15+ Holiday Shortbread Cookie Recipes
Planning a cookie box can feel like a lot. Too many recipes, too many steps, too many dishes. That is why I always start with shortbread. It is simple, buttery, and it never lets you down.
This list of holiday shortbread cookies has something for every tray. There are fruity ones, nutty ones, chocolate ones, and even a soft green matcha one. Most are slice-and-bake, so you can make the dough ahead and bake when you are ready.
Pick two or three, or try them all! These holiday shortbread cookie recipes are also great for cookie exchanges and gift tins. Looking for more festive ideas? Check out these holiday dessert recipes too.
Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies
This one is a holiday classic for a reason. Sweet dried cranberries and fresh orange zest are mixed right into a buttery shortbread dough. You get bright color, a little tartness, and a fresh citrus smell with every bite. It looks so pretty on a cookie tray. If you only make one recipe from this list, I would start here.
Cranberry Shortbread Cookies
These are simple, tart and sweet all at once. Dried cranberries are folded into a soft, buttery dough, and little red bits show up in every slice. The cookies bake up crisp at the edges and sandy in the middle. They are an easy pick when you want festive color without much work. Great with a hot cup of tea.
Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
Rich cocoa shortbread for the chocolate lovers in your house. Only five ingredients go into the dough, and one batch makes about 30 cookies. They are deep and chocolatey, but not too sweet. Crisp on the edges, tender and sandy in the middle. Pack them in a tin with parchment and a ribbon for a lovely gift.
Scottish Shortbread Cookies
The old-fashioned way, with just a few simple ingredients. Butter, sugar and flour are all you need for these plain, buttery bars. Nothing fancy, and that is the whole point. The flavor is pure and rich, with a snap and a melt-in-your-mouth crumb. Perfect for tea time or when you want a cookie that tastes like tradition.
Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies
This is for the family debate between shortbread fans and chocolate chip fans. Now everyone wins! Buttery shortbread dough is loaded with milk chocolate chips, so you get a crisp edge, a sandy middle, and melty chocolate in every bite. Only six ingredients, and the recipe makes 10 cookies. Great for bake sales, cookie trays and gift tins.
Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Toasted pecans and a little cinnamon make these taste warm and cozy. The slice-and-bake dough is buttery and tender, with a nice crunch from the nuts. The recipe makes about 14 cookies, and your kitchen will smell amazing while they bake. They are a fancy-feeling treat that is really easy. Lovely for holiday trays and gifts.
Raspberry Shortbread Cookies
Little jewels on a cookie tray! Soft shortbread dough is rolled into balls, pressed with a thumb, and filled with sweet raspberry jam. The cookie is tender and buttery, and the jam adds a bright, fruity bite. They are easy to make and so pretty to look at. A great choice when you want a cookie that looks like it came from a bakery.
Lemon Shortbread Cookies
Fresh and bright, these lemon cookies cut right through all the heavy holiday sweets. The buttery dough gets a good dose of lemon zest, so the flavor is clean and sunny. They are soft, sandy and melt-in-your-mouth. A great cookie to add to a tray full of chocolate and spice. Perfect with a cup of tea.
Whipped Shortbread Cookies
Light, soft and almost cloud-like. Whipping the butter makes these cookies extra tender, so they melt on your tongue the second you bite in. They are rich and buttery, with a delicate crumb that feels special. A great pick for holiday cookie boxes and tea parties. If you like cookies that feel delicate and fancy, try these first.
Orange Shortbread Cookies
Pure orange flavor, no extras needed. The zest is rubbed into the sugar first, so every bite smells fresh and sweet. The slice-and-bake dough makes about 24 cookies, and each one gets a shiny orange glaze on top. They are bright, buttery and so pretty. A lovely pick for gift tins and holiday platters.
Almond Shortbread Cookies
Think of that almond cookie from the coffee shop, but made at home. Almond flour and a touch of almond extract go into the dough, and toasted sliced almonds are pressed on top. The result is rich, nutty and extra sandy. The slice-and-bake dough keeps well in the freezer. Great with coffee or a warm cup of tea.
Pistachio Shortbread Cookies
Every cookie tray needs a little green! Ground pistachios go into the dough for a nutty, rich flavor, and the log is rolled in chopped pistachios for a crunchy, bright green edge. They look fancy, but the work is easy. A great pick for cookie exchanges, because nobody else will bring a green cookie.
Cranberry Pistachio Shortbread Cookies
Red and green in one cookie, which makes them perfect for the holidays. Dried cranberries bring a sweet-tart bite, and pistachios add crunch and a bright green color. The shortbread underneath is buttery and tender. They look so festive on a platter. A great choice when you want your cookie box to feel extra special.
Lavender Shortbread Cookies
A quiet, calm little cookie for tea time. Culinary lavender is rubbed into the sugar first, so the floral flavor is soft and not soapy. The dough is slice-and-bake, so it is easy to make ahead. The cookies are buttery and tender, with tiny purple flecks inside. Lovely for gift tins, bridal showers and cozy afternoons.
Matcha Shortbread Cookies
Soft green cookies with a gentle, earthy matcha flavor. It tastes like a matcha latte turned into a buttery shortbread. The dough is slice-and-bake, and the cookies stay pale and pretty if you do not let them brown. A fun, different cookie to add to your holiday tray. Dip half in white chocolate if you want to get extra fancy.
That is a whole lot of holiday shortbread cookies! The best part is that you do not have to bake them all in one day. Most of these doughs can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for a few days, or in the freezer for a couple of months. Then you slice and bake whenever you want fresh cookies.
Store the baked cookies in an airtight tin, and they stay good for about 5 days. Pack them with parchment between the layers, and they are ready for gifting. Pick your favorites and have fun with it!
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