Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookies
These brown sugar shortbread cookies are rich, buttery, and filled with warm caramel-like sweetness from brown sugar. With crisp sugary edges and tender crumbly centers, they are an easy slice-and-bake treat perfect for holidays or everyday coffee breaks.
- Prep Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
3/4 cup (12 Tbsp; 170g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 cup (200g) packed light or dark brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups (281g) all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (100g) coarse sugar or turbinado sugar for rolling
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar together until smooth and creamy.
- Mix in the vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Add the flour and salt and mix until a thick dough forms. If the dough appears crumbly, press it together gently with your hands until smooth.
- Divide the dough into two equal portions and shape each portion into an 8-inch log.
- Spread the coarse sugar onto a plate and roll each dough log in the sugar until fully coated.
- Wrap each log tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Slice the chilled dough logs into evenly sized cookies and arrange them on the prepared baking sheets with space between each cookie.
- Bake for 14 to 16 minutes until the edges are lightly golden.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for several minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Use dark brown sugar for a deeper molasses flavor.
Add a pinch of cinnamon or espresso powder for extra warmth.
Dip cooled cookies in melted chocolate for a festive variation.
Chopped pecans or walnuts add delicious crunch and texture.
Orange zest makes a bright holiday-inspired addition.
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Freeze baked cookies or dough logs for up to 3 months.
Properly chilling the dough helps prevent spreading during baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 35 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
Find it online: https://chocolatecoveredamy.com/brown-sugar-shortbread-cookies/
