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33 Delicious Shortbread And Butter Cookie Recipes

Nothing says the holidays quite like shortbread (or their close relatives, butter cookies).
33 Delicious Shortbread And Butter Cookie Recipes

Whipped shortbread cookies. (Produced by Chantal Braganza and Sun Ngo, Photography by Christie Vuong, Food Styling by Eshun Mott, Prop Styling by Nicole Billark.)

Whipped Shortbread Cookies

Meet one of our most popular cookie recipes, ever! Each bite of these delicate, buttery cookies melts in your mouth. Get this whipped shortbread cookies recipe.

Millionaire Shortbread Bars

This decadent square—with a shortbread base, caramel filling and melted chocolate top—is thought to have originated in Scotland. We use store-bought toffee bits to streamline the caramel-making. Get our millionaire shortbread bars recipe.

squares of millionaire shortbread bars stacked and tied with a green ribbon.Easy millionaire shortbread. (Produced by Aimee Nishitoba; Photography by Christie Vuong; Food styling by Eshun Mott; Prop styling by Christine Hanlon)

Sable Shortbread Cherry Pistachio Shortbread

"Cherries and pistachios make a wonderful Christmas combo in this delightful shortbread cookie. Roasting your pistachios ahead of time and using the best-quality maraschino cherries you can find (we like Tillen Farms Merry Maraschino Cherries) really makes these cookies sing!"—Lorraine Pike, co-owner, Kentville, N.S. Get Sable Shortbread's cherry pistachio shortbread recipe.

Sable Shortbread Cherry Pistachio ShortbreadProduced by Radiyah Chowdhury, Irene Ngo and Aimee Nishitoba; photography by Erik Putz; food styling by Michelle Rabin; Paper art by Ali Harrison of Light + Paper

Scottish Shortbread for Christmas

This classic buttery cookie recipe was published in the magazine’s first-ever Christmas issue in 1928. We’ve dialled down the flour and added more citrus peel for a lightly sweet and crisp treat. Butter and candied orange are the two key flavours in this recipe; try to find the best quality of both. Get our Scottish shortbread for Christmas recipe.

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Scottish shortbread for Christmas served on a pink plate, with one wedge out of eight removedScottish shortbread. (Produced by Chantal Braganza and Sun Ngo, Photography by Christie Vuong, Food Styling by Eshun Mott, Prop Styling by Nicole Billark.)

Classic Shortbread Cookies

Simple, classic shortbread cookies that are sure to please, whether iced artistically or left plain. Get our classic shortbread cookies recipe.

A stack of classic rolled shortbread cookies with one artfully glazed cookie leaning against it on a white background(Photo: Sian Richards; food styling: Ashley Denton & Miranda Keyes)

Matcha Butter Cookies

A generous amount of matcha powder adds gorgeous colour to these butter cookies, which are finished with a quick dip into some melted white chocolate. Get our matcha butter cookies recipe.

Matcha butter cookies dipped in white chocolate and finished with white decorative balls on a green background for a post on on an easy Green Tea Butter Cookies recipe

Savoury Herb Shortbread Cookies

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. Get our savoury herb shortbread cookie recipe.

Savoury shortbread cookies on plate, next to brown-paper-wrapped gift with hands tying ribbonPhoto, Erik Putz. Food Styling, Eshun Mott. Prop Styling, Madeline Johari.

These shortbreads are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Between our chocolate, lemon, and Skor bar variations, that festive cookie tin you keep stocked for drop-by guests won’t stay full for long. Get this ultimate shortbread cookie recipe.

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Shortbreads with pieces of chocolate on top in a white bowl.(Photography: Roberto Caruso)

Whipped Cranberry And Orange Shortbread Cookies

Inspired by our cranberry Aperol spritz, these whipped shortbread cookies are filled with cranberries and orange zest, making them a fun and festive addition to your cookie jar! Get this whipped shortbread spritz cookie recipe.

A whipped shortbread spritz cookie on a white backgroundPhoto, Erik Putz. Food styling, Irene Ngo.

Brown Butter Shortbread Squares With Roasted White Chocolate

Topped with roasted white chocolate and browned butter, these squares have a delicious smoked and nutty flavour. Get this brown butter shortbread squares with roasted white chocolate recipe.

Brown butter shortbread cookies with toasted white chocolate cookiesPhoto, Erik Putz.

Hot Toddy Shortbread

Add lemon zest and a whiskey glaze to our classic shortbread cookie recipe and voila! Hot toddy cookies for one and all. Get this hot toddy shortbread recipe.

Hot toddy shortbread cookieHot toddy shortbread cookie. (Photo, Sian Richards.)

Oatmeal Shortbread Bar

An amazing mash-up of our favourite Christmas cookie with our favourite everyday cookie. Get this oatmeal shortbread bar recipe.

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Oatmeal shortbread barOatmeal shortbread bar. (Photo, Sian Richards.)

Pistachio Thumbprints

These buttery shortbread-like bites from 2005 are the ideal make-ahead cookie, and they travel beautifully. Prepare and bake the dough, then fill with colourful jam or lemon curd just before serving. Get our pistachio thumbprint cookie recipe.

Pistachio ThumbprintsProduced by Chantal Braganza and Sun Ngo, Photography by Christie Vuong, Food Styling by Eshun Mott, Prop Styling by Nicole Billark.

Crisp Maple Shortbread Cookies

Maple-glazed holiday perfection. Get this crisp maple shortbread cookies recipe.

A pile of Crisp Maple Shortbread Cookies with a maple syrup glaze in closeup on a white background; one cookie in the corner is broken in half, for a post on the best Crisp Maple Shortbread Cookies recipe(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Raspberry Jam Shortbread Balls

Swirl a little raspberry jam into your cookies for a sweet-tart surprise. Get this raspberry jam shortbread balls recipe.

Raspberry Jam Shortbread Balls with a swirl of raspberry jam in them on a white background with cinnamon sprinkles in the background for a post on an easy Raspberry Jam Shortbread Balls recipe(Photo: Sian Richards)

Maple Pecan Shortbread Bar

A drizzle of maple icing adds the perfect touch to these pecan-laced bars. Get this maple-pecan shortbread bar recipe.

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Maple-pecan shortbread barMaple-pecan shortbread bar. (Photo, Sian Richards.)

Classic Shortbread Bars

They’re classics for a reason. (These sweets also pack beautifully.) Get this classic shortbread bar recipe.

Classic Shortbread Bars; millionaire's shortbread bars; oat shortbread bars; and shortbread bars with figs and ones with walnuts stacked and shown from the side for a post on the best Classic Shortbread Bars recipe(Photo: Sian Richards)

There’s always room for a little extra chocolate. Get this milk chocolate shortbread icebox cookies recipe.

Milk Chocolate Shortbread Icebox Cookie on a white background for a post on the best Milk Chocolate Shortbread Icebox Cookie recipe(Photo: Sian Richards)

Cinnamon-Hazelnut Shortbread Bar

For the hazelnut-lovers, these cinnamon-laced cookies are irrestible. Get this cinnamon-hazelnut shortbread bar recipe.

Christmas cookies: Cinnamon hazelnut shortbread barCinnamon hazelnut shortbread bar. (Photo, Sian Richards.)

Linzer Cookies

Toasted hazelnuts add a delightful nutty flavour to these buttery, jam-filled sandwich cookies. Get our Linzer cookies recipe.

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linzer cookiesPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Caramel Shortbread Bites

Hint: there’s a decadent surprise inside. Get this caramel shortbread bites recipe.

Caramel Chocolate Shortbread Bites on a white background with sprinkles of cocoa powder and two empty spots where a cookie was. The cookies have Caramilk chocolate at the centre when broken open for a post on the best Caramel Chocolate Shortbread Bites recipe

Chocolate Sea Salt Shortbread

Dusted with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, these cocoa cookies are a favourite in our kitchen. Get this chocolate sea salt shortbread recipe.

Chocolate and sea salt shortbread cookieChocolate and sea salt shortbread cookie. (Photo, Sian Richards.)

Cranberry Shortbread Chews

Each bite gives you the buttery goodness of shortbread, with the sweet-tart finish of the most festive berry. Get this cranberry shortbread chews recipe.

33 Delicious Shortbread And Butter Cookie RecipesRoberto Caruso

We just can’t get enough. These cookies are just perfect for dipping in a hot cocoa or after-dinner coffee. Get this white-chocolate espresso shortbread icebox cookie recipe.

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White-Chocolate Espresso Shortbread Icebox Cookie recipe

Cinnamon-Sugar Shortbread Balls

Dress up a classic with a simple blend of sugar and spice. Get our cinnamon-sugar shortbread balls recipe.

Cinnamon-Sugar Shortbread Balls: Shortbread cookies rolled in cinnamon sugar in a tin for a post on an easy Cinnamon-Sugar Shortbread Balls recipe(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Sticky-Toffee Shortbread Bars

Shortbread makes an incredible base for this gooey and festive bar. Get this sticky-toffee shortbread bars recipe.

Sticky Toffee Shortbread Bars: shortbread cookies covered with pecan- and date-laden sticky toffee pudding for a post on the best sticky toffee shortbread cookie bars recipe for Christmas and the holidays(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookies

Brown sugar adds a deep, rich flavour to this classic shortbread cookie recipe. Get our brown sugar shortbread cookies recipe.

Brown sugar shortbread cookie

Alfajores

Incredibly tender shortbread pairs with dulce de leche and coconut for a repeat-worthy take on the popular South American treat. Get our alfajores recipe.

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alfajores: Two shortbread cookies sandwich a dulce de leche filling topped with dried coconut for a post on the best easy alfajores recipePhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Lemon-Glazed Butter Cookies

These crispy, buttery cookies get a double dose of lemon from the zest- and juice-infused glaze. Get our lemon-glazed butter cookies recipe.

Lemon-Glazed Butter Cookies with several broken in two: Buttery cookies with a scalloped edges with a lemon and lemon zest icing sugar glaze for a post on an easy lemon-glazed butter cookies recipe

Cardamom-Lime Shortbread Balls

We love the combination of cardamon and lime. The balance of spice and citrus zing creates one incredibly irresistible cookie. Get our cardamom-lime shortbread ball recipe.

Cardamom-Lime Shortbread Balls: Shortbread cookies with lime zest and cardamom; one is sprinkled with powdered sugar. For a post on the Cardamom-Lime Shortbread Balls recipe

Eggnog Shortbread Cookies

Everyone's favourite holiday drink meets everyone's favourite holiday cookie. Get our eggnog shortbread cookies recipe.

Eggnog shortbread cookie bars

Coconut Macadamia Shortbread Icebox Cookies

Add crunch and sweetness with decadent macadamia and coconut. Get our coconut macadamia shortbread icebox cookies recipe.

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Coconut macadamia shortbread icebox cookies: Shortbread cookies with chopped macadamia nuts and unsweetened dessicated coconut on a white background for a post on the best coconut macadamia nut shortbread icebox cookie recipe(Photo: Sian Richards)

Cardamom Orange Sablés Bretons

These traditional French butter cookies from Edmonton's Duchess Bake Shop are a snap to make. The cardamom-and-orange combination is perfect for the holidays, but if you aren’t a fan, you could omit those flavourings and add a bit more vanilla. Get this cardamom-orange sablés bretons recipe.

Duchess Bake Shop's Cardamom Orange Sablés BretonsProduced by Radiyah Chowdhury, Irene Ngo and Aimee Nishitoba; photography by Erik Putz; food styling by Michelle Rabin; Paper art by Ali Harrison of Light + Paper
Assorted cookies on a pink background with the words in white "Find more Christmas cookie recipes"

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