128 shortbread recipes

Mock shortbread cookies made without butter or sugar, using oil and a sugar substitute for a lighter, diet-friendly take on a tender, golden-edged classic. Simple roll-and-cut rounds in under an hour.

This winning decorated cookie charmed us with its sophisticated look and pleasing chocolate-pepperminty flavor. It's from Deb Bonfiglio of River Hills.

Chocolate dipped macadamia nut shortbread cookies made with butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Slice-and-bake rounds dipped in melted chocolate for a Hawaiian-inspired treat.

Award-winning shortbread with just butter, sugar, flour, and salt pressed into thick cutouts: crisp edges, melt-in-your-mouth crumb, adorable sheep shapes with chocolate eyes optional.

The 2nd place winner in the Chicago Tribune's 1996 Annual Holiday Cookie Contest, a simple brown-sugar shortbread from Sandra Petrille of Naperville, Illinois.

Buttery shortbread bars topped with pecans, dried cherries, mini chocolate chips, and orange marmalade. A two-step bake that turns simple cookies into festive holiday treats in about an hour.

Chocolate shortbread cookies dipped in both white and dark chocolate ganache. Melted semi-sweet chocolate in the dough plus cocoa creates an intensely rich, buttery cookie with a stunning two-tone finish.

Lime shortbread cookies with white chocolate drizzle and toasted almonds. Buttery shortbread triangles with a zingy citrus kick and a snowy chocolate finish. Gift-worthy and crowd-pleasing.

cookies made from leftover pie crust with cinnamon sugar

Strawberry ice cream pie with a spiced shortbread crust and a swirl of warm fudge topping. Make-ahead frozen dessert that comes together in under 30 minutes.

Austrian cheesecake made with sieved cottage cheese, whipped egg whites, golden raisins, and lemon zest on a shortbread crust. Lighter than New York style, with a soufflé-like crumb.

This is a wonderful and light dessert to offer people as a contrast to the heavy holiday meals and desserts normally offered at this time.

No-bake creamsicle pie with orange Jell-O and whipped topping in a shortbread crust. Light, fluffy, and bursting with that classic orange-vanilla flavor everyone loves.

An authentic Dutch cheesecake made with grated Gouda cheese instead of cream cheese, lightened with beaten egg whites and studded with golden raisins. Baked in a shortbread tart crust with lemon.

Shortbread cookie crust layered with chocolate ganache and fresh strawberries glazed with strawberry jam creates a stunning no-bake pie with three distinct layers.

Irish curd cake: a traditional sieved cottage cheese cheesecake in a shortbread crust with lemon zest and a sugar-butter glaze. Light alternative to heavy American cheesecake.