Melt-In-Your-Mouth Shortbread Cookies

The Classic, Buttery Christmas Treat Everyone Loves

There’s something magical about shortbread during the holidays. With their delicate crumb, rich buttery flavor, and snowy-white appearance, these Melt-In-Your-Mouth Shortbread Cookies are the kind of classic Christmas treat that never goes out of style.

What makes them truly special is their simplicity — only four ingredients, one bowl, and a few minutes of mixing stand between you and the most tender cookies you’ll ever taste. The cornstarch gives them that iconic light-as-air texture, while the confectioners’ sugar keeps them soft and meltable.

Whether you’re baking for a holiday party, cookie exchange, or simply filling your home with cozy Christmas aromas, these cookies are guaranteed to become a family favorite.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
  (Make sure the butter is room temperature for the fluffiest results)
• ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour

Directions

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Shortbread bakes best in a fully heated oven to ensure a tender center and lightly golden edges.

Step 2: Beat the Butter

Using an electric mixer, whip the softened butter until it becomes light, creamy, and fluffy.
This aeration step is what gives the cookies their melt-in-your-mouth feel.

Step 3: Add the Dry Ingredients

Add the:

• Confectioners’ sugar
• Cornstarch
• Flour

Mix on low speed for 1 minute until the dough starts to come together.
Then switch to high speed for 3–4 minutes.
This creates a silky, airy dough that bakes into impossibly soft cookies.

Step 4: Shape the Cookies

Drop spoonfuls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
You can leave them rustic or gently shape them with your fingers or a small scoop.

For a festive look, you can also:

• Press with a fork
• Add Christmas sprinkles
• Top with a candied cherry

Step 5: Bake

Bake for 12–15 minutes, keeping a close eye on the edges.
Shortbread should stay pale — remove them just as the bottoms turn a light golden color.
Overbaking will make them crumbly instead of soft.

Step 6: Cool Completely

Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 1–2 minutes before transferring them to wire racks.
They firm up as they cool and become perfectly tender.

Tips for Perfect Holiday Shortbread

• Use real butter — the flavor depends on it.
• Do not overmix after the dough comes together; just enough to make it fluffy.
• Cornstarch is the secret to that melt-away texture.
• Sift your powdered sugar for a smoother dough.
• Use high-quality vanilla (optional) for deeper flavor.

Festive Variations

Add a Christmas twist with one of these ideas:

Vanilla or Almond Shortbread
Add 1 tsp vanilla extract or ½ tsp almond extract.

Chocolate Drizzle
Drizzle melted dark or white chocolate over cooled cookies.

Holiday Sprinkles
Top the dough with red & green sprinkles before baking.

Lemon Meltaways
Add 1 tsp lemon zest to the dough for a bright, fresh flavor.

Storage

• Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
• Freeze unbaked dough balls for up to 2 months.
• Freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months.

They stay beautifully tender even after freezing.

Why You’ll Love These Shortbread Cookies

Only 4 simple ingredients
No chilling required
Soft, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture
Perfect for Christmas gifting and cookie platters
Beginner-friendly and nearly foolproof

These cookies embody everything wonderful about holiday baking — easy, cozy, nostalgic, and unbelievably delicious.