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I love to celebrate , how about you? These Vanilla Bean Shortbread Cookies are a perfect way to celebrate those special occasions in life. Some of them, I admit are minuscule, capturing life's tiniest victories, others are monumental milestones, events calling for major merriment; birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, reunions, weddings.
A friend's daughter is getting married next month and there's a wedding shower this weekend to prepare for the merging of two young lives into one new family. I love this tradition we have here in the U.S. of "showering" young couples with love and gifts; helping to "feather" their nests and equip them as they start a new household.
Shortbread cookies are super delicious on their own, but to make this recipe extra special, I added vanilla bean paste and finished them off with a swirl of buttercream and a shower of tiny nonpareils (decorating dots).
Wanting to incorporate the young brides' colors: turquoise and purple (so pretty!) I chose to make the cookies in wedding-white and to use cupcake papers to add a touch of vibrant festivity.
And a platter of these melt-in-your-mouth, heavenly shortbread cookies will not only make the occasion quite special, but will bring smiles of delight and oohs and aahs with every bite!
- Shortbread
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1½ cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup corn starch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste*
- Vanilla Buttercream
- ½ cup 4 ounces butter, at room temperature
- 1 # approximately powdered sugar
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla bean paste*
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 3-4 tablespoons half and half
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Beat butter until smooth, about 2 minutes. Don't over beat.
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Add sugar and beat for another minute.
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Add flour, cornstarch, salt and vanilla bean paste and beat just until incorporated. Again, don't over beat but make sure all dry ingredients are incorporated.
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Scrap contents of bowl out onto a lightly floured work surface and form into 2 approximately equal size balls. Place each balls of dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap and flatten into a disk. Wrap dough balls completely and place in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
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Preheat oven to 325˚F. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper. Set aside
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After 30 minutes remove one ball of dough from refrigerator and place on a lightly floured work surface. Roll out to ¼ inch thickness. Cut out dough as desired and place shapes on prepared sheet pans.
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Bake at 325˚F for 14-16 minutes or until pale golden brown. Remove to cooling racks to cool completely before icing. Ice as desired with Vanilla Bean Buttercream.
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For the Vanilla Bean Buttercream, place butter in the bowl of a stand mixture. Using the wire whisk attachment, whip the butter on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, stopping to scrape the bowl once or twice.
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Reduce speed to low and gradually add the powdered sugar. Once all of the powdered sugar is incorporated, add half and half slowly till soft and fluffy, then increase the speed to medium-high, add vanilla bean paste and mix until incorporated. Continue to beat until light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes, scraping the bowl as needed.
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Frost cookies as desired. To decorate cookies like in pictures, use a Wilton 2D decorating tip. Holding tip perpendicular to one of the cookies, start in center and swirl icing in a circular pattern working towards the outer edges making a complete circle around the cookie. Sprinkle with jimmies or nonpareils, if desired. Repeat with remaining cookies.
* ~ Beans from one vanilla bean pod can be substituted for vanilla bean paste. You can also use 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, if desired.
Nicole says
How many cookies does this recipe make?
Thank you!
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Nicole, it will depend on the size of your cookie cutter. I get approximate 2 dozen.
Cyndy says
Can they freeze while frosted or must I wait to freeze them? Any ideas on transporting these beauties so they stay lovely on the way to the party?
Chris Scheuer says
Yes, you can definitely freeze then after you frost them. I do it frequently. I like to transport them on a sheet pan and just lightly cover with plastic wrap. Then when you get to the party, transfer them to a serving tray or pretty platter.
Gaylene MacDonald says
These were a huge hit at our Christmas Party last year. I have made them 3 times since and am making them again for a baby shower this weekend! My one foodie friend told me that these cookies were the "next level"! She raved about them so much! How grateful I am, that you shared this wonderful recipe with us!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks so much Gaylene for taking the time to let us know! So happy you have enjoyed them!
Adayra says
I need to make 500, how long in advance i can make them? thakn you!
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Adayra,
These cookies freeze really well. I did a bunch for a shower and froze them and they came out perfect!
Rebecca says
these are beautiful!!!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks so much Rebecca!
Andrea_TheKitchenLioness says
Chris, what a wonderful idea to be baking these pretty vanilla shortbread cookies with frosting for a wedding shower - they must have been yummy and pretty and very popular with all the guests! And, yes, those "showers" are quite a nice tradition!
Denise Browning@From Brazil To You says
How could I have missed this post, Chris?! The cookies themselves are gorgeous and their presentation is very fun. I love everything about this post!!!
Vicki Bensinger says
Aren't these darling! They look like a carousel of cookies dancing. Too bad your precious grandchildren aren't there to gobble them up.
Sandra Lee says
Looking at these beauties is like having an, "I could've had a V8" moment.