Prep Time 20

Cook Time 40

Cooling 10

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A long favourite of mine and this specific recipe is definitely inspired by the TV series “Ted Lasso,”. Shortbread holds significance as a symbol of kindness and friendship and I’m all for food bringing people together! Shortbread is as simple as it is delicious.

I like to eat this shortbread with tea or coffee as a simple and delicious treat. Eat on its own or use it as a base for other desserts, such as cheesecakes, lemon meringue or tarts. Some variations of shortbread include adding flavourings such as citrus zest, chocolate chips, or dried fruit to the dough.

Why this recipe is amazing

Buttery, subtly sweet taste with a rich flavour.
No mixer! Use my grater trick for extra flaky texture!
4 main ingredients
Simple to make, suitable for novice and experienced bakers. The recipe requires minimal effort, with a straightforward process.
Versatile: Classic shortbread is delicious on its own, but you can unleash your creativity by adding flavours like chocolate chips, citrus zest, or nuts. Use as a base for bars & slices! Think lemon meringue, caramel slices and more!

What is ted lasso and what is Shortbread

Shortbread is a sweet biscuit or cookie that originated in Scotland in the 1700s. Traditionally made with just butter, sugar, and flour. The name “shortbread” comes from the fact that the dough has a “short” or crumbly texture, which is achieved by using a high proportion of butter to flour.

“Ted Lasso” is a popular TV series that follows the story of an American football coach, Ted Lasso, who is hired to coach a British soccer team, AFC Richmond. The show is known for its heartwarming and comedic portrayal of Ted’s journey as he navigates cultural differences, sceptical players, and personal challenges.

Ted makes shortbread for the CEO Rebecca and they represent his caring and nurturing nature. They serve as a way for him to show kindness, make a personal connection, and extend a gesture of friendship. I’m a big fan of this because I love to show love through food! Food brings people together and it’s a great way to show small acts of kindness.

Ingredients that are needed:

Cold Butter: The star ingredient of our shortbread recipe is cold butter. Using cold butter, grated into the flour mixture, creates flaky layers in the cookies. The cold butter melts and releases steam as the cookies bake, resulting in a light, tender texture that practically melts in your mouth. Its richness adds that unmistakable buttery flavour that defines classic shortbread.
Plain Flour: Plain flour serves as the base ingredient for our shortbread, providing structure and stability to the cookies. It contributes to the desired texture and helps bind the dough together.
Cornflour/Corn starch: Cornflour, also known as cornstarch, plays a crucial role in achieving the desired texture of shortbread. By substituting a portion of the regular flour with cornflour, we introduce a delicate crumbly texture to the cookies. Cornflour helps inhibit gluten development, resulting in a tender, melt-in-your-mouth experience. It contributes to the delicate nature of shortbread and enhances its signature flakiness.
Powdered Icing Sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness to our shortbread. Its fine texture dissolved smoothly and quickly into the dough, ensuring a consistent sweetness throughout each bite. The powdered sugar also contributes to the tenderness of the cookies, enhancing their melt-in-your-mouth quality.
Vanilla Extract: A dash of vanilla extract brings warmth and depth to our shortbread recipe. It is optional but I like the aroma of vanilla as it imparts a subtle sweetness and enticing fragrance.

Recipe Testing Zone

Troubleshooting & things I’ve learned from testing this recipe:

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Lemon Meringue slab cut into squares on wooden plate

Test 1: Too much butter = too oily and the mixture has to be cooked in a baking tin. Getting the right flakey texture means not being right for individual cut-out cookies.

Test 2: Too much sugar created a crispier cookie but too sweet and overpowered buttery flavour.

Test 3: Baking time was subsequently reduced due to being too dark and overly nutty flavour. Used in lemon meringue bars. Very easy to use but needed larger tin or less mixture as a layer too thick.

Test 4: Conventional oven was used (no fan). Created optimal colour and flavour.

squares of Lemon Meringue slice on baking paper

Setting you up for success – Tips, Tricks & FAQs

Use high-quality butter: The main star in shortbread! It’s paramount to use high-quality butter for the best flavour and texture. Look for lightly salted butter with a high butterfat content for the best results. Unsalted is okay, then add 1/2 tsp salt to the recipe.
Decide on a pan: A 20-22cm or 8-inch square metal pan will work for this recipe. Note that the pan size will affect the bake time. Larger pans spread the mixture = thinner cookie = shorter bake time… and vice versa.
Grate the butter: Each strand creates flaky layers in the cookies. The cold butter melts and releases steam as the cookies bake, resulting in a light, tender texture that practically melts in your mouth.
Don’t overwork the dough: Overworking the dough can result in tough, dense shortbread. Mix and press the dough until it just comes together, and then stop. You can also do this on a lightly floured surface to bring it together, but be careful not to overdo it.
Bake at a low temperature: Shortbread should be baked at a low temperature, 160°C/ 325°F without the fan, for a longer period of time. It will be around 30-40 minutes. This slow baking helps the shortbread cook evenly and gives it a nice, crispy texture.
Slice when warm: Use a sharp knife to cut into your fingers when warm. This will help create nice sharp edges without the cookies crumbling.
Let it cool before serving: Shortbread is best served at room temperature, allow it to cool completely before serving. This will also give it time to set and become crispier.

Stack of shortbread biscuits on wooden plate

Troubleshooting

Dry or crumbly texture: If your shortbread turns out dry or crumbly, it could be due to overbaking or insufficient fat in the dough. To fix this, try reducing the baking time or increasing the butter content in the recipe.
Uneven browning: If your shortbread is browning unevenly, it could be due to uneven oven heat distribution or placing the baking sheet too close to the heat source. To ensure even browning, rotate the baking sheet halfway through baking and adjust the oven rack position if needed.
Hard or tough texture: when your shortbread turns out hard or tough, it is probably because the dough was overworked or kneaded too much. To achieve a tender texture, handle the dough gently and avoid excessive kneading.
Lacking flavour: If your shortbread lacks flavour, it could be due to using low-quality butter or not adding enough flavouring such as vanilla extract or citrus zest. Make sure to use high-quality butter especially and adjust flavourings according to your taste preferences.
Sticking to the pan: If your shortbread sticks to the baking pan, it’s because the pan was not properly greased or lined with parchment paper. Ensure that the pan is lined to prevent sticking.

Did you make this recipe?

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