Delicious Shortbread Recipe

Plain but luxurious, shortbread has been a traditional teatime treat for centuries and was reputedly a favourite of Mary Queen of Scots. It was made all over Britain but is now often associated with Scotland, perhaps because it has always played a role in their traditional New Year celebrations when it was given to first footers.

Luxurious and rich because of the amount of pure butter in it, all its flavour comes from the butter itself, so on no account should you ever substitute margarine. Shortbread is quick and simple to make with only three ingredients in most recipes. It is great for tea but you can use this shortbread recipe as a base for a traditional summer dessert, strawberry shortcake with fresh strawberries and cream.

Shortbread Recipe

Ingredients
125g / 4oz pure butter, softened
55g / 2oz caster sugar
180g / 6oz plain flour

Preheat the oven to 190C / 375F.
Cream together the butter and sugar and beat till pale.
Work in the flour.
When you have a smooth dough, roll it out to about 1cm / ½ inch thick. Cut into fingers or rounds and place on a baking sheet. Alternatively press the mixture into a baking tin to the same thickness and cut into fingers after baking.
Sprinkle with more caster sugar.
Bake for 15-20 minutes until pale golden.
Cool on a wire rack.
Store in an airtight tin.

Shaping shortcake

You can get lots of different moulds for baking shortcake, pressing it into various traditional shapes, such as the petticoat tails round, that is cut into triangles.   Plain is often better though and you can get lots of different effects by experimenting at home.

Try making your own petticoat tails, effectively a circle with a fluted edge. Roll the dough in to a ball and then roll out into a circle. Press your thumb round the edge to make regular indentations and score across the centre to mark out the slices it will be cut into later. You’ll have made your own petticoat tails without using a mould!

Not in the mood for baking shortbread right now? Why not enjoy the teatime treats at Woodborough Hall restaurant in Nottingham.