Description
These melt-in-mouth brown sugar shortbread cookies feature a buttery, crumbly texture with deep caramel notes from brown sugar. Simple to make with pantry staples, they are perfect for quick, comforting treats.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup packed (150g) brown sugar (dark or light)
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Optional: 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Optional: 1/3 cup chopped toasted nuts (pecans or walnuts)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
- Cream the softened butter and brown sugar together in a mixing bowl on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Mix in vanilla extract (if using) and salt until just combined. Add cinnamon or other spices here if desired.
- Gradually add sifted all-purpose flour, mixing on low speed until dough just comes together and looks crumbly but holds when pressed. Do not overmix.
- Shape the cookies using one of the following methods: drop tablespoon-sized mounds onto a lined baking sheet with 2 inches between each; or press dough into a disk, chill 30 minutes, then roll and cut into shapes; or shape dough into a 2-inch diameter log, chill, then slice into 1/4 inch rounds.
- Bake on the center rack for 12-15 minutes until edges just start to turn golden and tops look set but not browned.
- Transfer cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
Use real unsalted butter for best flavor and texture. Chill dough if rolling or slicing to prevent spreading. Measure flour carefully to avoid dry cookies. Bake at 325°F to keep cookies tender and prevent browning. Store in airtight container with a slice of bread to keep soft. Cookies freeze well; thaw before baking if frozen dough.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (approximat
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 50
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 3.5
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 0.3
- Protein: 1
Keywords: brown sugar shortbread cookies, melt-in-mouth cookies, easy cookies, buttery cookies, simple cookie recipe, shortbread