Marie Saba

From My Kitchen To Yours

Citrus Shortbread Cookies

Have you ever made shortbread cookies? They’re so easy! A basic shortbread cookie has just three ingredients: butter, sugar and flour.

For these Citrus Shortbread Cookies, I add a little citrus zest (orange, lemon or lime) and a matching extract to bump up the flavor. If you prefer to leave out the citrus (or don’t have any on hand), simply omit the zest and sub in 1 teaspoon vanilla.

As far as equipment, you’ll need a stand mixer (or electric beaters), a rolling pin, and some cookie cutters. For decoration, you can prick the cookies with a fork for a traditional look, or decorate with chocolate and sprinkles if you’re feeling festive!

This recipe makes a lot of cookies, perfect for sharing with friends and neighbors. I found these cookie boxes online and they’re just the right size for gifting.

Hope you get a chance to try these Citrus Shortbread Cookies! If you’re looking for some other easy cookie ideas, try our easy holiday biscotti, five-ingredient coconut macaroons, or these classic chocolate chip cookies.

Citrus Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon orange, lemon or lime zest, lightly packed
1 teaspoon orange, lemon or lime extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Using a stand mixer or electric beaters, beat butter until fluffy, about 1 minute. Add powdered sugar, citrus zest and matching extract and beat again. Scrape down the sides as needed. Add flour and salt and beat to combine. Do not overmix.

3. Knead the dough a few times on a floured surface. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin to about ¼-inch thick. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters and prick with a fork, if desired.

4. Place cookies on a nonstick cookie sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden on the sides and bottom. Cool on a drying rack.

5. Optional Decoration: Dip cookies in melted chocolate. While chocolate is warm, decorate with sprinkles. Set cookies on a drying rack and let chocolate dry completely before serving.

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