19 Traditional Shortbread & Butter Cookies

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. Cream-Cheese Cornmeal Shortbread with Jam CentersCream-Cheese Cornmeal Shortbread with Jam CentersCream-Cheese Cornmeal Shortbread with Jam Centers

    Eggless cream-cheese cornmeal shortbread thumbprints with compact red jam centers. Shortbread-inspired cream-cheese pastry, not a claim of traditional Scottish shortbread.

  2. Cream-Cheese Prune Shortbread PocketsCream-Cheese Prune Shortbread PocketsCream-Cheese Prune Shortbread Pockets

    Eggless cream-cheese shortbread pastry folded around a thick cooked-prune filling. Shortbread-inspired cream-cheese pastry, not a claim of traditional Scottish shortbread.

  3. Chocolate-Dipped Whipped Peanut Butter ShortbreadChocolate-Dipped Whipped Peanut Butter ShortbreadChocolate-Dipped Whipped Peanut Butter Shortbread

    Whipped cornstarch shortbread with a modest peanut-butter addition and a half-chocolate dip.

  4. Bourbon Vanilla Bean Shortbread RoundsBourbon Vanilla Bean Shortbread RoundsBourbon Vanilla Bean Shortbread Rounds

    Vanilla bean and a small spoonful of bourbon flavor deeply buttery rounds with a crisp rim and tender center.

  5. 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.

  6. Lemon Thyme Shortbread WedgesLemon Thyme Shortbread WedgesLemon Thyme Shortbread Wedges

    Fresh thyme and lemon zest cut through rich butter in thin pressed wedges, baked low until the centers are dry and crisp.

  7. Earl Grey Shortbread CookiesEarl Grey Shortbread CookiesEarl Grey Shortbread Cookies

    Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies with measured ingredients, shortbread shaping and clear oven cues for a holiday cookie box.

  8. Cranberry Pistachio Wreath ShortbreadCranberry Pistachio Wreath ShortbreadCranberry Pistachio Wreath Shortbread

    Tender butter dough flecked with tart cranberry and pistachio is shaped into small wreaths that hold their pattern after baking.

  9. Salted Millionaire Christmas Shortbread BarsSalted Millionaire Christmas Shortbread BarsSalted Millionaire Christmas Shortbread Bars

    A true butter-shortbread base supports a cooked milk caramel and a thin salted dark-chocolate layer.

  10. 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.

  11. Almond Butter Buckwheat ShortbreadAlmond Butter Buckwheat ShortbreadAlmond Butter Buckwheat Shortbread

    Almond butter replaces part of the dairy fat in a compact buckwheat shortbread dough.

  12. Apple Butter Lattice Shortbread BarsApple Butter Lattice Shortbread BarsApple Butter Lattice Shortbread Bars

    A jam-tart-style shortbread bar with a reduced apple filling and a true pastry lattice.

  13. Orange Shortbread StarsOrange Shortbread StarsOrange Shortbread Stars

    Egg-free orange butter stars with crisp points, a tender short crumb and a sparkling sugar finish.

  14. Cranberry Pistachio Slice-and-Bake ShortbreadCranberry Pistachio Slice-and-Bake ShortbreadCranberry Pistachio Slice-and-Bake Shortbread

    Buttery shortbread slices show a mosaic of dried cranberries and pistachios, with orange zest in the dough.

  15. Breton Salted-Butter Christmas ShortbreadBreton Salted-Butter Christmas ShortbreadBreton Salted-Butter Christmas Shortbread

    Breton-inspired yolk-rich shortbread baked in rings for a tall, tender, lightly leavened crumb.

  16. 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.

  17. Almond Shortbread CrescentsAlmond Shortbread CrescentsAlmond Shortbread Crescents

    Hand-shaped almond butter crescents with a tender short crumb and a thin snowy sugar finish.

  18. Vegan Cocoa Chickpea ShortbreadVegan Cocoa Chickpea ShortbreadVegan Cocoa Chickpea Shortbread

    Vegan cocoa shortbread using chickpea flour and a blend of block butter and solid coconut oil.

  19. 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.