Whipped Shortbread
Super-light, melt-in-your-mouth whipped shortbread made with just three ingredients and no chilling.
Servings: 24 cookies
Calories: 106kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter 225 grams
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1½ cup all purpose flour
Optional
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Christmas sprinkles for decorating
Instructions
- Heat oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the softened butter on medium-high for 3–4 minutes, until pale, light, and fluffy.This step is key for the melt-away texture.
- Add the icing sugar and beat for another 1 minute until well combined and fluffy.
- Add the flour and mix on low until just combined. The dough will be soft and buttery but should hold shape.
- Scoop 1 tablespoon portions and place onto the baking tray.Lightly press a fork on top or gently flatten with your fingers.
- Sprinkle with Christmas sprinkles. Press very lightly so they stick.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the bottoms are just lightly golden. The tops should stay pale.
- Allow to cool on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Cookies will firm up as they cool.
Notes
- Whipping the butter long enough is key—you’re adding air, which gives the cookies their melt-away texture.
- Don’t overmix once the flour goes in. Too much mixing tightens the dough and reduces the softness.
- Keep the oven low and slow—shortbread should stay pale on top.
- If baking with kids, sprinkles are optional but always fun, and of course the sprinkles can be any color!
- These cookies are delicate straight from the oven; let them cool fully to firm up.
- Unsalted butter: The star of the recipe. Softened butter is essential for that whipped texture. To be honest, I always use salted butter. I actually prefer the taste of shortbread with a little salt, but I will leave that up to you.
- Icing sugar / powdered sugar: Gives a super-fine crumb and melt-in-the-mouth feel.
- All-purpose flour: Standard flour works beautifully here.
- For a gluten-free alternative, check out my melt-away cookie recipe; they are similar in texture but made with cornflour/corn starch.
- Vanilla extract (optional): Adds a gentle sweetness.
- Sprinkles: Christmas sprinkles if you’re making them festive, or skip for an everyday shortbread.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 106kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 236IU | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.4mg