Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies

I've always loved a good shortbread cookie, and what could be better than adding Earl Grey tea leaves to this melt-in-your-mouth cookie?  I proudly present to you this easy and delicious teatime cookie: Earl Grey shortbread.

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Questions

What's the difference between a sugar cookie and a shortbread cookie?

Sugar cookies and shortbread have a lot of similarities, but they're actually different.

Sugar Cookies

• Ingredients: flour, sugar, butter, and salt, along with eggs and baking powder or baking soda
• Shape: usually rolled out, cut in decorative shapes.
• Decoration: usually decorated with icing.
• Texture: they can be soft and chewy or crispy.

Shortbread

• Ingredients: flour, sugar, butter, and salt, but doesn't contain eggs or a leavening agent.
• Shape: can be rolled out or sliced.  they're usually round, rectangular (fingers), or triangular (petticoat tails).
• Decoration: traditional shortbread is left plain or sandwiched with jam, but some people glaze them.
• Texture: they are firm and crumbly, not soft.

Is shortbread British?

Shortbread actually originates from Scotland, but are popular throughout Ireland and the United Kingdom.

What kind of sugar do you use?

You can use almost any kind of sugar--it just depends on personal preference.  For this recipe, I recommend using powdered sugar because it gives the cookies their melt-in-your-mouth texture.

• White Granulated or Caster Sugar: White sugar is the traditional choice.
• Powdered Sugar: The cornstarch in powdered sugar gives this a melt-in-the-mouth texture.
• Light Brown Sugar: The molasses in light brown sugar gives it a chewy, molasses-y flavor.

Why did my cookies spread?

The dough was too soft!  Make sure to chill the dough until it's firm before baking, and the cookies won't spread.

How do you know when shortbread is cooked?

It's baked when it's a light golden brown around the edges and on the bottom of the cookie.  If it's still white, it's not baked enough.

How long will they keep?

They will keep for about a week at room temperature.  Store them on a plate covered tightly with plastic wrap, or in a metal cookie tin.  Plastic containers will make them go soft.

Can you freeze shortbread?

• Yes, you can freeze them.
• Place them in a zip-top freezer bag and press out the extra air.  Freeze for up to 1 month.
• Defrost at room temperature or in the microwave.

How to Make

Gather the ingredients: all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, salt, butter, lemon zest, and Earl Grey tea.  You'll need 2 tablespoons of tea leaves, which is approximately 7 regular-sized tea bags.

Beat the butter, salt, lemon zest, and Earl Grey tea until smooth, scraping down the sides once with a spatula for an even mix.

Sift the icing sugar into the butter mixture, then beat it until smooth.

Sift in the flour and mix until a smooth dough forms.  Be careful not to overmix.

Shape the dough into logs on a large piece of plastic wrap, then twist the ends to seal.  Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes, then slice with a sharp serrated knife.

Place the cookies on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and store in the fridge until the oven is preheated to 350 F.

Bake at 350 F for 12-15 minutes, until light golden around the edges.  Let them cool on wire racks, then enjoy with a cup of Earl Grey tea or a London Fog.

Pro Tips

• Soften butter quickly by cutting it in cubes and microwaving it in 5 second increments, smashing it with a spoon between each one.
• Don't overmix the dough, or the cookies will be tough.
• Chill the dough thoroughly.  The dough is so soft and buttery that you can only slice it when it's hardened.
• Be careful not to overbake.  Bake until they are a light gold around the edges, then let them cool on wire racks.
• Store leftovers at room temperature.  Cover them tightly with plastic wrap or put in a cookie tin.

Recommended Tools

• Digital Kitchen Scale: using this scale is my favorite way to measure ingredients accurately.
• Wilton Cookie Sheets: I love how these cookie sheets don't warp easily and bake evenly!
• Parchment Paper: this handy baking tool keeps the cookie sheets clean.
• Wilton Spatulas: these ergonomic spatulas are my new favorite ones!

Other Tea Party Treats

• Lemon Scones
• Ratafia Biscuits
• Saffron Buns
• Pound Cake
• Chocolate Teacakes

The pleasure of a 5-star review would be greatly appreciated.

Recipe

Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies

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5 from 1 reviews

• Author: Emma
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 26 cookies 1x

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Description

These buttery, melt in your mouth shortbread cookies are real simple to make!  You’ll love the subtle flavor of Earl Grey tea and lemon in these classic cookies.  Enjoy them with a cup of tea or a London Fog.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (225g)
• 2 tablespoons Earl Grey tea leaves, about 7 tea bags (12g)
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup icing sugar (56g)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour (240g)

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Instructions

1. Place the butter, Earl Grey tea leaves, salt, and lemon zest in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Beat on medium speed until smooth and blended, scraping down the sides with a spatula as needed.
2. Sift in the icing sugar and beat until well mixed, then scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula and mix again.  Sift in the flour and mix gently until a smooth dough forms.  Be careful not to overmix the dough, or it will make the shortbread tough.
3. Dump the shortbread dough onto a large piece of plastic wrap.  Wrap the plastic around the dough and shape it into a log, twisting the ends to seal.  (You can make more than one log if you like.)  Place in the freezer until the dough is firm but not completely frozen, about 30 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 350 F.  Slice the log into ¼ inch slices with a sharp serrated knife and place the cookies on parchment-lined cookie sheets.  Store the trays in the fridge until the oven is preheated.
5. Bake each tray for 12-15 minutes, until the cookies are lightly browned around the edges.  Use a spatula to transfer them to wire racks and allow them to cool.  Serve with a cup of Earl Grey tea.

Notes

• Need soft butter fast?  Cut it cubes and microwave it in 5 second bursts until softened, stirring well between each one.
• Don't handle the dough too much.  That will make the cookies tough.
• Chill thoroughly.  You can only slice the dough when it's hardened.
• The cookies are done when they are a light gold around the edges.
• Store leftovers at room temperature.  Cover them tightly with plastic wrap or put in a cookie tin.

• Category: Cookies
• Method: Baked
• Cuisine: British

Keywords: shortbread, earl grey shortbread, cookie