2. Add vanilla and combine.
3. Gradually add flour while continuing to mix on low.
4. With your hands form a ball with the dough and then press out on a lightly floured surface. Spread dough out to between 1/4 and 1/2 inch thickness.
5. Use cookie cutter to cut out shapes and bake in pre-heated oven at 350 degrees, for 9 to 11 minutes.
6. Remove cookies with a spatula and let cool on a wire rack.
7. Decorate with cookie icing and sprinkles if desired.

Notes

Use almond, coconut, or orange extract instead of the vanilla to impart a different flavor into the cookies.