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Copycat Walkers Shortbread Cookie Recipe


I first tasted genuine Scottish shortbread throughout a wet afternoon in Edinburgh. Sheltering in a small tea store, I used to be served a plate of those easy but good butter cookies alongside a steaming pot of black tea. That first chunk—crumbly, wealthy, and undeniably buttery—created a reminiscence that adopted me dwelling.

Copycat Walkers shortbread cookies on a plate.Copycat Walkers shortbread cookies on a plate.

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For years afterward, I’d attain for these iconic pink tartan containers of Walkers Shortbread each time nostalgia struck. However after I found how easy they’re to make at dwelling with simply 4 substances, every part modified. After quite a few check batches (and loads of taste-testing!), I’ve perfected this copycat recipe that captures the precise texture and taste of these well-known Scottish treats—with out the premium price ticket.

What Makes Walkers Shortbread Cookies So Good? 

Walkers Shortbread has been crafting their well-known cookies since 1898, utilizing a conventional Scottish recipe that hasn’t modified in generations. The wonder lies in its simplicity—pure butter, flour, sugar, and a contact of salt create that signature melt-in-your-mouth texture and wealthy taste that’s unattainable to withstand.

This do-it-yourself model stays true to the basic, specializing in high quality substances and correct method. The result’s a buttery shortbread with the proper steadiness of sweetness and that particular crumbly-yet-tender texture that makes it practically unattainable to eat only one.

Why You Ought to Strive This Recipe 

Walkers Shortbread are high-quality cookies, however they aren’t low cost. A small packet can take a reasonably large chunk out of your snack price range. However if you make them at dwelling, you should use premium substances and nonetheless get monetary savings.

Even for those who don’t thoughts splurging on shortbread on the retailer, when you see how simple and attractive this conventional Scottish shortbread cookie recipe is, you’ll by no means need to purchase premade shortbread once more.

This conventional shortbread recipe doesn’t include eggs, which is nice for these with an egg allergy.

Walker Shortbread Cookies Substances

To make this Walker shortbread recipe, you’ll want:

  • Unsalted butter – Supplies the wealthy, creamy basis and distinctive taste that defines shortbread; utilizing unsalted permits exact management over salt content material
  • Powdered sugar – Creates a extra delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture than granulated sugar would supply
  • Vanilla extract – Enhances the buttery taste with refined heat and depth
  • Salt – Balances the sweetness and intensifies the butter taste
  • All-purpose flour – Kinds the construction of the cookies whereas sustaining tenderness when dealt with correctly

Tools Wanted

  • Stand mixer or hand mixer with massive bowl
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • 9×13-inch baking tray
  • Parchment paper
  • Rolling pin
  • Dough scraper
  • Pizza cutter or sharp knife
  • Fork (for docking)
  • Wire cooling rack
Copycat Walkers shortbread cookies ingredients on a marble surface.Copycat Walkers shortbread cookies ingredients on a marble surface.

Why Use Unsalted Butter 

Whereas right now’s store-bought salted butter accommodates much less salt than the do-it-yourself butter of the previous, with out requirements for a way a lot salt is added to butter, most recipe writers favor to name for the unsalted selection. That means, you’ll be able to add salt as wanted.

Bake Walkers Shortbread Cookies 

To make the shortbread dough:

  1. Take the unsalted butter out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature. 
  2. Within the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the softened butter and the powdered sugar. Combine at medium velocity for about two to a few minutes or till the sugar is totally included and the butter quantity will increase. If you happen to don’t have a stand mixer, you should use a hand mixer or perhaps a fork (though the dough is sort of stiff).
Collage of creaming butter and powdered sugar to make shortbread cookies.Collage of creaming butter and powdered sugar to make shortbread cookies.
  1. In a separate bowl, use a fork to whisk collectively the vanilla extract and the salt. For the reason that vanilla extract is the one liquid on this recipe, all of the salt should dissolve totally throughout this step, or the cookies could grow to be gritty. 
  2. Whereas the mixer is working, add the combination to the creamed butter. 
  3. Steadily add the flour to the bowl and proceed mixing till the dough is clean. 
Collage of adding flavoring and dry ingredients to wet ingredients for shortbread cookies.Collage of adding flavoring and dry ingredients to wet ingredients for shortbread cookies.

To form the cookies into shortbread fingers:

  1. Calmly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking tray and line it with parchment paper. The oil helps the parchment paper keep on with the pan, so don’t skip this step. If you’re new to baking, try this video to discover ways to line a baking tray with parchment paper. 
  2. Use a dough scraper to assist switch the dough into the ready baking tray.
  3. Unfold the dough out on the baking tray and flatten. Shake the baking tray to interrupt up air bubbles and get the dough into the corners.
  4. Place one other sheet of greased parchment paper excessive of the tray with the greased facet down. Roll over the parchment paper with a rolling pin to clean the highest as a lot as doable. Take away the parchment paper and discard it. 

To bake the cookies:

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
  2. Place the shortbread within the oven and bake for 20 minutes. 
  3. After 20 minutes, take away the baking tray from the oven. Use a brief knife or a pizza cutter to chop the shortbread into 18 items, about 1.5 x 4 inches.
  4. Press the tines of a fork into every bit of shortbread to type two parallel traces of tiny holes in every bit. Docking the shortbread-like this can forestall it from puffing up. 
  5. Return the shortbread to the oven and bake for 8 to 9 minutes. 
  6. Place the baking tray on a wire and permit the shortbread to chill utterly earlier than consuming or storing.
Collage of rolling out and baking dough to make copycat Walkers shortbread cookies.Collage of rolling out and baking dough to make copycat Walkers shortbread cookies.

Shortbread baking suggestions

🧈 BUTTER TIP: Room temperature butter is essential for correct creaming

📏 MEASURING TIP: Cautious flour measurement prevents dry cookies

⏰ TIMING TIP: Don’t skip the cooling step

What to Serve Walker Shortbread Cookies With 

Shortbread goes exceptionally nicely with tea, particularly robust black tea. Since shortbread accommodates a lot butter, nibbling on the cookies between sips of tea will assist cut back a number of the tea’s acidity with out including sugar or cream. Shortbread goes nearly as nicely with espresso if you’re not a tea individual.

You can too use the cookies to make a shortbread crust for pies. Place the cookies in a meals processor and course of them till crumbly however not powdery, or place them in a plastic ziptop bag and roll over it with a rolling pin to crush them. Use the crumbs as an alternative of graham cracker crumbs.

Copycat Walkers shortbread cookies piled on a white plate.Copycat Walkers shortbread cookies piled on a white plate.

Recipe Variations

  • Chocolate dipped: Soften high-quality darkish or milk chocolate chips and dip half of every cooled shortbread finger for a sublime twist.
  • Chocolate drizzle: Use a fork to drizzle melted chocolate throughout the tops of cooled cookies.
  • Festive decorations: Add colourful sprinkles or finely chopped nuts to the chocolate whereas nonetheless moist.
  • Lemon shortbread: Add 1 tablespoon of lemon zest to the butter and sugar combination for a citrus variation.
  • Lavender shortbread: Add 1 teaspoon of culinary lavender to the flour for a refined floral notice.

Retailer Shortbread Cookies

To maintain shortbread cookies recent, place them in an hermetic container.

You can too freeze shortbread:

  1. Wrap particular person serving parts in plastic wrap. 
  2. Freeze in a freezer-safe container.
  3. Defrost within the fridge in a single day.  

How Lengthy Will They Final?

🍪Counter storage – retailer in an hermetic container in a cool and dry place for the very best taste. These will keep recent for 4 to five days.

📅Prolonged storage – Refrigerate in an hermetic container for one week. Freeze for one month in an hermetic container.

Closeup of copycat Walkers shortbread cookies on a plate.Closeup of copycat Walkers shortbread cookies on a plate.

Favourite DIY Recipes

Try extra of my simple recipes for cookies and the very best DIY recipes on CopyKat!

Copycat Walkers shortbread cookies on a plate.Copycat Walkers shortbread cookies on a plate.

Walkers Shortbread Cookies

Selfmade Walkers Scottish shortbread cookies are a scrumptious deal with to get pleasure from and share with pals.

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