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Whipped Shortbread Cookies Recipe

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4.9 from 132 reviews

Whipped Shortbread Cookies are delicate, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth treats made with simple ingredients like butter, confectioners’ sugar, flour, and cornstarch. These cookies have a light texture thanks to vigorous whipping of butter and sugar. Optional flavorings like vanilla or citrus extracts and colorful sprinkles add a delightful twist. They are chilled before baking to achieve the perfect firmness and baked at a low temperature for tender, perfectly set cookies.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 and ½ Cups Butter at Room Temperature, salted
  • ¾ Cup Confectioners’ Sugar
  • 2 and ¼ Cups All Purpose Flour
  • ¾ Cup Cornstarch

Flavorings and Toppings (Optional)

  • 2 teaspoons Pure vanilla extract (or Lemon extract or Orange extract)
  • ¼ Cup Sprinkles (of choice) (non-pareils recommended)

Instructions

  1. Beat Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, use a stand mixer to beat the butter and confectioners’ sugar for 4-5 minutes at medium-high speed until light and fluffy. If using a handheld mixer, beat on high. This whipping step is crucial for the cookie’s light texture. Add any flavorings (vanilla, lemon, or orange extract) now and mix briefly to incorporate.
  2. Add Dry Ingredients: Lower the mixer speed to low and gradually add the sifted all-purpose flour and cornstarch to the butter-sugar mixture. Beat just until combined and no flour streaks remain to avoid overworking the dough.
  3. Shape Dough Into Balls: Scoop and roll the dough into 36 equal-sized balls. If the dough feels too soft to handle, cover and refrigerate for 10-15 minutes for easier shaping and to prevent sticking.
  4. Prepare for Baking: Place the dough balls on a pre-lined baking tray or on a lightly floured plate to prevent sticking. Press the tops gently with a fork dipped in cornstarch or flour to create a pattern. Add sprinkles if desired.
  5. Chill Dough Balls: Chill the shaped dough balls in the refrigerator for about 2 hours until very firm. To speed up this process, you can freeze the dough balls until firm.
  6. Preheat Oven and Bake: Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Bake the chilled dough balls in batches of about 12 on a tray for 19-20 minutes, or until the tops look set but not browned.
  7. Cool Cookies: Remove the tray from the oven and allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking tray before transferring them to a wire rack or container.

Notes

  • Ensure the butter is at room temperature for easy mixing and proper texture.
  • Beating the butter and sugar thoroughly is key for a light, whipped texture.
  • If dough is too soft to shape, chilling it helps firm it up and prevents sticking.
  • Pressing cookie tops with a fork dipped in cornstarch or flour prevents sticking and adds texture.
  • Chilling dough balls before baking helps maintain shape and ensures tender cookies.
  • Baking at a low temperature (300°F) helps cookies bake evenly without browning.
  • Optional flavor extracts like lemon or orange provide a nice twist to the traditional vanilla flavor.

Keywords: whipped shortbread cookies, butter cookies, easy shortbread, vanilla shortbread, melt-in-mouth cookies, sugar cookies, holiday cookies

Find it online: https://zarameals.com/whipped-shortbread-cookies-recipe/