Christmas Shortbread Cookies (2024)

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

These Christmas Shortbread Cookies are a delightful and festive treat that combines the rich, buttery flavor of my wildly popular shortbread cookies with the sweet and fruity goodness of jam. Start your Christmas baking off right by making these for a cookie exchange or add to a cookie variety plate for neighbor gifts this holiday season.

Why You’ll Love This 4 Ingredient Shortbread Cookie Recipe

Since I can remember, my mom has been making her friend June’s recipe forChristmas every year. She made it for my teachers at school. She made it for Christmas parties. She made it for cookie exchanges. She made it because we would request it. Why? Because everyone who tries this angelic shortbread cookie recipe loves it and then proceeds to ask for June’s recipe.

So, I decided to share this recipe for June’s shortbread today because it’s a fool-proof recipe with 4 main ingredients that will blow.your.minds. Who knew shortbread could be so delicious?

It’s probably a 50 year old tried and true family favorite recipe that you too can make and enjoy with the ones you love.

Shortbread Filling Variations

Feel free to experiment with different combinations to find the flavors that you and your family enjoy! Whether you go for sweet, fruity, or nutty fillings, these variations can add a delightful twist to your traditional Christmas Shortbread Cookies. Here are lots of options for fillings:

1. Chocolate Ganache: You can use dark, milk, or white melted chocolate depending on your preference.
2. Caramel Sauce: a salted caramel sauce either my homemade recipe (found in this recipe) or store-bought would be amazing with shortbread. Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on top for a delightful sweet and salty combination.
3. Nutella or Peanut Butter: for a nutty and indulgent treat.
4. Lemon Curd: The bright and citrusy flavor pairs wonderfully with the buttery shortbread.
5. Fruit Compote: Make a fruit compote using your favorite fruits (such as berries, peaches, or apples) and use it as a filling for your shortbread cookies. Cook the fruits with a bit of sugar until they form a thick, jam-like consistency.
6. Almond Paste: Roll almond paste into small balls and place them in the center of each shortbread cookie. The almond flavor complements the buttery taste of the cookie.
7. Cream Cheese Frosting: spread a layer or use a piping bag of cream cheese frosting inside the shortbread cookies.
8. Fruit Butter: Use fruit butters such as apple butter or pumpkin butter as a flavorful filling.
9. Dulce de Leche: Fill your shortbread cookies with dulce de leche, a sweet and o so creamy caramel-like sauce.

How to Make Christmas Shortbread Cookies

With just 4 simple ingredients, you’ll soon have perfect shortbread cookies to enjoy at Christmas time! For full recipe details, including ingredients and measurements, see the printable recipe card down below. Here is step by step what you can expect when making this recipe:

Preheat Oven + Prep Pan

Preheat oven to 325° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Combine Ingredients to Form Shortbread Dough

In a large bowl, mix room temperature butter, white sugar, vanilla extract and all purpose flour together on low to medium speed until incorporated. After a quick mix in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand mixer, it’ll look like this isn’t much of a dough at all; just a crumbly texture. NEVER FEAR! Dough should hold its shape when squeezed together.

Pro Tip: If you’re using unsalted butter, add in 1/2 tsp salt.

Form Dough into Logs

Divide the shortbread dough into 4 equal portions and form into logs down the length of the cookie sheet. Press your finger into the center to create an indent all down each log.

Bake

Once you have all the logs are formed, bake 12-15 minutes at 325° F until golden brown. Bake time for my cookies was right at 14 minutes, but all ovens vary slightly. The cookies will spread a little, but that’s totally normal! Let these cool completely on a wire rack.

Add the Filling

Now comes the fun part!! Fill each log with whatever you like. I used strawberry jam because that is what I had, but I’ve used peach preserves, blackberry jam and even Nutella before. It’s all delish.

Drizzle Icing Across the Cookies (Optional)

If you feel so inclined, drizzle an easy icing made from confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar), milk and vanilla extract. Mix all icing ingredients together in a mixing bowl until it’s the constancy of white school glue. Drizzle over each log generously. Cut into diagonal pieces once icing has set for 20 minutes or so.

These are pretty addicting, so I won’t judge if you happen to snarf one or two of these logs immediately.

Storage Directions for Shortbread Cookies

Allow cookies to cool completely to room temperature before storing. For best results, place parchment paper in between layers of cookies in an airtight container. This will prevent the cookies from sticking to each other and from drying out. Shortbread cookies should be eaten within a week or two. If you used jam as your filling, you might want to store your cookies in the fridge. This may soften the shortbread texture slightly.

FAQ About Shortbread

Other Christmas Cookie Recipes to Try!

• No Bake Cookies
• Sugar Cookies– this recipe is perfect for using all those cute Christmas cookie cutters!
• Chocolate Mint Truffle Cookies
• Candy Cane Cookies

I hope you enjoy these easy Christmas Shortbread cookies! They are one of my favorite cookies this time of year and so fun to add to a cookie tray! Merry Christmas, friends!

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you wouldgive it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.