47 cheese shortbread recipes

Cream cheese butter cookies with a raspberry jam thumbprint. Tender, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread enriched with cream cheese. No leavening, no spreading.

Mexican cheese cookies are slim shortbread-style sticks made with shredded Monterey Jack folded into a buttery sugar dough, baked until golden at the edges.

Layered peach cream cheese dessert with a buttery pecan shortbread crust, almond-scented whipped cream cheese filling, and juicy peaches. A make-ahead Southern potluck classic.

Amaretto cheesecake cookies with a brown sugar shortbread crust, cream cheese filling spiked with amaretto, and an almond crumble topping. Cut into squares.

Cheese nugget appetizers, four-ingredient sharp cheddar shortbread-style balls with a cayenne kick. Bite-sized crowd pleasers ready in 30 minutes.

Lemon poinsettia cookies decorate buttery lemon shortbread with cream cheese spread, sliced strawberries, and mint leaves arranged like holiday flowers.

A light, soufflé-style cheesecake made with sieved cottage cheese, grated Swiss cheese, and whipped egg whites on a shortbread crust. Not your typical cheesecake, and that's the point.

Tender cornstarch cookies with cream cheese frosting literally melt in your mouth thanks to the delicate, shortbread-like texture cornstarch creates.

Cream cheese butter cookies topped with fresh strawberry halves. A simple thumbprint-style cookie with a tender, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread base and bright berry on top.

Three-layer apple torte: buttery shortbread crust, sweetened cream cheese filling, cinnamon-sugar apples, and slivered almonds. German-style baked in a springform.

Better than sex cake is a four-layer chocolate-pecan icebox dessert: a buttery pecan shortbread crust, sweet cream cheese, chocolate pudding, and whipped topping. A make-ahead potluck legend.

Peppermint candy cookies with a buttery walnut shortbread shell hiding a pink cream cheese filling inside. Rolled in crushed peppermint and powdered sugar after baking.

Cheesecake cookie bars with a buttery brown sugar shortbread crust, tangy cream cheese filling, and a crumbly streusel topping. Cut into squares for easy serving.

White chocolate fruit tart with a buttery shortbread crust, creamy white chip and cream cheese filling, and glazed fresh fruit on top. A stunning no-fuss dessert.

A layered Southern dessert with a buttery pecan shortbread crust, creamy sweet potato and cream cheese filling, and billowy whipped topping. Crunchy, creamy, and utterly indulgent.

A stunning fresh strawberry pie with a buttery pecan shortbread crust, whipped cream cheese filling, and whole berries glazed in homemade strawberry sauce. Worth every minute.