Honey Butter Shortbread

Featured in: Bakes & Sweet Treats

These honey butter shortbreads offer a delicate balance of sweet honey and rich butter flavors. Made with simple ingredients like flour, softened butter, powdered sugar, honey, and vanilla, they bake to a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Ideal for teatime or a thoughtful gift, the cookies feature a crisp edge with a soft center. Optional chilling before baking helps maintain their shape, and variations include drizzling honey or dipping in chocolate. A lightly sweetened treat with a hint of vanilla, they bring a homemade charm to any occasion.

Updated on Sat, 13 Dec 2025 10:55:00 GMT
Golden, buttery Honey Butter Shortbread Cookies, baked to perfection and ideal for sharing with friends. Save
Golden, buttery Honey Butter Shortbread Cookies, baked to perfection and ideal for sharing with friends. | quantumgrill.com

Tender, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies with a sweet touch of honey and rich buttery flavor perfect for teatime or as a delightful homemade gift.

This recipe became a family favorite as soon as I baked and shared these cookies at our afternoon gatherings.

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Ingredients

  • Dry Ingredients: 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
  • Wet Ingredients: 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter softened, 1/2 cup (60 g) powdered sugar, 1/4 cup (60 ml) honey, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

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Instructions

Step 1:
Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 2:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and salt set aside.
Step 3:
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter powdered sugar honey and vanilla extract until light and fluffy (about 2 3 minutes).
Step 4:
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
Step 5:
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead it together then roll it out to about 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) thickness.
Step 6:
Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters and place cookies 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Step 7:
Optional Chill the cut cookies on the baking sheet for 10 minutes to help retain their shape during baking.
Step 8:
Bake for 13 15 minutes or until the edges are just starting to turn golden.
Step 9:
Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
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This recipe always brings back warm memories of cozy afternoons spent baking with my loved ones.

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Required Tools

Mixing bowls Electric mixer or stand mixer Rolling pin Cookie cutters Baking sheets Parchment paper Wire rack

Allergen Information

Contains wheat (gluten) dairy (butter) Check vanilla extract and powdered sugar for potential allergens

Nutritional Information

Calories 120 Total Fat 7 g Carbohydrates 14 g Protein 1 g

Freshly baked Honey Butter Shortbread Cookies, with a dusting of powdered sugar, are delightfully sweet and crumbly. Save
Freshly baked Honey Butter Shortbread Cookies, with a dusting of powdered sugar, are delightfully sweet and crumbly. | quantumgrill.com

These honey butter shortbread cookies are a simple yet elegant treat perfect for sharing and gifting.

Common Questions

โ†’ How do I achieve the perfect texture?

Use softened butter and mix just until combined to keep the shortbread tender and crumbly.

โ†’ Can I substitute whole wheat flour?

Yes, replacing half the flour with whole wheat adds nuttiness and a heartier texture.

โ†’ What is the best way to shape the dough?

Roll to about 1/2 inch thickness and use cookie cutters for uniform shapes.

โ†’ Should I chill the dough before baking?

Chilling the cut cookies for 10 minutes helps them hold their shape during baking.

โ†’ How can I add variations to the flavor?

Try drizzling with extra honey or dipping in melted chocolate after cooling.

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Honey Butter Shortbread

Tender shortbread enhanced with honey and buttery richness for a melt-in-the-mouth experience.

Prep Time
20 min
Time to Cook
15 min
Overall Time
35 min
Recipe by Evan Clark


Skill Level Easy

Cuisine Type British

Makes 24 Portions

Dietary Details Meat-Free

What You Need

Dry Ingredients

01 2 cups all-purpose flour (240 g)
02 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

Wet Ingredients

01 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (225 g)
02 1/2 cup powdered sugar (60 g)
03 1/4 cup honey (60 ml)
04 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

How to Make

Instruction 01

Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat the oven to 325ยฐF. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Instruction 02

Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and sea salt; set aside.

Instruction 03

Cream Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, powdered sugar, honey, and vanilla extract until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Instruction 04

Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined without overmixing.

Instruction 05

Shape Dough: Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead to bring it together, then roll out to a thickness of about 1/2 inch.

Instruction 06

Cut and Arrange Cookies: Cut dough into desired shapes using cookie cutters and place the cookies 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.

Instruction 07

Optional Chilling: Optionally chill the cut cookies on the baking sheet for 10 minutes to help maintain their shape during baking.

Instruction 08

Bake: Bake for 13 to 15 minutes until edges begin to turn golden brown.

Instruction 09

Cooling: Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

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Tools You'll Need

  • Mixing bowls
  • Electric mixer or stand mixer
  • Rolling pin
  • Cookie cutters
  • Baking sheets
  • Parchment paper
  • Wire rack

Allergy Details

Always check every component for allergens. If unsure, ask a specialist.
  • Contains wheat (gluten) and dairy (butter). Verify vanilla extract and powdered sugar for possible allergens.

Nutrition Details (each serving)

Nutrition data is informative only. Don't use as medical guidance.
  • Calorie Count: 120
  • Total Fats: 7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 14 g
  • Proteins: 1 g

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