15 Brown Sugar Shortbread & Scottish Petticoat Tails

Planning your holiday baking? Browse this festive collection for ideas to share, gift, or add to the dessert table. Each recipe name below opens the full recipe with its ingredients and instructions.

  1. Pecan Cream-Cheese Shortbread SpiralsPecan Cream-Cheese Shortbread SpiralsPecan Cream-Cheese Shortbread Spirals

    Eggless cream-cheese rye shortbread spirals enclosing a dry pecan and brown-sugar layer. Shortbread-inspired cream-cheese pastry, not a claim of traditional Scottish shortbread.

  2. Brown Butter Pecan Pie ThumbprintsBrown Butter Pecan Pie ThumbprintsBrown Butter Pecan Pie Thumbprints

    Browned-butter shortbread wells hold a spoonful of chopped pecans in a brown-sugar cream filling.

  3. Brown Butter Pecan Shortbread CoinsBrown Butter Pecan Shortbread CoinsBrown Butter Pecan Shortbread Coins

    Toasty pecan coins made with cooled brown butter and a brown-sugar crumb.

  4. Oat-Flour Date Shortbread SlicesOat-Flour Date Shortbread SlicesOat-Flour Date Shortbread Slices

    Brown-sugar oat shortbread sliced from a rectangular block with small chewy date pieces.

  5. Toasted Oat Brown-Sugar Shortbread CookiesToasted Oat Brown-Sugar Shortbread CookiesToasted Oat Brown-Sugar Shortbread Cookies

    Rolled oats toasted before mixing create a coarse, crisp shortbread for rustic Christmas gifts.

  6. Brown Butter Pecan Toffee ShortbreadBrown Butter Pecan Toffee ShortbreadBrown Butter Pecan Toffee Shortbread

    Brown Butter Pecan Toffee Shortbread with measured ingredients, shortbread shaping and clear oven cues for a holiday cookie box.

  7. Gingerbread Cookies Without MolassesGingerbread Cookies Without MolassesGingerbread Cookies Without Molasses

    Gingerbread cookies without molasses: dark brown sugar cut-outs with ginger and cinnamon, made with cold butter and no scheduled chilling.

  8. Scottish Shortbread FingersScottish Shortbread FingersScottish Shortbread Fingers

    Scottish Shortbread Fingers with measured ingredients, shortbread shaping and clear oven cues for a holiday cookie box.

  9. Brown Sugar Cut-Out Sugar CookiesBrown Sugar Cut-Out Sugar CookiesBrown Sugar Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

    Golden-brown star-shaped sugar cookies with dark brown sugar, subtle warm spices and clean cut-out edges.

  10. Chai Swirl Shortbread SpiralsChai Swirl Shortbread SpiralsChai Swirl Shortbread Spirals

    A cinnamon, cardamom and ginger sugar ribbon winds through buttery dough for slim spirals with a distinct fragrant center.

  11. Cherry Almond Snowball Shortbread CookiesCherry Almond Snowball Shortbread CookiesCherry Almond Snowball Shortbread Cookies

    Powdered sugar-coated shortbread rounds hide a small dried cherry and toasted almond center, giving each snowball a surprise filling.

  12. Earl Grey Sugar-Crusted Shortbread StampsEarl Grey Sugar-Crusted Shortbread StampsEarl Grey Sugar-Crusted Shortbread Stamps

    A finely ground Earl Grey tea infusion perfumes crisp stamped rounds, finished with a delicate coat of sparkling sugar.

  13. Brown-Butter Cornmeal Shortbread with Chocolate BasesBrown-Butter Cornmeal Shortbread with Chocolate BasesBrown-Butter Cornmeal Shortbread with Chocolate Bases

    Browned-butter cornmeal shortbread rounds with a thin chocolate foot and granular crumb.

  14. Stollen Marzipan Shortbread BitesStollen Marzipan Shortbread BitesStollen Marzipan Shortbread Bites

    Small buttery squares conceal a slender almond-paste center, with citrus peel and a light confectioners’ sugar finish.

  15. Crystallized Ginger Demerara ShortbreadCrystallized Ginger Demerara ShortbreadCrystallized Ginger Demerara Shortbread

    Cooked-yolk semolina shortbread coins with chewy ginger pieces and a coarse sugar rim.