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Simply Sweet: 15 Recipes for Shortbread Cookies

This simple dough bursts with buttery goodness and makes the perfect base for delicious cookies.

<p>A basic shortbread is a must-have holiday recipe. Here, the cookies get dressed up in a variety of colorful and tasty glazes, making them perfect for gifting.</p>
<p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="http://gogonow.org/recipefinder/shortbread-cookies-recipe-clv1212%22 target="_blank"><b>Shortbread Cookies</b></a></p>
Jose Picayo

There's no shortage of shortbread here! This simple dough bursts with buttery goodness and makes the perfect base for delicious cookies. You can eat it as is or throw in pecans, cranberries, or extra spice. You can even make sandwich shortbread cookies filled with jam. Shortbread's simplicity leads to great creativity in these recipes we've gathered.

1

Shortbread Cookies

<p>A basic shortbread is a must-have holiday recipe. Here, the cookies get dressed up in a variety of colorful and tasty glazes, making them perfect for gifting.</p>
<p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="http://gogonow.org/recipefinder/shortbread-cookies-recipe-clv1212%22 target="_blank"><b>Shortbread Cookies</b></a></p>
Jose Picayo

A basic shortbread is a must-have holiday recipe. Here, the cookies get dressed up in a variety of colorful and tasty glazes, making them perfect for gifting.

Recipe: Shortbread Cookies

2

Shortbread Diamond Jammies

<p>These pretty diamond shaped cookies have a sweet jam filling in the center that gives the cookie a pop of color and fruity taste!</p>
<p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="http://gogonow.org/recipefinder/shortbread-diamond-jammies-122235%22 target="_blank"><b>Shortbread Diamond Jammies</b></a></p>
Kate Sears

These pretty diamond shaped cookies have a sweet jam filling in the center that gives the cookie a pop of color and fruity taste!

Recipe: Shortbread Diamond Jammies

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3

Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

Strawberry Cream Cheese Cookies - horizontal
Parker Feierbach

Pro tip: embrace the mess!

Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

4

Vanilla Shortbread Hearts

<p>These jam-filled cookies will melt hearts and resolve as they beckon with buttery vanilla goodness.</p>
<p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="http://gogonow.org/recipefinder/vanilla-shortbread-hearts%22 target="_blank"><b>Vanilla Shortbread Hearts</b></a></p>
James Baigrie

These jam-filled cookies will melt hearts and resolve as they beckon with buttery vanilla goodness.

Recipe: Vanilla Shortbread Hearts

Related: Martha Stewart's Best Christmas Cookies

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5

Bajillionaire's Shortbread

<p>Rich dark chocolate and a little bit of rum makes this a shortbread cookie fit for a "bajillionaire."</p>
<p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="www.delish.com/recipefinder/bajillionaires-shortbread-recipe-del1214"><b>Bajillionaire's Shortbread</b></a></p>
Maria Siriano

Rich dark chocolate and a little bit of rum makes this a shortbread cookie fit for a "bajillionaire."

Recipe: Bajillionaire's Shortbread

6

Rosemary-Walnut Shortbread Cookies

<p>Rosemary represents remembrance and these rosemary shortbread cookies are sure to make a lasting impression.</p>
<p><b>Recipe: <a href="http://gogonow.org/recipefinder/rosemary-walnut-shortbread-cookies-recipe-mslo0214%22%3ERosemary-Walnut Shortbread Cookies</a></b></p>
Courtesy of Martha Stewart Living

Rosemary represents remembrance and these rosemary shortbread cookies are sure to make a lasting impression.

Recipe: Rosemary-Walnut Shortbread Cookies

Related: 17 Craveable Cookies from O, The Oprah Magazine

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7

Dark Chocolate-Cherry Shortbreads

<p>These addictive shortbread cookies from pastry chef Umber Ahmad are chocolaty and buttery, and studded with chewy bits of dried cherries. Their secret ingredient: grated lime zest, which adds a subtle flavor.</p>
<p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="http://gogonow.org/recipefinder/dark-chocolate-cherry-shortbreads-recipe-fw0514%22target=%22_blank%22%3E%3Cb%3EDark Chocolate Cherry Shortbreads</b></a></p>
Con Poulos

These addictive shortbread cookies from pastry chef Umber Ahmad are chocolaty and buttery, and studded with chewy bits of dried cherries. Their secret ingredient: grated lime zest, which adds a subtle flavor.

Recipe: Dark Chocolate Cherry Shortbreads

8

Pecan Shortbread with Chocolate

<p>"This shortbread gives you a pecan-and-chocolate fix without all the work of making a pie," says F&W's Marcia Kiesel, who developed the incredibly easy recipe. </p>
<p><b>Recipe: <a href="http://gogonow.org/recipefinder/pecan-shortbread-chocolate-drizzle-recipe-fw0913%22 target="_blank">Pecan Shortbread with Chocolate</a></b></p>
© Brett Stevens

"This shortbread gives you a pecan-and-chocolate fix without all the work of making a pie," says F&W's Marcia Kiesel, who developed the incredibly easy recipe.

Recipe: Pecan Shortbread with Chocolate

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9

Cranberry Shortbread

<p>Dried cranberries and chopped pistachios add a seasonal taste and flair to these traditional cookies. They can be made ahead and frozen up to a month, letting you spend more time outside the kitchen this holiday season.</p>
<p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="/recipefinder/cranberry-shortbread-recipe-ghk1212" target="_blank"><b>Cranberry Shortbread</b></a></p>
Kate Mathis

Dried cranberries and chopped pistachios add a seasonal taste and flair to these traditional cookies. They can be made ahead and frozen up to a month, letting you spend more time outside the kitchen this holiday season.

Recipe: Cranberry Shortbread

Related: 70+ Ideas for Christmas Cookies

10

Pecan Shortbread Cookies

<p>Karen DeMasco beats the dough for these buttery cookies with an entire vanilla bean, so the oils in the pod add deep vanilla flavor. By rolling the dough in demerara sugar before slicing and baking the cookies, she makes them extra-crispy. (Recipe adapted from The Craft of Baking.)</p>
<p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="/recipefinder/pecan-shortbread-cookies-recipe" target="_blank"><b>Pecan Shortbread Cookies</b></a></p>
Ellen Silverman; The Craft of Baking Published 2009 by Clarkson Potter/Publishers

Karen DeMasco beats the dough for these buttery cookies with an entire vanilla bean, so the oils in the pod add deep vanilla flavor. By rolling the dough in demerara sugar before slicing and baking the cookies, she makes them extra-crispy. (Recipe adapted from The Craft of Baking.)

Recipe: Pecan Shortbread Cookies

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11

Chocolate-Covered Shortbread

<p>These white-chocolate-dipped cookies are versatile enough to suit all tastes and make a simple project for kids in the kitchen.</p>
<p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="http://gogonow.org/recipefinder/chocolate-covered-shortbread-holiday-desserts%22 target="_blank"><b>Chocolate-Covered Shortbread</b></a></p>
Frances Janisch

These white-chocolate-dipped cookies are versatile enough to suit all tastes and make a simple project for kids in the kitchen.

Recipe: Chocolate-Covered Shortbread

Related: 14 Cookie Recipes to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

12

Shortbread Bites

<p>These bite sized cookies are colorful and festive blocks of deliciousness.</p>
<p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="http://gogonow.org/recipefinder/shortbread-bites-1945%22 target="_blank"><b>Shortbread Bites</b></a></p>
Rita Maas

These bite sized cookies are colorful and festive blocks of deliciousness.

Recipe: Shortbread Bites

Related: Festive Red and Green Christmas Cookies

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13

Lemon Cranberry Shortbread

<p>These delightfully buttery cookies are given a certain tang by adding lemon peel curls and cranberries.</p>
<p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="http://gogonow.org/recipefinder/lemon-cranberry-shortbread-1550%22 target="_blank"><b>Lemon Cranberry Shortbread</b></a></p>
Rita Maas

These delightfully buttery cookies are given a certain tang by adding lemon peel curls and cranberries.

Recipe: Lemon Cranberry Shortbread

Related: Watching a Pro Make Christmas Cookies is Absolutely Mesmerizing

14

Double Ginger Shortbread Triangles

<p>Ginger fans rejoice! These crumbly butter cookies feature ground ginger in the mixture as well as strips of crystallized ginger as a decorative—and tasty—topping.</p>
<p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="/recipefinder/double-ginger-shortbread-triangles-recipe-122512" target="_blank"><b>Double Ginger Shortbread Triangles</b></a></p>
Jonny Valiant

Ginger fans rejoice! These crumbly butter cookies feature ground ginger in the mixture as well as strips of crystallized ginger as a decorative—and tasty—topping.

Recipe: Double Ginger Shortbread Triangles

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15

Johnny Iuzzini's Salt Butter Shortbread

<p>This shortbread is Johnny Iuzzini's favorite version of the classic French recipe because of its sandy texture — something between a crisp cookie and a sponge.</p>
<p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="http://gogonow.org/recipefinder/johnny-iuzzini-shortbread-recipe%22 target="_blank"><b>Johnny Iuzzini's Salt Butter Shortbread</b></a></p>
Gregor Halenda

This shortbread is Johnny Iuzzini's favorite version of the classic French recipe because of its sandy texture — something between a crisp cookie and a sponge.

Recipe: Johnny Iuzzini's Salt Butter Shortbread

16

Salted Shortbread Cookies

<p>A little salt brings out the sweetness in these simple shortbread cookies.</p>
<p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="http://gogonow.org/recipefinder/salted-shortbread-cookies-recipe%22 target="_blank"><b>Salted Shortbread Cookies</b></a></p>
John Kernick

A little salt brings out the sweetness in these simple shortbread cookies.

Recipe: Salted Shortbread Cookies

Related: Slam-Dunk Cookie Recipes from Martha Stewart

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