We all know and love Ina Garten, AKA the Barefoot Contessa, whose recipes have been blessed enough to infuse their way into kitchens across the country. From her adoration toward breakfast staples like hash browns and pigs in a blanket to her fancy for strawberry rhubarb crisp and roast chicken, we love pretty much everything Ina has created for us. And now, Ina is making the holidays a little simpler…and a whole lot sweeter!
Ina Garten’s shortbread recipe is taking the world by storm—mainly because it can be adapted into five (and perhaps more!) different cookies. Here’s how to get that Christmas baking done ASAP with the help of Ina Garten.
What’s in Ina Garten’s Shortbread Recipe?
Ina’s shortbread recipe is quite simple. You only need a handful of basic, pantry ingredients that you likely already have on-hand: unsalted butter, sugar, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour and salt. This recipe yields quite a few cookies—24 hearts exactly if you opt to use a cookie cutter—and it’s so easy to whip up that you can make batch after batch. This recipe is easily our favorite new tradition!
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Because shortbread is so versatile, you can get pretty creative with your shapes, icing and toppings. Shape your shortbread cookies like Christmas trees, and load them up with royal icing and candy, or keep it simple and dunk a plain, round cookie in your favorite homemade eggnog. The possibilities are endless—but all of them are tasty!
Where to Find Ina’s Shortbread Recipe
While we can’t list all of the ingredients here, we can point you in the right direction. You can find Ina Garten’s shortbread recipe on her site alongside a delicious (and super simple!) Linzer cookie recipe. You can make that recipe with the same ingredients you use for shortbread, just make sure to include that spare jar of raspberry preserves—or any other preserves you might like in a cookie.
Since these recipes are so easy, they’re perfect for baking with the family. Just be cautious of those little hands swiping the dough! We’ll be baking up a storm this weekend thanks to Ina Garten and her ever-delicious recipes. Thanks, Ina!
Shortbread
I live in Missouri, but many family recipes come from New Zealand where I was born. My parents moved there when I was a year old, so I have a "Down Under" heritage. These special-occasion cookies bring back warm memories of my childhood, and I'm going to make sure they're passed on to the next generation in my family…no matter where they live! —Allen Swenson, Camdenton, Missouri
Shortbread Hearts
These flaky cookies melt in your mouth. Dipped in chocolate, they look festive.—Barbara Birk, St. George, Utah
Lemon Shortbread Trees
Here's a fun holiday recipe children can help with. And no cookie cutters are needed! I just shape the dough into a triangular log, refrigerate it and cut it into tree-shaped slices to bake and decorate. Broken pretzel sticks form the tree trunks. —Phyllis Schmalz, Kansas City, Kansas
Glazed Maple Shortbread Cookies
Whenever I visit friends in Lutsen, Minnesota, I make sure to buy maple syrup there because I think it's even better than in Quebec. These delicious cookies can be decorated with sprinkles but they're just fine as is.—Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario
Buttery 3-Ingredient Shortbread Cookies
With only a few ingredients, these butter shortbread cookies are so simple to prepare. —Pattie Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire
Cranberry Shortbread Stars
My family loves shortbread and I love cranberries, so I decided to put the two together. The star shape is a festive addition to my holiday cookie tray. —Sonya Labbe, West Hollywood, California
Scottish Shortbread
Scottish settlers first came to this area over 150 years ago. My mother herself was Scottish, and—as with most of my favorite recipes—she passed this shortbread recipe on to me. I make a triple batch of it each year at Christmas, to enjoy and as gifts. —Rose Mabee, Selkirk, Manitoba
Whipped Shortbread
These whipped shortbread Christmas cookies melt in your mouth. Mostly I make them for the holidays, but I'll also prepare them year-round for wedding showers and afternoon teas. —Jane Ficiur, Bow Island, Alberta
Homemade Chocolate Shortbread
This recipe has been in my files for a long time...probably from when I first learned to bake. Any chocolate lover will like these melt-in-your-mouth cookies. I make them year-round with variations. They're even richer with a thin coat of icing or as a sandwich cookie with frosting in the middle. —Sarah Bueckert, Austin, Manitoba
Orange-Cranberry Shortbread
Holiday cookies should be extra-special, so I created this beautiful, delicious shortbread with cranberries, orange and holiday spices to both serve and give as gifts. Everyone loves them!—Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida
Mint-Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies
Festive buttery shortbreads are even better when dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with crushed candy. —Dahlia Abrams, Detroit, Michigan
Holiday Shortbread Cookies
This special Christmas treat came to me from Scotland through a relative. I compared this recipe with one a friend makes, since her husband is of Scottish descent, and found this shortbread to be quite authentic. —Erma Hiltpold, Kerrville, Texas
Shortbread Cutouts
I found this recipe in a magazine over 30 years ago and have made the cutouts for Christmas ever since. Four ingredients make them an oh-so-simple recipe to whip up during the hectic holidays. —Jean Henderson, Montgomery, Texas
Slice & Bake Coconut Shortbread Cookies
Light and buttery, these delicate shortbread cookies are melt-in-your-mouth good. The coconut flavor makes them extra special. —Roberta Otto, Duluth, Minnesota
Carrot Cake Shortbread
I really love carrot cake and wanted to make a cookie that had the same flavors. These comforting cookies are just the ticket! Cinnamon, maple and vanilla make them perfect for the holidays. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
Crisp Lemon Shortbread
Fresh juice and zest pair up to give my buttery cookies a lemony pop. Sprinkle sugar on top for extra sparkle. —Marcia Whitney, Gainesville, Florida
Chocolate Shortbread Trees
You can use this rollout chocolate cookie dough to create all kinds of shapes and sizes, but I like to make trees because they are so easy to decorate. —Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri
Scottish Shortbread Cookies
This simple three-ingredient shortbread cookie recipe makes wonderfully rich, tender cookies. Serve them with fresh berries of the season for a nice, light dessert. You'll get miles of smiles when friends see these at an afternoon tea or a bridal shower. —Marlene Hellickson, Big Bear City, California
Candy Cane Shortbread Bars
I created these bars for my daughter, who loves peppermint. The buttery shortbread texture just melts in your mouth. It’s a hit wherever I take it. —Susan Ciuffreda, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Shortbread Squares
Here's a traditional shortbread recipe that's perfect with a cup of hot tea or coffee. It's a favorite during the holidays. —G. C. Mayhew, Grass Valley, CaliforniaThe post Ina Garten Just Turned ONE Shortbread Recipe Into Five Perfect Christmas Cookies—Here’s How appeared first on Taste of Home.
Ceara Milligan