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Savoury Herb Shortbread Cookies

154

  • Prep Time25 min
  • Total Time50 min
  • Makes24 cookies
*PLUS cooling
Savoury shortbread cookies on plate, next to brown-paper-wrapped gift with hands tying ribbon

Photo, Erik Putz. Food Styling, Eshun Mott. Prop Styling, Madeline Johari.

Chatelaine Triple Tested

A savoury take on one of the holiday's most popular cookie recipes. From thyme to rosemary, parsley or oregano, the options are are delicious.

Ingredients

  • 100 g block Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated (1 cup packed)

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, (270 g)

  • 3 tbsp fresh thyme leaves

  • 1/2 tsp garlic salt

  • 1 cup cold unsalted butter

  • 24 whole assorted herbs and leaves, such as parsley, thyme, rosemary and oregano, (optional)

  • coarsely crushed pink peppercorns

  • 1 tsp flaked sea salt

Instructions

  • Position rack in centre of oven, then preheat to 350F. Line a 9 × 13-in. non-stick metal pan with parchment, with overhanging edges over two long sides.

  • Whirl cheese in a food processor until finely ground. Add flour, thyme and garlic salt. Season with pepper. Whirl to combine. Add cubed butter through feed tube while pulsing until combined. (It’s okay if dough is a bit crumbly.) Transfer to prepared pan. Press dough over bottom of pan.

  • Use the flat bottom of a cup to smooth top. Score surface into 24 squares. Arrange whole herbs on each square. Use same cup to press gently so herbs stick. Garnish with pink peppercorns and sprinkle with flaked sea salt. Re-score surface.

  • Bake until top is just golden, 25 to 30 min. Immediately cut shortbread in pan into squares with a paring knife while hot. Turn off heat and return cookies to oven to cool completely.

How To Slice Cookies

Cutting the cookies in the pan while the shortbread is still very hot will give you cleaner and straighter edges than cutting when cooled.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories 125, Protein 3g, Carbohydrates 8g, Fat 9g, Sodium 136mg.

Kitchen tip

Try to use real Parmigiano-Reggiano if you can; the generic stuff will give your shortbread a more crumbly texture.

Kitchen tip

Leave shortbread squares to cool overnight in the oven for a crisper texture.

Storage tip

Keep in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days, or freeze up to 1 month.

Assorted cookies on a pink background with the words in white "Find more Christmas cookie recipes"

Chatelaine celebrates, inspires, informs and empowers. We know that Canadian women contain multitudes, and we cover all of the issues—big and small—that matter to them, from climate change to caregiving, Canadian fashion and what to cook now.

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In our Summer 2025 issue, we get real about what sex is like after 40. Plus, living together after divorce, our favourite beauty products of the year and 17 incredibly summery recipes, from ceviche to sour cherry cobbler.