Sheet Pan Scottish Shortbread
Photo: Jeffery Cross; Styling: Kelly Allen
There is shortbread, and then there’s this shortbread, ultra-buttery with a light crunch. The secrets are rice flour for the sandy texture and a slow-and-low baking process to develop the flavor. It’s a recipe that lends itself to easy, festive riffing (sprinkles! snowflakes!)–and one you’ll be happy to have in your back pocket for years.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Preheat oven to 275°. In a stand mixer, beat butter and granulated sugar on medium speed with paddle attachment until well blended and fluffy. Add rice flour and beat on low speed until incorporated, scraping bowl as needed. Gradually add all-purpose flour; beat on low until blended, scraping bowl occasionally.
Step 2
2
Line a 12- by 17-in. rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Press dough into pan until very even and smooth. Bake until shortbread is golden in center, 60 to 65 minutes. Reduce oven to 250°, drape shortbread with parchment paper, and continue to bake until a finger pressed lightly into center of dough leaves no imprint, 20 to 25 minutes more.
Step 3
3
Set shortbread on a cooling rack and sprinkle with sparkling sugar. While hot, cut into 1- by 3-in. rectangles or 2-in. squares (use a wooden ruler). Let cool completely in pan. After it cools, if you find that you'd like it crunchier, pop pan into a 250° oven, covered with parchment, for about 20 minutes.
Step 4
4
Make ahead: Airtight at room temperature, up to 1 week, or frozen, up to 3 months.
Step 5
5
Note: Nutritional analysis is per rectangular cookie.
Ingredients
1 1/4 pounds (5 sticks) salted butter, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups white rice flour, like Bob's Red Mill
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons coarse white sparkling sugar
Directions
Step 1
1
Preheat oven to 275°. In a stand mixer, beat butter and granulated sugar on medium speed with paddle attachment until well blended and fluffy. Add rice flour and beat on low speed until incorporated, scraping bowl as needed. Gradually add all-purpose flour; beat on low until blended, scraping bowl occasionally.
Step 2
2
Line a 12- by 17-in. rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Press dough into pan until very even and smooth. Bake until shortbread is golden in center, 60 to 65 minutes. Reduce oven to 250°, drape shortbread with parchment paper, and continue to bake until a finger pressed lightly into center of dough leaves no imprint, 20 to 25 minutes more.
Step 3
3
Set shortbread on a cooling rack and sprinkle with sparkling sugar. While hot, cut into 1- by 3-in. rectangles or 2-in. squares (use a wooden ruler). Let cool completely in pan. After it cools, if you find that you'd like it crunchier, pop pan into a 250° oven, covered with parchment, for about 20 minutes.
Step 4
4
Make ahead: Airtight at room temperature, up to 1 week, or frozen, up to 3 months.
Step 5
5
Note: Nutritional analysis is per rectangular cookie.
