Easy Lemon Shortbread (2024)

Ingredient list

As you can see in the image below, shortbread ingredients are simple and I bet you have them at home right now.

The original trinity of ingredients is butter, flour, and sugar.

Most recipes nowadays usually include some salt to enhance the flavors. This recipe today uses powdered sugar for the dough and a small amount of granulated sugar for sprinkling the shortbread before baking; it creates a crunchy crust and a nice, golden color.

• Unsalted butter: use the best brand you can afford - the better the butter the better the flavor.
• Powdered sugar. Also called confectioners sugar, it's available in the baking section of most supermarkets.
• Flour: I normally make it with all-purpose. But have used cake flour several times and it works very well too.
• Salt: I like using kosher salt when baking. But regular table salt works just fine.
• Lemon zest: freshly grated from fresh lemons to get the best lemon flavor. I use a microplane zester/grater directly over the shortbread dough.
• Granulated sugar: a little is sprinkled on top before baking.
• Vanilla: I use pure vanilla paste (my first choice) or pure vanilla extract when available, but a good vanilla essence (artificially flavored) also works.

Butter must be at room temperature (soft but not greasy or beginning to melt), and you should be able to mix everything with a spatula. If using extract or other flavorings, this is when you add them together with the lemon peel.

It can look like you won't be able to incorporate all the dry ingredients, but you will.

Trust the process and keep scraping the ingredients with the spatula until you have a soft dough that is easy to manage.

Does shortbread improve with age?

I find that it's better a few days after it's baked because the flavors are more balanced. You have to store them in a tightly closed tin (ideally) so that they don't lose their crunchiness.

Can I freeze shortbread?

Yes, you can. Either the unbaked dough already in the pan or the baked cookies or fingers. This last option I recommend doing so after cutting and separating the pieces. And always remember to wrap the pan or the cookies well to avoid as much freezer burn and ice as you can.

Why do you put shortbread in the refrigerator before baking?

To avoid the butter from melting before the shortbread is baked. This is crucial to get that crunchy bite. And also especially important if you're making cookies instead of a whole pan (as we do in this recipe), so that they keep their shape and prevent them from spreading too much.

How long does it last?

In an airtight tin, it can last a week or two. This will depend on how it was baked. Slow, even baking produces crunchier shortbread that is drier so it lasts longer.

Flavorings: divide the dough and add different flavorings to each portion, in addition to the lemon. Add another citrus, a ground spice (like cardamom that goes very well with lemon), or ground nuts.

Different shapes: I cut them into sticks but can be cut into triangles, squares, or diamonds.

Toppings: drizzle them with a simple lemon glaze made with powdered sugar and lemon juice (similar to the one we use for the Lemon Shortbread Cookies) or a thin chocolate ganache. Before the glaze sets, you can sprinkle citrus zest, ground nuts, or festive sprinkles.

Gifting: layer the dry ingredients in an airtight jar, attach a nice card with the instructions to make the shortbread, and give them out as gifts during the holiday season.

Units

• ¾ cup (175g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 and ¼ cups (175g) all-purpose or cake flour
• Large pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons lemon zest (see Notes below for extra lemon flavor)
• ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract (drops, literally)
• ½ cup (70g) powdered sugar, sifted
• 1-2 tablespoon granulated sugar, for topping

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

1. Have ready a 9-inch (20x20cm) square baking pan that has been buttered or sprayed with baking spray.
2. Line it with parchment paper: take a large piece of parchment paper of about 8 inches (almost as wide as the pan) and cover the bottom and two sides of the pan. The other two sides will remain buttered but not lined with paper. This will help you remove the shortbread after it's baked.
3. In a large bowl, mix soft butter with the lemon zest (I zest it directly over the butter mixture using aMicroplane zester) and vanilla.
4. Add the powdered sugar and incorporate well so there are no lumps. I recommend sifting the sugar before adding it, or sifting it directly over the butter mixture as I do.
5. Add the flour and salt in 2 parts, mixing with the spatula until it is smooth, well combined and no dry spots remain.
6. Transfer the dough to the prepared pan, scattering small amounts on the bottom.
7. Lightly pat the dough with your hand until it covers the whole surface. Make sure the edges are covered. Make it as even as possible, but relax because it will not be completely smooth.
8. Refrigerate the whole pan, covered in plastic wrap, for at least 1 hour (and up to 24 hours). You can bake it directly, but this resting time creates a more tender shortbread, in my experience.
9. Preheat the oven to 325°F/160°C.
10. Sprinkle the granulated sugar over the top before baking.
11. Bake the shortbread for 40-45 minutes, until the top is dry, has puffed slightly and is beginning to color.You can leave it a few more minutes for a more golden shortbread. Just don’t let it dry out.
12. Let cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack and carefully cut into sticks, squares or triangles with a smooth-bladed knife.
13. Let cool on the cooling rack completely, lift the whole square of the pan with the aid of the parchment paper, and carefully break each piece.
14. Keep in airtight cookie jars or tins.

• Baking time:keep in mind that all ovens and pans are different, even if they look the same or very similar. The baking time in my recipes is as accurate as it can be, but it might take you more or less time. You can use a thermometer that is placed inside the oven (like the OXO oven thermometer) to check that your oven is at the right temperature. I recommend you keep track of how your oven works and what tiny details you might need to adjust.
• Is the resting period needed? You can bake it directly, but the refrigeration time makes for a more tender, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread. I think it's worth the wait, but you should adjust recipes to your own timeline and palate.
• Extra lemon flavor: you can add lemon extract, paste, or emulsion (in addition to the lemon zest) to intensify the flavor. Start with ¼ teaspoon and see how it goes as they can sometimes be intense.
• Dough: once you have it patted in the pan, the unbaked shortbread can be kept for 24 hours in the fridge, or frozen for up to a month, always well wrapped. Bake directly from the freezer.
• Make-ahead: shortbread keeps well for several days in airtight tins or jars.