Shortbread - what's the SECRET ingredient? (And where did it come from?)
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- Опубліковано 11 лис 2023
- Shortbread has long been associated with Scotland, Christmas and Hogmanay, but what is it? Where did it come from? And how do you make it?
This is a quick tour through the history of shortbread, and how to make shortbread, according to my great grandmother.
All Butter Shortbread
Ingredients
250g/8.8oz Butter
125g/4.4oz Caster Sugar
250g/8.8oz Plain flour
125g/4.4oz Cornflour
Method
1. Preheat oven to 160°C/320°F (fan oven temps)
2. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
3. Cream together the butter and caster sugar in a bowl.
4. Add the flour and cornflour and combine to a dough. Use your hands (or a mixer) to bring it together.
5. Lightly flour a surface and roll the dough to 1 cm/0.5 inch thickness.
6. Cut into desired shape, or shape using a mould
7. Place on lined baking tray.
8. Prick the surface of the dough with a fork.
9. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes
10. Turn the oven down to 140°C/285°F for a further 30 minutes, or until golden.
11. Remove from oven and sprinkle with caster sugar.
Follow my adventures as I travel through the landscapes and history of Scotland. I make quick, quirky and (hopefully) funny content about Scotland's past, people and scenery.
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I adore Scottish shortbread, for some reason Christmas isn’t Christmas without a tin of M&S finest.
I may actually give this a go!
Homemade is better than M&S, at least to me.
I am a big fan of Scottish shortbread, so I will be giving this recipe a try. In case other US watchers don't know: cornflour = corn startch.
Thanks!
Wow! Did not know that. Okay... Crisis avoided. 😜
Didn’t know that either. Thank you! 🙂
Thanks for that clarification. I definitely want to try this.
So what is caster sugar? Is it like granulated sugar?
Thank you Robert for bringing a smile to this old gals face. 😊 I love shortbread. ❤️
During the year, my Grandmother (English) would make shortbread for my Grandfather (Scottish).
Then, we made a lot of all sorts of cookies for the Christmas holiday as gift giving to everyone.
But, my Grandmother got creative - sometimes.
She would use some brown sugar mixed in with the white sugar.
She would sprinkle brown sugar on top, or cinnamon sugar, or no sugar, but add homemade jam.
She would put a brushing of either butter on top, or pure maple syrup.
She used molds like you at times for the designs,
and sometimes simply roll it out and cut shapes.
She used a few "wax stamps" like they used to seal letters in hot wax,
and we would stamp a design into the dough.
We had so much fun!
But the best part was always getting to have a shortbread with my Grandparents at tea time!
Always tempting to throw in some chocolate chips or lemon zest 🙂
@@scotlandunplugged,
and ... lime zest, pomegranate seeds, peppermint candy bits,
as well as pecan or walnut bits.
We are only limited by our imagination ... (and what we have in the pantry).
Now I am getting hungry! 😊❤😊
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, Robert. I love shortbread. There's no other biscuit better than Scottish shortbread 🏴
Thank you for allowing us to watch you make the shortbread cookies. Not only are you a great story teller but a baker too. They looked yummy.😊
I definitely can’t claim that, but I’m enjoying learning! 🙂
@@scotlandunpluggedYou show how easy it is to make so people can give it a try.
Thanks for sharing this lovely cookie/ biscuit recipe 🥰
My Scottish grandmother madecthe rougher brown shortbread, yummm. My British grandmother made the very white finegrain softer shortbread, yum. So my Mum learned both!
Love shortbread so thinking about biscuits is my Olympic sport.
Love traditional Scottish shortbread!!! I had a dear friend from Scotland that would make it and serve with tea or coffee whenever I would come.
We love shortbread. I've been wanting to make some. Need to plan on it during Christmas.
Thank you and all the brilliant women in your family for this recipe!
They are/were some crew 😅
The only shortbread I have ever had, has been from the grocery store. It would be interesting to give that recipe a try if only I was more into baking. Thank you for the shortbread lesson. I appreciate it. I am looking forward to your next video.
Looks delicious
When lazy, I just buy Walker's here🇨🇦
Can't over work dough or becomes to crispy or crumbles.
Enjoy your week and thanks for sharing the recipe.
Most definitely do not overwork the dough! And pricking with a fork is a must. If you don't, it gets little bubbles and crumbles really bad.
It is one of my favorite things with tea! Thank your mum for all of us! You did great!
Scottish Shortbread is yummers! My favourite thing ❤
My mum absolutely loves shortbread and I love to make it for her. The recipe I use is called Scottish shortbread.
I love the history behind foods. I can't wait to try it!
I'm usually a scone kinda guy but I'll definitely be making shortbread as well this week 👍
Well done, sir! I can't wait to try this at the holidays. Cheers to Mum and Gran!
Your precise method of measurement is breathtaking! 🙃. Oh she's coming back to haunt you alright! (Really enjoyed this one - especially since I am now actively working to avoid all sugar.....I know bummer but I've eaten my share in my day, don't feel bad for me!) 👍🏼
😂
Another great video.. drone footage is amazing..we live in a beautiful world..and thank you for showing of another of your talent.. love shortbread, well done.. definitely the time of the year for it.. 👌
I’m in love with the pan you used. Now I’m on the hunt
My favorite cookie. I buy them , 1 or 2, on rare occasions ; if I baked them, I would eat them all . 😋
I made a batch using your recipe, Robert. It was meant in the mouth for anyone who rolls them about 1-2 cm, not thin; thanks a lot.
Omg Robert I can hardly wait to try your family shortbread recipe! I bought two beautiful stone moulds for shortbread years ago. The instructions that came said to press the dough into them and bake. It said nothing about turning it out of the mould to bake it. Obviously it was a disaster. I’ve kept these moulds because of the beautiful Scottish thistle patterns. You just showed me how to use them and I’m ever so grateful! My Grandmother and mother always made such beautiful yummy shortbread. Thank you, thank you so very much.❤❤
I would have done the same thing tbh. 😂 It was only when my mum told me to sprinkle the mould with flour to turn it out easily that I realised. Enjoy!
@@scotlandunplugged please tell your mom thank you so very much ❤️❤️
We love shortbread!!! Thanks! Love Scottish history great job. 👏🏼Would like it if you could share more Scottish recipes! 🤗♥️👍🏼
Awesome video. Thank you for shortbread recipe. I was thinking about making some just the other day & I can't wait to try your recipe. Have a great day.
Mum added drips of food colouring to granulated sugar to top off her Christmas shortbread cookies. So theyd have pink and green sugar sparkles. Really was so pretty.
I've made this twice and did use corn meal but broke it down to near flour with my food processor. Also used the processor to make my granulated sugar closer to caster sugar. Gotta say I don't hate the texture the corn meal/flour gives it. Thanks, Robert's Granny!! Also formed them into Saltires🏴!
I love shortbread cookies. I just buy Walkers! I’m in the U.S.
Well done Robert. I love shortbread! 👍👍😊
I do love a wee bit of shortbread with a brew...you did make me laugh while sitting looking at the oven because my little pug Trevor does that when there is something nice cooked 😂😂😂
Yay! I LOVE this sweet, simple recipe. Thanks!
Thanks Robert for tackling any Scottish subject that comes to mind! I really enjoy your videos, especially Scottish history! If a person wanted to look up an ancestor that came over to the colonies in the 1730s from Scotland on a certain ship, where would they look? Keep up the great work/Fun!!!
Hmmm tough one. Have you tried the ancestry site?
Hi, thanks for replying! I was surprised you had time! But anyway, i havent the tried the official scottish website, probably should. I asked you because you had done a video about the jacobites and my ancestor was one who was captured and shipped off to the colonies as an indentured servant to work for the british army in north carolina. Thought you might have more info on that. Thanks Robert for shariing Scotland with us!!
I have always made a whipped shortbread and bought my Scottish shortbread. I will definitely be giving your recipe a try when I start my Christmas baking. Great video as always
My favorite biscuit.❤
Looks almost the same as my gran's recipe... she didn't use the cornflour. That could have been a "stuck in America" adaptation, who knows! I love the mould thingee, that is beautiful. Now I need to watch this again, so I can catch what its called.
Wonderful! Now, make 100 and ship them to me in Canada. 😄😃😁😁😁🥰
😂
I love shortbread! I've never made it. Guess I better try it.💜
Can’t wait to try the recipe!! Great video Robert!!
Yup! Christmas shortbread 🎉
Kilted American from the highlands of Colorado, just ran across your channel and just finished making this recipe with a little added vanilla. Absolutely brilliant!
Baked perfectly in my molds and the next attempt will try outside the mold. My only question now is if my kids will allow the results to last longer than 4 hours. 😄
I’m going to try this! My daughter loves shortbread
OMG, I love Walkers
Yum - thank you❣️
Looks fantastic Robert….not add fresh Thyme to it and have with a wee dram!!! 😊 ❤️🇦🇺🏴
Not enough gore... Is the gory part where Granny comes back to haunt you and beats you with her rolling pin? 😮😊
It's got to be a sight better than the type of cookies or biscuits your brother has to deal with!
😂
Great video Robbie, may be you should have your own cooking channel
Haha. I’d need to learn a lot more about cooking 🙂
Yum. I’ll be trying your recipe out soon.
Thank you. Tasty history could it get better.
Can't wait to try the recipe! Cheers from the other side of the Atlantic!
Looks delicious Robert. I will be making this. Thanks for sharing your recipe. 🙂❤️
This might be like swearing to a Scottish person...but I'm diabetic and have to eat a sugar free version of shortbread to get my fave biscuit fix...best ones ore from boots imo x
Yummy yummy in my tummy, on my way round to yours......
Oh, that looks delicious! Love to see you cook! LOL Great video
More Scottish themed cookery on the way (Mrs P has drawn up a list and will be cracking the whip/holding the camera)
More Scottish themed cookery on the way (Mrs P has drawn up a list and will be cracking the whip/holding the camera)
Looks delicious. I'm going to give it a try!😊
Love it!! Great video, especially the waiting!! 😂😂
I never would hve thought to press the shortbread into the engraved pan and then pop it back out before cooking it. Ty 😅
Neither would I. My mum had to explain it 😂
Great recipe love the story tellin yes give as well.. your Scottish accent is very soothing... Nollaig Chridheil
Well done!
I don't think your Great Granny will haunt you over making her recipe, sharing it with the world may be a different story!
*** Add a little orange juice or zest to the shortbread. Instant crowd pleaser!
💛
I’m going to try this!
That looked good 👍
Mmm! Love shortbread, no almonds or chocolate coating please, just pure and simple shortbread. I make mine at Christmas although I do collect the tins with Flora MacDonald and Bonnie Prince Charlie 😊
Can't wait to try it 😋
I need to stop trying it 😂
Love real shortbread
Our family recipe calls for a mixture of lard and butter/margarine, flour, and sugar. It’s baked in a slow oven.
We've found him everyone, next year's Bake Off champion! They looked lush! Shortbread is one thing I've really missed since going vegan, there really is no good alternative, sadly. Maybe I'll have a go making these to your gran's recipe and swap butter for one of the new alternatives and hope she won't mind too much! 😉😊 Cheers!
Ah, I’m guessing there must me something else. It turned out well 😅
Good one! Thanks for the recipe! I can't wait to try it!
I need to stop trying it. (Must be better for me than the processed stuff 😂)
I love it, butter, sugar and flour and a little corn meal ? I like to add a table spoon of Baking power ! You just made biscuit’s ? Doo🙀 ! 👍😎🇺🇸 !
Yeah, my wife told me it’s corn starch in the states 🙂
@@scotlandunpluggedI was going to say that your Grandmother was a time traveler ;because, she stole my recipe! 👍😎🇺🇸 !
well now, your grandmom can rest in peace!
Yummmmm
Yum shortbread bickies 😋
My mom made it with rice flour. I can’t remember if she used corn starch but she’s no longer here to ask so I’ll try your recipe. Thanks Robert.
Yes! Rice flour was in the recipe mom had. My paternal grandparents were Scottish, but I don't know if she got the recipe from them. I like shortbread best with a cup of Red Rose tea 🫖😍
@@sowinglight1960 Hi Jennifer! My mom was a Russell. My last name is Duncan. Maybe we’re related 😂 does your recipe have cornstarch? I don’t remember. I’m going to add it, couldn’t hurt.
That was my dad’s favourite tea. My mom only drank coffee, Nescafé instant 🤢
@@mickamoo1 I know there's a Duncan in the family tree- I think it's my great grandmother but I'll have to check. The recipe I have doesn't use cornstarch. I'll have to try Robert's recipe and see how that turns out. (yeah, nescafe lol 🤢)
@@sowinglight1960 small world eh? My mom had a brother that also immigrated to Canada but on the other side of the country Mississauga Ontario so I’ve only met them once. His name was William. Most of my relatives are in Scotland and I’ve only been there once. We always had some come visit alternate summers, they took turns with my parents going back there. They never took us again, probably wanted to get away from us😂 They always brought us snowballs and butter tablet, flakes and other goodies we couldn’t get here. I’d kill for a scotch pie right now. Can’t get them here. 😛
Bob! I'm wondering a little bit about the timekeeping ability of that clock behind you!
Great,, a new recipe to add to my sizeable collection!!
But,, no death or religion. I thought that's what I subscribed for 😂😂😂
Plenty of that on Wednesday 😂
Shortbread is my favorite cookie. And so easy to make.
Just use room temperature butter. A lot easier to mix in the sugar, flour and corn starch.
Thank you Robert. (How did you not get roped into helping with Fiona?)
Haha. I knew nothing about it until afterwards. There were a few already roped in 🙂
I've made this before, and with whole wheat flour bc I was trying to be healthy & eat cookies (biscuits), too😂 I rolled them out & used cookie cutters (not sure what you call those over there...biscuit cutters??)
I’d probably call them cookie cutters 🙂
Did you share it? Looks guid 😉
I tried, but accidentally beat everyone else to it 🤢
big fan, I surely will try, but i remember a sort of salty taste in it, so... where's the salt? in the butter?
I did use salted butter 🙂
Robert 🤤😋👍🏆❤️
And if you are on the western side of the Atlantic, you need to adjust your oven temp according to your altitude.
Ah. Interesting. Never would have thought of that.
Your shortbread mould is so lovely! I was ready to immediately hunt one down. But then the final shots of your biscuits appear as though the thistle design may have baked out. Am I seeing this correctly? Either way, I'll be giving the recipe a go!
It did bake out! Well spotted.
@@scotlandunplugged That's a shame! It was such a lovely design.
I'll report shortly on the outcome of my attempt at your recipe, however.
Serious question... What is "Caster Sugar"? Is it something special for baking? Powdered sugar? Special Scottish Sugar made from sheep intestines? 😬🤔😜
Caster sugar is regular sugar. Like the kind you put in coffee or tea.
Thank you!
In the US: Caster, or castor, sugar is a type of fine granulated sugar that's widely available in the United Kingdom. It's not quite as common in the United States, though you can find it in some baking aisles under the name "superfine sugar." Its texture is somewhere between regular granulated sugar and confectioners' sugar.
Ah! Just as I suspected. The Scot's have their own type of "common sugar", (for them), and we, (in the States), make a distinction, (just to be ornery). 😝 At least he was nice enough to give us the recipe in "real" measurements, (Freedom Fractions). 😁
I believe it’s called baker sugar, or super fine sugar in the states. It’s finer than the normal granulated sugar we get here.
The sugar you use is just regular white sugar. Right?
I think it’s called baking sugar or super fine sugar in the states. 🙂 It’s a finer grain than normal granulated sugar.
No salt? or is it using salted butter?
What is caster sugar?
Is it called bakers sugar or fine sugar in the US?
Thanks
My apologies to your great grandmother. I would have to alter that recipe as I can't eat flour or regular sugar.
TILD: "caster sugar" is "Puderzucker" in german. LOL
That’s a better name 😂
Here in Germany we have Cookies, who are very close to scottish shortbread... It's called "Heidesand"
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