Walker's Scottish Shortbread Cookies Recipe (2024)

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If you love Walker’s Scottish Shortbread cookies, you’ll definitely want to make this homemade version!

Walker's Scottish Shortbread Cookies Recipe (1)

This Walker’s Scottish Shortbread Cookies recipe is a keeper–perfect for holidays! Whether you serve them with hot tea, coffee, or a scoop of ice cream, these buttery melt-in-your-mouth cookies are a dream come true!

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Scottish shortbread is known for both its simplicity and delightful, slightly crumbly texture. Rich and buttery, these cookies have just the right amount of sweetness.

Shortbread is set apart from many other baked goods in that it does not contain any leavening agents, such as baking powder, baking soda, or yeast.

Often served during special occasions such as Christmas or Hogmanay festivities in Scotland, the traditional Scottish shortbread cookie is a holiday favorite in many families.

There are a few brands of Scottish shortbread cookies that are exported to other countries, and one such favorite that is sold in America is Walker’s Scottish Shortbread Cookies.

Walker’s shortbread fingers only contain four ingredients, so it’s quite simple to make a copycat version at home! All you’ll need is flour, sugar, butter, and salt to prepare the cookie dough.

I sometimes add a dash of vanilla extract to my homemade shortbread recipe, but that is entirely optional.

These Scottish dream cookies are sure to become a tradition in your family!

More Holiday Dessert Recipes:

  • Easy Golden Syrup Cake
  • Nutella Thumbprint Cookies
  • Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
  • Swedish Dream Cookies
  • Easy Biscoff Fudge
  • Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies
  • Stroopwafel Cake
  • Gingerbread Loaf
  • Eggnog Bundt Cake
  • Chocolate Orange Cake
  • German Muffins
Walker's Scottish Shortbread Cookies Recipe (2)

What’s the Difference Between Butter Cookies and Shortbread?

The difference lies in the amount of butter and sugar in each recipe. They are often baked at differing temperatures, too.

Typically, butter cookies have more sugar and are not as crumbly as shortbread.

How to Make Copycat Walker’s Scottish Shortbread Cookies

Whether you’re serving these cookies for Christmas, New Year’s Eve, for National Shortbread Day (yes, it’s a thing–on January 6) or simply for an afternoon cup of tea, it’s really easy to make this delightful treat!

Ingredients You’ll Need:

  • Butter
  • Confectioner’s Sugar
  • All-Purpose Flour
  • Salt (if using unsalted butter)
  • Vanilla Extract (optional)

How to Make It:

(Full Printable Recipe is available below)

Prepare a baking dish or pan. First, you’ll line an 8×8″ baking dish with parchment paper.

Make the dough. Next, you’ll prepare the dough by using an electric mixer to beat together the softened butter and confectioner’s sugar. Alternatively, you can use a food processor for preparing the dough.

Add the vanilla extract, if using. Gradually add in the dry ingredients of flour and salt, if using, mixing just until a soft dough forms.

Bake the shortbread. Last, press dough gently into the prepared baking pan, flattening it across the top as much as possible.

Use the tines of a fork to prick the shortbread dough to help prevent bubbling during baking. Bake at 350F for about 25-30 minutes, until the edges are just beginning to turn pale golden brown.

Remove from oven and use a bench scraper or knife to cut into rectangular-shaped cookies. Allow to cool completely before serving.

Walker's Scottish Shortbread Cookies Recipe (3)

Notes and Adaptations:

  • Some people prefer to chill their dough before baking, as that allows the gluten to relax a bit more. I personally do not chill the dough, and instead work with room temperature dough, but you are welcome to do so if you prefer. Simply use cling wrap to wrap it well and place it in the fridge.
  • Using confectioner’s sugar (AKA powdered sugar) gives that melt-in-your-mouth texture better than granulated white sugar or brown sugar, so that’s my preference here.
  • Some bakers add rice flour to their shortbread to give it that “sandy” texture. I am not a fan of that grittier texture, so I stick to all-purpose wheat flour.
  • If you desire thinner cookies, you can roll the dough out and use cookie cutters for fun holiday shapes. These will bake on a sheet pan for a shorter amount of time, so watch them closely.
  • These would also be delicious dipped in melted chocolate! I may try that next time–I love using Ghirardelli melting chocolate wafers for dipping.
  • Serve these as a sweet finish to Scotch pies, if you’d like.
Walker's Scottish Shortbread Cookies Recipe (4)

Recommended Equipment:

Yield: 18 Cookies

Walkers Scottish Shortbread Cookies Recipe

Walker's Scottish Shortbread Cookies Recipe (5)

Delightfully tender and buttery, these Scottish shortbread cookies are the perfect holiday treat.

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time25 minutes

Total Time30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt (if using unsalted butter)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Instructions

  1. Line an 8x8" baking dish with parchment paper so it hangs over the edges. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter and confectioner's sugar until smooth.
  3. If desired, add vanilla extract.
  4. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour and salt, if using, mixing just until a soft dough forms.
  5. Press the dough into the prepared pan, flattening it across the top as much as possible. Use the tines of a fork to prick the dough.
  6. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until edges are just starting to turn golden-brown. The center may still be a little shiny.
  7. Remove from oven and use a bench scraper to carefully cut into rectangles.
  8. Cool completely before serving.

Notes

  • Some people prefer to chill their shortbread dough so the gluten can relax before baking. I personally don't do that, but you are welcome to if you prefer.
  • These would be delightful with the ends dipped in melted chocolate!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

18

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 154Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 146mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 0gSugar: 3gProtein: 2g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and is not guaranteed for accuracy.

Walker's Scottish Shortbread Cookies Recipe (6)
Walker's Scottish Shortbread Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Scottish shortbread and shortbread cookies? ›

"Shortbread" is just Scottish shortbread; they're one and the same. While the recipe has changed throughout its history, and there is a version of shortbread from Ireland, the original shortbread you're familiar with comes from Scotland.

What are the ingredients in Walker's Scottish shortbread? ›

Ingredients: wheat flour (wheat flour, calcium carbonate, iron, niacin, thiamin), butter (milk) (32%), sugar, salt. For allergens, including cereals containing gluten, see ingredients in bold. May also contain nuts. Suitable for vegetarians and certified Kosher OUD.

Why are Walkers Shortbread cookies so good? ›

The World's Finest...

Today, Walkers Shortbread only ever uses fine creamery butter from grass fed cows, and never compromises by baking its shortbread with anything else.

What is the secret to making good shortbread cookies? ›

Tips To Make the Best Shortbread Cookies
  1. Choose High Quality Butter. No matter what brand of butter you buy, if it's real butter, you can rest assured that it's the best. ...
  2. Keep Ingredients Simple. ...
  3. Add Flavor. ...
  4. Don't Overwork. ...
  5. Shape Dough. ...
  6. Chill Before Baking. ...
  7. Bake Until Golden. ...
  8. Add Finishing Touches.

What are common mistakes when making shortbread? ›

The most common mistakes when making shortbread are over-working the dough, and incorporating too much flour. The less you work the dough, the more crumbly and melt-in-your-mouth your shortbread cookies will be.

Why is Scottish shortbread so good? ›

1. Shortbread is called short because of the traditional ratio of one part sugar to two parts butter that lends a high fat content to the dough. This yields a soft, buttery crumb that melts in your mouth, similar to short crust pastry. This ratio is also what makes shortbread so crave-worthy.

Are Walkers Shortbread healthy? ›

Since our authentic, high quality shortbread is made with real butter, it has these naturally occurring trans fats. They are not considered harmful as fats formed during artificial hydrogenation. Also, note that Walkers products do not contain any hydrogenated vegetable oils.

What is the best commercial Scottish shortbread? ›

The best shortbread to buy, from £1.99
  • Runner-up shortbread. Morrisons The Best All Butter Shortbread Fingers 165g. ...
  • Best organic shortbread. Daylesford Organic Scottish Mini Shortbread Hearts 125g. ...
  • Best shortbread squares. M&S Scottish All Butter Shortbread Squares 200g. ...
  • Tesco Finest Scottish Shortbread Fingers 165g.
Oct 25, 2022

Where is Walkers Shortbread made? ›

Aberlour, in the North East of Scotland has been the home of Walkers Shortbread for over 100 years. Nestled in the valley of the river Spey famous for its fishing, hunting and whisky, the Walker family have been making shortbread here from an unchanged recipe since 1898.

What brand of butter is best for shortbread? ›

Spend extra when it really counts: If you're making a recipe where butter really is the star (think shortbread or biscuits), splashing out for a package of Kerrygold or Vital Farms is worth the expense. The fine differences in the flavor are most impactful in these recipes.

What is the shelf life of Walker's shortbread? ›

They have a shelf life of 12 months. Walkers Shortbread is a popular Scottish brand that has been making shortbread since 1898. The company is known for its high-quality ingredients and traditional methods.

Why did my shortbread turn out chewy? ›

Check doneness by looking for an even, light brown colour across the top of the biscuits, with slight darkening at the edges. Begin checking at the tail end of the cooking time. Undercooked shortbread will be doughy and chewy. Slightly overcooked and it will become chalky, brittle and hard.

Why poke holes in shortbread? ›

Why do you poke holes in shortbread? The holes allow the moisture to escape during baking and more even heat distribution.

Why do you put cornstarch in shortbread cookies? ›

Cornstarch provides the shortbread with structure, but its biggest job is keeping the cookies extra soft, tender, and light. I love adding a small amount to chocolate chip cookies too. Optional Coarse Sugar Topping: For an optional sparkly crunch on your shortbread wedges, add a sprinkle of coarse sugar before baking.

Should butter be cold or room temperature for shortbread? ›

specifies the butter for his mother-in-law Doreen's shortbread must be chilled, and then grated into the dry ingredients. This is a technique I've come across before in pastry making – keeping the mixture cool means it's easier to work with.

Why is it called Scottish shortbread? ›

The famous Scottish Queen Mary is often credited with the invention, or at least refinement of modern shortbread, as it was the cooks at her court who further improved it by taking influences from French cooking that developed at the court, and refining the biscuit using butter, flour and sugar as the main ingredients.

What are the different types of shortbread in Scotland? ›

Meet the 3 shortbread shapes: petticoat tails, rounds, and fingers (the most popular type). Although the clean, buttery flavour boosted shortbread to fame, recently bakers have added fruit, nuts, chocolate chip, and vanilla into the mix.

What is the new name for shortbread? ›

Shortbread is now Trefoils®! April Bowen that's a good point. April Bowen I agree. We have people ask for cookies by name because they prefer ABC over Little Brownie.

What is shortbread called in America? ›

To most of the rest of the English-speaking world, a biscuit is what Americans would refer to as either a cookie or a cracker. Biscuits can be sweet (shortbread) or savory. They're baked in the oven, and they're crisp, not chewy.

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