Gluten-Free Shortbread

Recipe by King Arthur Test Kitchen
16 Reviews 3.8 out of 5 stars

What could be simpler than shortbread? This classic British treat, a tasty combination of butter, sugar, flour, and a touch of vanilla, has been delighting cookie lovers for decades.

We know you’ll love this gluten-free version of our Shortbread recipe, a long-time favorite here on our site. Substituting Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour for the flour in that original yields tender, buttery cookies that are sure to be a hit with friends and family following a gluten-free diet. Enjoy!

Prep
15 mins
Bake
50 to 55 mins
Total
1 hr 5 mins
Yield
2 dozen shortbread wedges
Gluten-Free Shortbread - select to zoom
Gluten-Free Shortbread - select to zoom
Gluten-Free Shortbread - select to zoom

Instructions

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  1. Preheat the oven to 300°F. Lightly grease two round 8" cake pans. If you worry about the shortbread possibly sticking in your particular pans, line them with parchment, and grease the parchment.

  2. In a medium-sized bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, vanilla, and almond extract, then mix in the flour. The dough may seem a little dry at first; keep mixing until it comes together. If it absolutely won't come together, dribble in up to 1 tablespoon of water, until it does. This is a stiff dough.

  3. Divide the dough in half (if you have a scale, each half will weigh about 300g), and press each half into one of the prepared pans, smoothing the surface with your fingers, or with a mini rolling pin. If you're having trouble pressing the shortbread flat in the pan because it's sticking to your fingers, cover it with a piece of plastic wrap, and push on the wrap.

  4. Remove the wrap if you've used it, and then use a fork to prick the dough all over; this allows any steam to escape, and prevents the shortbread from bubbling as it bakes. Prick ("dock") the dough in a random pattern (though it does look nicer pricked with some kind of symmetry).

  5. Bake the shortbread until it's a light golden brown across the top surface and a deeper golden brown around the edges, about 50 to 55 minutes.

  6. Remove it from the oven and immediately turn each shortbread round out onto a clean work surface.

  7. Using a pizza wheel or sharp knife, cut each round into 12 wedges. (Do this while the shortbread is still warm; if you wait until it's cool it won't cut easily.) Transfer the shortbread wedges to a rack to cool.

  8. Serve as is, or take the cookies up a level. Drizzle them with melted caramel; or spread with melted chocolate, and sprinkle with nuts. Or try this: Set aside two shortbread wedges, and spread the remainder of the wedges with a thick layer of jam or preserves. Crumble the reserved wedges and sprinkle the crumbs lightly over the jam.

  9. Store shortbread, well wrapped, at room temperature for several days; freeze for longer storage.

Tips from our Bakers

  • Although we usually use unsalted butter in our baking here at King Arthur, in this case salted is preferred. Why? Because, with no liquid in the recipe, it's impossible for added salt to disperse itself fully through the shortbread dough; you end up with unpleasantly gritty bits of salt in each bite.

  • Vary the flavor of your shortbread with the following simple additions.
    For ginger shortbread: Add 1/3 cup finely diced crystallized ginger and 1 teaspoon ginger.
    For chai-spiced shortbread: Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon cardamom, and 1/8 teaspoon cloves.

  • Want to make shortbread drop cookies? Drop the dough by teaspoonfuls onto a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Flatten each ball of dough to about 3/8" thick; use the bottom of a drinking glass, the tines of a fork, a cookie stamp, or whatever implement you think will make a pretty pattern. Bake the cookies for about 25 minutes in a preheated 300°F oven, until they're set but not really beginning to brown. Remove them from the oven, and cool on the pans or on a rack. Yield: about 4 dozen small (1 3/8") cookies.

  • Be aware: Some of your baking ingredients can be a hidden source of gluten. Learn more at our blog post: For gluten-free baking, think beyond just flour. For additional information on King Arthur-produced products, read the complete details of our allergen program, including our contact-prevention practices.

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