Great Grandmas Scottish Shortbread is a treasure passed down through my family, and I’m so happy to share it with you today. This classic treat is simple yet absolutely divine, with just a few humble ingredients that come together to create pure buttery bliss.
What makes this shortbread so special is the generous amount of real butter and the addition of cornstarch, which gives it that tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture that keeps folks coming back for more. The technique is just as important as the ingredients—letting that butter come to room temperature ensures everything blends together perfectly for the most delicate crumb.
I love serving these golden squares with a cup of tea and watching my grandchildren’s faces light up as they take that first bite. Over the years, this shortbread has become the star of our family gatherings, and now whenever anyone asks for my recipe, I know I’m passing along a piece of our family’s heart.
Please scroll down and leave a star rating in the recipe card below — it helps other home cooks find Gran’s recipes, and it means the world to me!
Great Grandmas Scottish Shortbread
Ingredients
- 1 pound Butter
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 cup Cornstarch
- 4 cup All-Purpose Flour
Instructions
- Allow butter to get to room temperature.
- Cream butter.
- Add sugar and cornstarch and mix until fully incorporated.
- Slowly add flour until the mix has formed a ball.
- Flatten dough onto a cookie tray until about 1/4 thick.
- Pierce dough with a fork.
- Add sprinkles or colored sugar or leave plain and dip in chocolate after they have cooled.
- Put in a preheated 325F oven for 10-20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
- Leave on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes and then cut in squares or rectangles with sharp knife.
- Cool on cookie rack.
- These freeze really well.
- This recipe makes way more than 36 cookies.
