Sourdough Shortbread Cookies

Buttery, crunchy and delicious, you’ll be making this sourdough shortbread cookies recipe on repeat! Made with pantry staples and sourdough discard, it’s a simple, sweet treat that is great all year round!

Unlike a loaf of sourdough bread, I usually do not keep cookies or sweet treats on hand. So, when I do make a new cookie recipe, I have a line of eager taste tasters ready to step up for the job!

Everyone at the farmhouse loved these sourdough shortbread cookies, especially when dipped in a little semi-sweet chocolate.

I have to say, these cookies are becoming one of my favorite dessert recipes. Plus, it is a great way to use up sourdough discard. I love the extra tang of the sourdough flavor in these.

Now, you may be thinking, “aren’t these Christmas cookies?” They are quite popular around the holidays. Personally, though, I think shortbread is simply too good to only enjoy in one season! After you try this recipe, I have a feeling you’ll agree.

All you need to make shortbread cookies is a few pantry staple ingredients — butter, sugar, flour, salt, vanilla, and, of course, the sourdough discard. So, you most likely have everything you need to make these on hand!

Although these cookies are made with simple ingredients, they can be tricky to get just right. Practice makes perfect on this recipe! Grab an apron and get your stand mixer out. You won’t regret taking a few minutes to whip these up.

I hope you enjoy them as much as my family does.

What is shortbread?

Shortbread rose to fame in Scotland. Overseas, you’ll hear shortbread referred to as a biscuit. Of course, here in the U.S. we call them cookies.

Shortbread cookies are made with butter, sugar, and flour. There is also no leavening agent, such as baking soda or baking powder.

Traditionally, these cookies are not made with sourdough. However, I love the extra flavor discard gives these cookies. Everything is better made with sourdough, right?

Why you’ll love this recipe:

Simple ingredients: You probably already have everything you need to make these buttery shortbread cookies in your pantry! Butter, sugar, and flour are the stars of this recipe.

Delicious: I love the taste of shortbread. It’s hard not to love a cookie that is described as “buttery.” Plus, the hint of sourdough flavor takes these over the top. I also like to dip half of mine in chocolate for an added treat!

Health benefits: You can long ferment this dough in the fridge for up to three days. The longer fermentation process allows for easier digestion.

Tips to make the best sourdough shortbread cookie:

• For long fermentation, allow the cookie dough to stay in the refrigerator for 12 hours or up to three days. The longer the fermentation the more broken down (and digestible) the grains are.
• Use homemade vanilla extract for an even richer flavor. If you’ve never made your own vanilla before, I highly recommend it! It’s super easy and really does pack more flavor than store bought. Learn how I make my own vanilla extract here.
• Don’t have a sourdough starter yet? If you are new to the world of sourdough, learn how to make a sourdough starter here and how to maintain one here.

FAQ

Should you chill shortbread dough before baking?

Most shortbread recipes will likely call for the dough to be chilled. I like to refrigerate the shortbread dough as well for about an hour before I shape into cookies and bake. The reasoning behind this is to harden the butter inside the dough, which keeps the cookies from over spreading while baking. I also think you end up with more tender cookies.

What are common mistakes when making shortbread?

One mistake is melting your butter. Use softened, room temperature butter for the best cookie texture. 

You also want to avoid overworking the dough or making the cookies too thick. I have found ½ inch thickness works great!

As with most recipes, especially those that appear to be super simple, it takes time to get it down just right and to make them how your taste buds prefer them!

What is the difference between shortbread cookies and sugar cookies?

Shortbread tends to be a denser cookie because there is no leavening agent – no baking powder or baking soda. Sugar cookies, like my recipe here, are softer and normally used for decorating. 

Should shortbread be crunchy or soft?

Shortbread cookies have a buttery texture (hence, why they are so good!). So, they shouldn’t be overly hard, but they will have a signature crunch when you bite into them.

Why do people eat shortbread at Christmas?

Shortbread is commonly made around Christmas time. This dates back to the cookie’s Scottish roots. It was usually only made for special occasions, such as holidays or weddings.

Ingredients: 

Unsalted butter – Be sure to use unsalted so you can better control the saltiness flavor. I also prefer to use a good grass fed butter (usually homemade if we have enough milk from our cow). Butter is the star ingredient of shortbread, so don’t skimp on quality!

Granulated sugar

Vanilla extract – I like to use my homemade vanilla. Learn how to make it here.

Sourdough discard

Salt – sea salt is best!

All purpose flour

Semi-sweet chocolate (optional) – You could also use dark or milk chocolate, pending your taste preference.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

Tools you may need:

Stand mixer 

Baking sheet

Sharp knife or bench scraper

Plastic wrap

Parchment paper

Measuring cups and spoons or a kitchen scale

How to make sourdough shortbread cookies

Mix ingredients

Cream butter and sugar together in the bowl of a stand mixer.

Once combined, add in the vanilla, salt, and sourdough starter. Mix until the ingredients are well combined.

Scrape down the bowl to make sure everything gets incorporated evenly. Slowly add flour while beating on low speed.

Refrigerate

Make your dough into a brick shape that measures approximately 12” long by 3.5” wide by 1” high. Cut the brick in half, and wrap it in plastic wrap. Refrigerate the bricks of dough for at least one hour.

For long fermentation, allow the cookie dough to stay in the refrigerator for 12 hours or up to three days.

Preheat your oven to 350° F a few minutes before getting your dough out of the fridge.

Bake

Cut the dough into 24 cookies, each 1/2” thick. Make sure to not make these too thick. Otherwise, it will be hard to get them to bake completely through without becoming too crunchy on the outside.

Place each cookie 1” apart on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes at 350° F. The cookies should be nice and golden brown.

Allow the cookies to cool on a cooling rack before enjoying.

Dip in chocolate (optional)

You can enjoy shortbread cookies all on their own, or you can dip one corner in melted chocolate.

To do so, melt chocolate (you can using baking chocolate or chocolate chips) in a double broiler. Dip the corner of each cookie in the melted chocolate. 

Allow the chocolate dipped cookies to cool and harden on a wire rack before enjoying.

The best way to enjoy sourdough shortbread cookies

Shortbread cookies are a great treat on their own, but we do have a few ways we like to enjoy them here at the farmhouse.

• With a hot cup of coffee or even iced on a hot day! This is my favorite way to enjoy them. It’s the perfect afternoon pick me up for a long day.
• The kids like to dip them in a glass of cold milk for a comforting dessert.
• Of course, on a hot day, the kids also like to enjoy them with a scoop or two of raw milk ice cream.

How to store your sourdough shortbread cookies

Keep your cookies in an airtight container for about a week or refrigerate to keep fresh for a few more days. You can also make these ahead and freeze for about 3 months.

More farmhouse cookie recipes to add to your arsenal!

• Sourdough Oatmeal Cookies
• Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Einkorn Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Sourdough Sugar Cookies
• Sourdough Peanut Butter Cookies

If you try this recipe and love it, I would love it if you gave it 5 stars! Thank you! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone.

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