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Brown Butter Shortbread Cookies

Prep Time2 hours
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time2 hours 20 minutes
Course: Dessert
Keyword: brown butter, brown butter shortbread, cookies, dessert, shortbread cookies
Servings: 24 cookies
Author: Ashlen Leonard

Ingredients

  • 1 cup salted butter
  • 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour sifted
  • 1/2 cup icing sugar sifted
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

Brown Butter

  • In a saucepan (preferably stainless steel), melt the butter on medium-high heat. Once melted, whisk the butter until it turns a light brown colour and has a nutty aroma to it (roughly 5-10 minutes). You may have to remove the saucepan from the heat a couple of times to allow the foam to settle so you can see the butter underneath.
  • Pour it into a glass jar and allow it to solidify (in the fridge for 1-2 hours).

Cookies

  • Preheat the oven to 300℉ and grease a cookie sheet with butter or vegetable oil.
  • Once the butter has solidified, cream the butter in a large bowl for 1-2 minutes. Gradually add the icing sugar and mix until combined.
  • Add the flour and using your hands or a wooden spoon, mix well. If the mixture is too crumbly, add 1 tsp of water at a time until the dough comes together in a ball.
  • Spoon out 1 tbsp of the dough and using your hands, form into a round disk (about ¼-½ inch thick). Place on the greased cookie sheet and repeat with the rest of the dough.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the bottom of the cookies is a light golden-brown colour.
  • Allow to cool for 5 minutes before enjoying!

Notes

  • Butter
    • I recommend using salted butter for another dimension of flavour.
  • All-purpose flour
    • If you have a sifter or a sieve, sifting the flour (and icing sugar) really enhances the texture of the cookie.
  • Icing sugar
    • Try to stay away from organic icing sugar. I don’t know if this is every brand but the last organic icing sugar I purchased was way too clumpy and very difficult to use in any baking recipe.
  • Cornstarch
    • The cornstarch provides the traditional shortbread texture: buttery, crispy, melt-in-your-mouth perfection!