You know a cookie is going to be delicious when you see those little black speckles of vanilla bean! Each crunchy, buttery bite of Vanilla Bean Shortbread Cookies is warmed with creamy vanilla flavor.
Why you'll love this recipe
- These buttery cookies have just a handful of simple ingredients.
- Vanilla fans will love the rich vanilla bean flavor.
- Shortbread cookies are ideal cookie jar and care package cookies with a long shelf and flavor that gets even better over time.
These vanilla shortbread cookies are magical. Just mix butter, flour, and sugar and end up with an incredibly crunchy, delicious butter cookie. The perfect partner for a cup of tea or a glass of milk.
Shortbread dough is very versatile and can baked in a variety of forms. Petticoat shortbread is pressed into a round pan and cut into wedges. Traditional Scottish Shortbread fingers are pressed into a rectangular pan and sliced into bars.
The dough can also be used for slice and bake cookies , scooped for drop cookies, or rolled out and used with cookie cutters.
Vanilla shortbread cookies are a multitasking wonder. Just right for when you need something simple that’s also delicious. Tea time? Coffee break? Study session? After school snack? This is your cookie.
Frequently asked questions
They will stay fresh for 2-4 weeks at room temperature. Store in airtight containers in layers separated by wax paper.
The baked cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months. Freeze in airtight containers in layers separated by wax paper.
Freeze for up to 3 months.
To store the dough for drop cookies, portion the dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet, close together but not touching. Freeze for at least 2 hours until solid. Once frozen, the dough balls can be placed in a freezer weight ziplock bag.
To store the dough for slice and bake cookies, form dough logs and wrap in plastic wrap. Cookies can be sliced from the frozen dough logs without defrosting.
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients to form the cookie dough.
- Scoop portions of dough, dip the top of the dough balls into decorating sugar, and place onto a lined baking sheet.
- Freeze the dough balls on the baking sheet for at least 30 minutes, to prevent spreading.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes at 300° F until edges are golden.
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Tips
- This recipe highlights the flavor of the butter. Use the best quality butter for the best flavored results. European butters, like Kerrygold and Plugra, are recommended due to their higher fat content.
- The vanilla flavoring comes from vanilla paste, which is a convenient way to add flavor and vanilla bean bits. An equal amount of vanilla extract can be substituted for the same flavor without the bean speckles.
- The sugar used will affect the texture, as well as the sweetness. Granulated and superfine sugars create crunch. Superfine sugar is best for cut-out cookies to limit spreading. Confectioners’ sugar makes the texture sandier and less crunchy.
- Beat the dough minimally. Over creaming the butter will cause spreading while baking.
Related recipes
Vanilla Bean Mini Bundt Cakes are soft, moist little cakes ideal for sharing with vanilla lovers.
Chocolate Peppermint Shortbread is rich chocolate shortbread with lots of chopped peppermint bits.
Oatmeal Shortbread has the nutty flavor of oatmeal added to the buttery shortbread flavor. These cookies will melt in your mouth!
Double dipped in melted chocolate, Chocolate Shortbread Cookies are a must for all the chocolate lovers out there.
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Vanilla Bean Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- Large crystal decorating sugar
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter for about 1 minute.
- Add the vanilla, salt, and sugar and mix to combine.
- Gradually mix in the flour, just until a dough forms.
- Use a medium, 2 tablespoon, scoop to portion the dough onto the prepared baking sheet about 2” apart.
- Pour about 2 tablespoons of decorating sugar into a shallow bowl.
- Dip the top of each dough ball in the colored sugar and return to the baking sheet.
- Chill the dough balls on the baking sheet in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 300° F. Remove baking sheet from freezer.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the bottoms and edges begin to turn golden brown.
- Remove from oven. Leave on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2-4 weeks.
Notes
- Shortbread cookies highlight the flavor of the butter. Use the best quality butter for the best flavored cookies. European butters, like Kerrygold and Plugra, are recommended due to their higher fat content.
- The vanilla flavoring in these cookies comes from vanilla paste, which is a convenient way to add flavor and vanilla bean bits. An equal amount of vanilla extract can be substituted for the same flavor without the bean speckles.
- The sugar used will affect the texture, as well as the sweetness, of the cookies. Granulated and superfine sugars create a crunchy cookie. Superfine sugar is best for cut-out shortbread cookies to limit spreading. Confectioners’ sugar makes the texture sandier and less crunchy.
- Beat the dough minimally. Over creaming the butter will cause the cookies to spread while baking.
Nutrition
First Published: January 26, 2020. Last Updated: April 6, 2024. Updated for improved additional information and better user experience.
Cindy
It is the simplicity of this plain cookie that appeals to me. Sometimes I want a loaded cookie, stuffed with caramel, chocolate etc..., but usually I crave plain vanilla cookies! These look perfect. I might have to leave out the sprinkles! (Sorry)
Wendy, some shortbread recipes have icing sugar or cornstarch in the recipe, and some do not. It this a classic shortbread addition?
Carlee
I love that you have so many shortbread recipes! A good shortbread is hard to beat and these look fabulous.
Wendy Sondov
Thanks, Carlee! Shortbread is such a great care package cookie. Hard to beat the deliciousness, as you said, and they stay fresh for weeks!