I first tasted genuine Scottish shortbread throughout a wet afternoon in Edinburgh. Sheltering in a small tea store, I used to be served a plate of those easy but excellent butter cookies alongside a steaming pot of black tea. That first chunk—crumbly, wealthy, and undeniably buttery—created a reminiscence that adopted me house.
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For years afterward, I’d attain for these iconic pink tartan containers of Walkers Shortbread each time nostalgia struck. However after I found how easy they’re to make at house with simply 4 substances, every little thing modified. After quite a few check batches (and loads of taste-testing!), I’ve perfected this copycat recipe that captures the precise texture and taste of these well-known Scottish treats—with out the premium price ticket.
What Makes Walkers Shortbread Cookies So Good?
Walkers Shortbread has been crafting their well-known cookies since 1898, utilizing a standard Scottish recipe that hasn’t modified in generations. The sweetness lies in its simplicity—pure butter, flour, sugar, and a contact of salt create that signature melt-in-your-mouth texture and wealthy taste that’s inconceivable to withstand.
This home made model stays true to the basic, specializing in high quality substances and correct method. The result’s a buttery shortbread with the right steadiness of sweetness and that particular crumbly-yet-tender texture that makes it practically inconceivable to eat only one.
Why You Ought to Strive This Recipe
Walkers Shortbread are high-quality cookies, however they aren’t low cost. A small packet can take a fairly large chunk out of your snack funds. However whenever you make them at house, you should utilize premium substances and nonetheless get monetary savings.
Even in the event you don’t thoughts splurging on shortbread on the retailer, when you see how straightforward and engaging this conventional Scottish shortbread cookie recipe is, you’ll by no means wish to purchase premade shortbread once more.
This conventional shortbread recipe doesn’t comprise eggs, which is nice for these with an egg allergy.
Walker Shortbread Cookies Components
To make this Walker shortbread recipe, you’ll want:
- Unsalted butter – Gives the wealthy, creamy basis and distinctive taste that defines shortbread; utilizing unsalted permits exact management over salt content material
- Powdered sugar – Creates a extra delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture than granulated sugar would offer
- Vanilla extract – Enhances the buttery taste with refined heat and depth
- Salt – Balances the sweetness and intensifies the butter taste
- All-purpose flour – Kinds the construction of the cookies whereas sustaining tenderness when dealt with correctly
Tools Wanted
- Stand mixer or hand mixer with giant bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- 9×13-inch baking tray
- Parchment paper
- Rolling pin
- Dough scraper
- Pizza cutter or sharp knife
- Fork (for docking)
- Wire cooling rack
Why Use Unsalted Butter
Whereas right now’s store-bought salted butter accommodates much less salt than the home made butter of the previous, with out requirements for the way a lot salt is added to butter, most recipe writers choose to name for the unsalted selection. That manner, you may add salt as wanted.
How one can Bake Walkers Shortbread Cookies
To make the shortbread dough:
- Take the unsalted butter out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature.
- Within the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the softened butter and the powdered sugar. Combine at medium pace for about two to a few minutes or till the sugar is totally included and the butter quantity will increase. When you don’t have a stand mixer, you should utilize a hand mixer or perhaps a fork (though the dough is kind of stiff).
- In a separate bowl, use a fork to whisk collectively the vanilla extract and the salt. Because the vanilla extract is the one liquid on this recipe, all of the salt should dissolve totally throughout this step, or the cookies might develop into gritty.
- Whereas the mixer is operating, add the combination to the creamed butter.
- Step by step add the flour to the bowl and proceed mixing till the dough is easy.
To form the cookies into shortbread fingers:
- Flippantly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking tray and line it with parchment paper. The oil helps the parchment paper persist with the pan, so don’t skip this step. If you’re new to baking, try this video to learn to line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Use a dough scraper to assist switch the dough into the ready baking tray.
- Unfold the dough out on the baking tray and flatten. Shake the baking tray to interrupt up air bubbles and get the dough into the corners.
- Place one other sheet of greased parchment paper excessive of the tray with the greased facet down. Roll over the parchment paper with a rolling pin to easy the highest as a lot as attainable. Take away the parchment paper and discard it.
To bake the cookies:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Place the shortbread within the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, take away the baking tray from the oven. Use a brief knife or a pizza cutter to chop the shortbread into 18 items, about 1.5 x 4 inches.
- Press the tines of a fork into each bit of shortbread to kind two parallel traces of tiny holes in each bit. Docking the shortbread-like this can forestall it from puffing up.
- Return the shortbread to the oven and bake for 8 to 9 minutes.
- Place the baking tray on a wire and permit the shortbread to chill utterly earlier than consuming or storing.
Shortbread baking suggestions
BUTTER TIP: Room temperature butter is essential for correct creaming
MEASURING TIP: Cautious flour measurement prevents dry cookies
TIMING TIP: Don’t skip the cooling step
What to Serve Walker Shortbread Cookies With
Shortbread goes exceptionally effectively with tea, particularly sturdy black tea. Since shortbread accommodates a lot butter, nibbling on the cookies between sips of tea will assist cut back a few of the tea’s acidity with out including sugar or cream. Shortbread goes virtually as effectively with espresso if you’re not a tea individual.
You too can use the cookies to make a shortbread crust for pies. Place the cookies in a meals processor and course of them till crumbly however not powdery, or place them in a plastic ziptop bag and roll over it with a rolling pin to crush them. Use the crumbs as a substitute of graham cracker crumbs.
Recipe Variations
- Chocolate dipped: Soften high-quality darkish or milk chocolate chips and dip half of every cooled shortbread finger for a sublime twist.
- Chocolate drizzle: Use a fork to drizzle melted chocolate throughout the tops of cooled cookies.
- Festive decorations: Add colourful sprinkles or finely chopped nuts to the chocolate whereas nonetheless moist.
- Lemon shortbread: Add 1 tablespoon of lemon zest to the butter and sugar combination for a citrus variation.
- Lavender shortbread: Add 1 teaspoon of culinary lavender to the flour for a refined floral be aware.
How one can Retailer Shortbread Cookies
To maintain shortbread cookies contemporary, place them in an hermetic container.
You too can freeze shortbread:
- Wrap particular person serving parts in plastic wrap.
- Freeze in a freezer-safe container.
- Defrost within the fridge in a single day.
How Lengthy Will They Final?
Counter storage – retailer in an hermetic container in a cool and dry place for one of the best taste. These will keep contemporary for 4 to five days.
Prolonged storage – Refrigerate in an hermetic container for one week. Freeze for one month in an hermetic container.
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