You only need 3 ingredients to make these delicious Shortbread Cookies. Well, four if you count the tablespoon of vanilla. They’re a buttery, melt in your mouth cookie that’s made even more delicious by dipping in melted chocolate. Let me show you how to make this classic holiday cookie.
Ask anyone to share with you a favorite memory and most will say, “baking Christmas cookies.” This year I’m celebrating the start of the Christmas season with 12 Days of Christmas Cookies.
For the next 12 days I will be sharing a new Christmas cookie recipe that you can make with your children, grandchildren or even just by yourself to enjoy this holiday season.
To make this even better I’ve invited a few other “foodie friends” to join me in our “Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange.” Make sure you check out the cookies they’re featuring today at the bottom of all the cookie posts I’ll be sharing over the next 12 days.
All the cookies being shared are perfect for the holiday season. If you host a cookie exchange, give away cookies as gifts or just bake for your own family, you’re going to love the recipes. And like all the recipes found on my site, these are EASY recipes!
12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes
Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, click here.
How could we possibly make this holiday baking season even better for YOU? What do you think about a giveaway? How about a KitchenAid Mixer Giveaway?
One lucky winner will receive a KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-QT. Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield. Make sure you check out all the information below the printable recipe card and enter!
Shortbread Cookies
This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2013 with new photos and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!
This is a recipe I have been making for YEARS. They’re very easy to make and everyone loves them. Shortbread cookies hold up well if you’re planning on giving them as gifts too.
You can make these cookies using any cookie cutter you’d like. I’ve made the cookies using a biscuit cutter as seen in the photo below, which was originally posted in 2013.
Today I’m going to share with you how I made them using a heart shaped cookie cutter.
Shortbread Cookies Ingredients:
Make sure you print out the recipe below and save it for later!
- 3 sticks of butter softened (1 1/2 cups)
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
- Vanilla – 1 tablespoon
- 3 cups flour
- candy melts – if you choose to dip the cookies in melted chocolate, which I highly recommend.
How to Make Shortbread Cookies
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the butter, confectioner’s sugar and vanilla until they are just combined.
Now, we need to add the flour, a little at a time until all is added. Then mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. You’ll know the dough is ready when you can make a small disc in your hands with the dough and it doesn’t fall apart.
Remove the dough from the bowl onto a floured surface and shape into 2 flat discs. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 to 60 minutes. You can even chill the dough overnight or freeze it.
How to Roll out the Cookie Dough
Roll out the dough on a floured surface into 1/2 inch thickness. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, begin to cut out shapes. Place the cut out shapes onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are beginning to brown slightly.
How to Dip in Melted Chocolate
Now comes the fun part! Let’s make these cookies even more delicious by dipping one part of them in melted chocolate. You can use chocolate bark or candy melts to dip the cookies in.
Melt the chocolate according to the package directions.
Make sure the cookies have cooled completely before dipping half the cookie into melted chocolate. You can even dip the cookie into chopped walnuts, colored sprinkles. chopped peppermint candies immediately after dipping them in the melted chocolate. I like to sometimes drizzle melted white chocolate on top of the cookies!
Place the cookies on a piece of wax paper to completely harden before storing in plastic containers.
How to Store and Freeze Shortbread Cookies
Once the cookies have dried completely, store them in an air-tight container. I like to place them between layers of Parchment Baking Sheets.
You can also freeze the cookies by first flash freezing them on a baking tray and then once frozen, place in an airtight container or in large plastic freezer safe bags. These cookies will last in the freezer for up to a month or two.
12 Days of Christmas Cookie Recipes
Make sure you check out these other Christmas Cookies featured today from a few of my foodie friends joining in on the celebration.
- Flour On My Face: Almond Spritz Cookies Recipe I love spritz cookies and these sound yummy.
- Walking on Sunshine Recipes: Heart Shaped Shortbread Cookies
- Glenda Embree: Chocolate Crinkles
- Fat Dad Foodie: Ginger Snowball Cookies

Shortbread Cookies
Shortbread Cookies in heart shapes are buttery, melt in your mouth cookie that’s made even more delicious by dipping in melted chocolate. Let me show you how to make this classic holiday cookie.
Ingredients
- 3 sticks of butter softened (1 1/2 cups)
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups flour
- Candy Melts - to dip the cookies in.
Instructions
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the butter, confectioner’s sugar and vanilla until they are just combined and fluffy.
- Add the flour, a little at a time until it is all combined.
- Remove the dough from the bowl onto a floured surface and shape into 2 flat discs. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 to 60 minutes. You can even chill the dough overnight or freeze it.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface into 1/2 inch thickness. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, begin to cut out shapes. Place the cut out shapes onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
- Bake in a preheated 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges are beginning to brown slightly.
- Cool completely before dipping half the cookie into melted chocolate then dip the cookie into chopped walnuts, colored sprinkles or chopped peppermint candies.
- Place the cookies on a piece of wax paper to completely harden before storing in plastic containers.
Notes
- Follow the directions on the back of the package for melting the chocolate.
- Make sure the cookies have cooled completely before dipping half the cookie into melted chocolate. You can even dip the cookie into chopped walnuts, colored sprinkles. chopped peppermint candies immediately after dipping them in the melted chocolate. I like to sometimes drizzle melted white chocolate on top of the cookies!
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 36 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 126 Total Fat: 8g Saturated Fat: 5g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 3g Cholesterol: 21mg Sodium: 73mg Carbohydrates: 12g Net Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 0g Sugar: 3g Sugar Alcohols: 0g Protein: 1g
ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL RECEIVE A KITCHENAID ARTISAN SERIES 5-QT. STAND MIXER WITH POURING SHIELD!
FEATURES OF THE KITCHENAID ARTISAN SERIES STAND MIXER
- 10-speed slide control ranges from a very fast whip to a very slow stir
- Includes Flat Beater, Dough Hook and Wire Whip
- Power Hub for Additional Attachments
- Unique Mixing Action
- Assembled with Pride in Greenville, Ohio.Electrical: 60 Hz
- Choose from all the color options to find the one that best matches your style and personality.
- The power hub turns your stand mixer into a culinary center with more than 15 optional attachments available.
- 5-Qt. stainless steel bowl with comfortable handle offers enough capacity to mix dough for 9 dozen cookies or 4 loaves of bread in a single batch.
- 59-Point Planetary Mixing Action means 59 touch points per rotation around the bowl for thorough ingredient incorporation.
- The tilt-head design allows clear access to the bowl and attached beater or accessory so you can easily add ingredients for a recipe.
- Powerful enough for nearly any task or recipe, whether you’re stirring wet and dry ingredients together, kneading bread dough or whipping cream.
- Includes coated flat beater, coated dough hook, 6-wire whip and 1-piece pouring shield. The flat beater and dough hook are dishwasher-safe.
ENTER THE 12 Days of Christmas Cookies KITCHENAID MIXER GIVEAWAY
Official Rules and Conditions for the 12 Days of Christmas Cookies KitchenAid Mixer Giveaway: One winner will be receive a KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Qt. Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield (Value $279.00 USD). Open to US residents adults 18+. One (1) winner will be chosen. This Prize must be claimed within 48 hours of announcement or a new winner will be drawn. Prize will be delivered via Amazon. All entries will be verified. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, Rafflecopter, Amazon, KitchenAid or any other entity unless otherwise specified. Giveaway ends December 12th, 2019 at midnight. Bloggers are not responsible for the delivery of the prize. Enter using the widget below:
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @Lois_walkingonsunshinerecipes on Instagram and hashtag it #walkingonsunshinerecipes
Love the photos and the cookies they look delicious!! Can’t go wrong with shortbread cookies but they don’t last long in my house!
Thank you for sharing all these delicious looking recipes and for the wonderful giveaway opportunity
Thank you for visiting! Good luck with the giveaway!
Your recipes always look so yummy!
Such a wonderful and generous giveaway! A KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer has been on my wish list for many years now. Thanks for the chance! Happy Holidays!
Crossing my fingers you get one this year either by winning or maybe as a gift under the tree!
I would to make shortbread cookies for my sweet family!
You know they’re my favorite too!
These are so gorgeous and festive! Can’t wait to try the recipe!
Let me know if you do!
These would be so good in any kind of chocolate. I'll definitely be trying them out! Thank you for linking to the In and Out of the Kitchen Link Party. Hope to see you next week.
Oh my goodness cookies and pancakes.
I sure wish you were my neighbor.
Yummy. Thank you for sharing.
Woolie Hugs
I love shortbread cookies. They are perfect for every Holiday year round.
thanks for sharing,
Joanne
These look divine! I love shortbread…thanks for sharing at Mix it up Monday 🙂
Shortbread are some of my favourite types of cookies. Thanks so much for sharing at Simple Supper Tuesday, this week.