Shortbread has been synonymous with Scotland for centuries, which is perhaps why people rarely stop to ask its origins. Although its first published mention was in by a Scots woman called Mrs McLintock, a variation of the classic biscuit was around long before.
It came in the form of a medieval biscuit bread made with leftover dough and cooked at a low temperature until it transformed into a rusk of sorts. Over time, the yeast was removed, and dollops of butter were introduced.
This Scottish flagship food was popular during the 12th century onwards, but it was Mary, Queen of Scots who perfected and refined it to become the traditional recipe we know today. The classic Scots recipe calls for good quality butter the more, the better , salt, sugar and flour.
More contemporary kinds can include extras like chocolate chips, light vanilla and ginger royal. Although it comes in an array of shapes and sizes, the most common are petticoat tails, rounds and the classic oblong style. The following recipe uses rice flour to give a slightly grainy texture:. In a mixing bowl, cream together the sugars and the butter.
Sift in the flours and salt: work by hand to a stiff dough. Form either into a round or into fingers and prick with a fork. Bake in the oven until light golden brown, around 30 — 40 minutes. Today shortbread is a popular souvenir from Scotland. As well as plain shortbread, shortbread containing fruit, nuts and chocolate is now available, beautifully gift-wrapped in tartan or presented in tartan boxes. I remember making shortbread as a teenager after learning to do it in home-ec class at school and did a pretty decent job.
Although, my sister-in-law's mom is originally from Scotland and made some one year and it was to die for! Maybe I'll try it again. Thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas! Hi, VioletteRose. I think that shortbread is a delicious dessert, too! Shortbread is definitely a delicious dessert to have for holidays, and of course any day!
I actually wondered about how they got the name, thanks for explaining it : Very informative. Great idea for the season. I do hope I could taste one. Thanks for the information about short bread. It is nice to know how they made it. I love gooey caramel too, Cynthia. That would be delicious with shortbread! Thank you very much for the visit. Sounds delicious Alicia. Have to say the millionaire's shortbread is my favourite, especially if the caramel is nice and gooey!
An interesting and informative article about shortbread. Never knew there were so many types and now I know what "short" actually means. Voted up, great hub. The shortbread that you've described sounds just perfect, pstraubie!
Melt-in-your-mouth shortbread made with love is the best kind in the world. Thank you very much for the angels! One treat that Momma only made at Christmas time was shortbread. It melted, literally, on our tongue. It was a delight that I make each year too. It takes me back to the little girl who was with Momma when she created this delightful treat each year. I agree, Dianna - chocolate does make almost everything better!
I do love shortbread with chocolate, but my favourite type of shortbread is actually the plain kind. I will probably be eating both types this Christmas, though! Thanks for the comment. I should not read posts such as this before bedtime. You have me wanting shortbread cookies! I love the million dollar version, chocolate makes everything better. Your post is perfect for this season. The shortbread cookie turns out to be a rather interesting item after all.
Thanks for all the shortbread information and the recipe variations. Hi, Pamela. Thank you very much for the visit and the comment. I hope you enjoy the upcoming Christmas season! I love shortbread and thought maybe it had a long history, but really didn't know. I think it is delicious and the Millionaire Shortbread Bars mayb not be traditional, but they look good.
Very good hub at the perfect time of the year. Thank you very much for the lovely comment, Martie! I appreciate your visit and votes a great deal. I usually eat shortbread with tea. I'll have to try it with coffee again! Oh, Alicia, you deserve a golden medal. Who, but you, can write such an informative and excellent article about shortbread - something we take for granted.
The meaning of 'short' in bakery was quite a surprise. Voted up, informative and delicious with coffee :. Hi, poetryman I actually like caraway seeds, although I'm not sure that I'd like them in shortbread! Thanks for the visit. Hi, Bill. It's nice to hear from someone else who loves shortbread as much as I do! I hope you have a great week as well.
I absolutely love shortbread. When I was a kid my aunts would make it around the holidays. I like it plain and simple with nothing added. Great hub for the holidays, have a great week. We were just in the grocery store today when the hubby looked longingly at a box mix for shortbread cookies with Hershey's kisses on top of each.
I balked at the price and promised him I'd make some from scratch. Thanks so much for the recipes. Hi, Peg. Thank you very much for the comment and the pin! I like many different types of shortbread, but the plain varieties are my favourite. Like you, I think that any day is a good time to eat shortbread! Bookmarking and pinning this great source for a variety of shortbread recipes.
I can't wait to try the plain buttery one. Any day is a good day for shortbread or cookies. Hi, Audrey. Most shortbread contains gluten, but luckily there are gluten free versions available. Walkers sells gluten free shortbread. Bob's Red Mill sells a gluten free shortbread cookie mix which is very convenient for home bakers to use.
So can those of us who are gluten free eat short bread? That really is how simple this recipe can be. If you want to get creative, you can add all sorts of different flavors and textures.
Nuts added to the dough bring a nice crunch. You can dip the finished shortbread in melted chocolate or add mini chocolate chips to the dough because, well, chocolate! In winter, warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, or nutmeg are fun. Poppy and sesame seeds are also often found in the cookies, along with the caraway seeds so liked by Queen Mary.
Once you have the basic dough down, play around and make these Scottish shortbread cookies or biscuits your own. Now you don't have to go to Scotland to have fresh homemade shortbread. This recipe is so easy you can make these cookies anytime. Nutritional Information is an estimate and will vary depending on the specific ingredients used. If you are looking for more holiday cookies from around Europe, you can check out this summary of my favorites!
VickieDe has eaten her way through more than cities in over 40 countries. Learning along the way that food and culture go hand in hand. Read More. Jump to Recipe.
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