Print

4-Ingredient Christmas Shortbread Cookies

4-Ingredient Christmas Shortbread Cookies
Print Recipe

These 4-Ingredient Christmas Shortbread Cookies are wonderfully simple and festive treats featuring buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Made with just unsalted butter, sugar, all-purpose flour, and vanilla extract, they capture classic holiday flavors with ease. Perfect for beginners and ideal for gifting, these cookies deliver a tender crumb and delightful holiday cheer with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale

Base Ingredients

  • 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (100g) granulated or superfine sugar
  • 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour (or substitute with a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free option)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Begin by softening the unsalted butter to room temperature to ensure easy mixing and a smooth dough. Measure out the sugar, flour, and vanilla extract so everything is ready for quick assembly.
  2. Cream the Butter and Sugar: Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating the perfect airy texture for shortbread.
  3. Add Vanilla Extract: Mix in the vanilla extract thoroughly to infuse the dough with a warm, inviting aroma and enhanced buttery flavor.
  4. Incorporate the Flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the creamed mixture, mixing on low speed just until fully combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender and crumbly.
  5. Shape and Chill the Dough: Form the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Chilling helps prevent spreading while baking and improves texture.
  6. Cut and Bake: Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick, then use cookie cutters to create your favorite shapes. Transfer the shapes to a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes until the edges just begin to turn golden.
  7. Cool and Enjoy: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Once cooled, enjoy or gift your perfect 4-Ingredient Christmas Shortbread Cookies.

Notes

  • Use cold butter instead of softened for crisper cookies.
  • Don’t overmix the dough once flour is added to avoid tough cookies.
  • Chilling the dough well helps maintain shapes and prevents spreading.
  • Roll dough evenly to ensure consistent baking.
  • Experiment with festive cookie cutters for holiday spirit without extra decoration.

Nutrition

Keywords: shortbread, Christmas cookies, holiday baking, 4-ingredient cookies, easy cookie recipe, festive treats, buttery cookies, gluten-free option

Find it online: https://recipesbykaeli.com/4-ingredient-christmas-shortbread-cookies/