Name: Pink Shortbread Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 32 min
Yield: 72 bite-sized cookies
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature; 3/4 cup powdered sugar; 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 2 cups flour, all-purpose; 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted; 3-4 tablespoon milk; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract (optional); pink food coloring

Pink Shortbread Cookies are classic shortbread/cutout cookies with a simple icing. I share an easy method for rolling out the dough and cutting it into shapes such as these butterflies.

Pink Shortbread Cookies--displayed on a serving plage

For most people, myself included, cut-out cookies are reserved for holidays. They seem like a lot of trouble, don’t you think? Sticky dough, cleaning up the sticky dough, getting the shaped sticky dough unstuck from whatever you’re rolling them on and transferring the cookie to a cookie sheet, etc. Ugh!

On top of that, they need to be frosted. Furthermore, the kids usually want to decorate them, too. Just thinking about the potential mess is a “Calgon” moment.

Check out this shortcut…

The other day, I ran across a great idea in Dorie Greenspan’s Baking cookbook. It’s so easy!

How to roll out Pink Shortbread Cookies

shortbread cookie dough in a zippered plastic bag

Simply put the dough in a gallon-size Ziplock bag and seal.

rolling out dough inside plastic bag — Roll the dough until it fills the bag and is a uniform thickness.

Cookie dough ready to put in the freezer. — Place bag in the freezer and chill the dough until hard.

peeling the plastic back from the dough — Uncover dough by trimming two edges and unzipping the top of the bag. Pull back the plastic.

Open the bag on 3 sides and let your cookie cutter go wild. Because dough has been thoroughly chilled, the cut-out cookies are easy to pick up with your hands or peel off the plastic before transferring to a cookie sheet, ready to bake.

Cutting out Shamrock Shortbread Cookies with a cookie cutter — Use cookie cutters of choice to cut out cookies. You may need to use a toothpick or dull point of a knife to extract small pieces i.e. legs, tails, stems, etc.

Here’s the best part….

Clean-up is as simple as throwing the bag away. No flour to sweep up. No sticky dough to scrape from your counter or cutting board.

Dorie’s technique is adaptable to most any roll-out-the-dough-and-cut-into-a shape recipe. Give it a try!

Parting Note…

Small cookie cutters are recommended for this recipe. Not only are small cookies more appealing to eat at parties, but they’re easier to handle before they’re baked.

niece eating cookie — Kid-tested and approved!

Pink Shortbread Cookies

Yield: 72 bite-sized cookies

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 32 minutes

A simple but delicious shortbread cookie with a smooth butter icing. Kids and adults alike love these.

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups flour, all-purpose
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
3-4 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract (optional)
pink food coloring

Instructions

Combine butter and sugar in large bowl. Beat on medium-high speed until fluffy. Add vanilla and beat until combined.
Combine flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Add mixture slowly to the butter mixture, stirring on low speed. Stop beating as soon as the flour mixture is completely incorporated. Over beating will result in toughness.
Form the dough into a slightly flattened ball and chill about 30 minutes. Place chilled dough into plastic zipper storage bag. With bag slightly open to allow air to escape, begin to roll out dough until it is evenly distributed in flat shape throughout bag. Place back into refrigerator until firm--at least 30 minutes--up to 2 days. Can also freeze at this point.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper, silicone mats, or grease generously with cooking spray.
Remove cookie dough from fridge and carefully cut three sides of bag with kitchen shears or scissors leaving one side intact. Open up and use cookie cutters to cut out cookies. Because the dough is cold and firm, they should peel off the plastic easily. Place on prepared cookie sheet. Re-roll scraps after replacing plastic over top of new ball and refrigerate a few minutes until firm again. Repeat as needed until all dough is used.
Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, until light brown around the edges. Cool the cookies for 10 minutes on the baking sheet. Remove and cool completely before icing.

Frosting

Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and extract. If too thick, add more milk a few drops at a time. If too thin, add more powdered sugar or let sit for awhile. Use food coloring to tint the icing. Ice cookies and allow to sit until icing is dry. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week or tightly wrapped in aluminum foil or plastic wrap for 1 month in the freezer.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. But don't worry. This doesn't change the price you pay.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 72 cookies Serving Size: 3 cookies
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 53 Total Fat: 3g Saturated Fat: 2g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 7mg Sodium: 8mg Carbohydrates: 7g Fiber: 0g Sugar: 4g Protein: 0g

Posts Related to "Pink Shortbread Cookies:"

Shortbread Cookie Crust

This is a buttery sweet crust that will marry well with any custard or cream filling.

Get the Recipe

Iced Shortbread Cookies for My Valentine

A simple but delicious shortbread cookie with a smooth butter icing. Kids and adults alike love these.

Get the Recipe

Ruth's Shortbread Cookies with Chocolate Toffee Bits

Ruth's Shortbread Cookies with Milk Chocolate Toffee Bits are simple shortbread cookies with dipped in chocolate and decorated with more toffee bits.

Get the Recipe

Coconut Shortbread Cookies

A crispy shortbread cookie for coconut lovers.

Get the Recipe

Shamrock Shortbread Cookies

Shamrock Shortbread Cookies are classic shortbread cookies cut into shamrock shapes and glazed with green icing. Use a Ziplock bag to roll out dough for easy clean-up.

Get the Recipe

Pink Shortbread Cookies