For Perfect Shortbread, Avoid This Rookie Mistake

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Crumbly, crunchy, and perfectly rich, shortbread recipes (like these lemon shortbread cookies) are well worth the effort they require. While it can take some time to chill and roll out the dough for shortbread, the dough only requires a few ingredients, and shortbread is one of the easiest cookies for beginner bakers. To get perfectly textured shortbread, there are a couple of different steps compared to other traditional cookie recipes, including chilling and rolling the dough. One of the keys to getting it just right is making sure your dough is the appropriate thickness. If you roll your shortbread too thin, you'll end up with super-crispy cookies that cook too quickly. If your shortbread is too thick, you'll get a chewier result, without the consistent crumbly texture shortbread cookies are known for. 

Many recipes suggest you roll out your dough to between ½-inch and ¾-inch thickness, while some call for it to be a little thinner — around ¼ inch to ⅓ inch. Following the recipe's recommendation for the thickness of your dough is key. If you make your shortbread thicker than the recipe recommends, you may end up with underbaked cookies (and if you make your dough too thin, the opposite may occur, and you could end up with burnt rounds). Thankfully, there are a few steps you can take to make sure you're able to get the Goldilocks of shortbread cookies — not too thick, not too thin, but just right.

You've found a great shortbread recipe, and now, it's time to make sure you've nailed the details so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor. If you're going with a shortbread recipe that simply requires you to roll out dough and then slice into squares (or create shapes with cookie cutters), pastry rulers can help you get the thickness of your dough just right — you can get Fat Daddio's set of three dough levelers for about $25 on Amazon. The pastry rulers sit on your counter on either side of your dough. Simply use them to guide your rolling pin as you flatten the dough, and you'll end up with dough that's the same thickness as the rulers (these are also great for creating perfect pie dough).

If your shortbread recipe calls for you to slice a rolled, rectangular block of shortbread dough, you'll need to take a different approach. For this, you need a different type of pastry ruler — one that can guide your cuts. Some of them are slightly angled, so you can slide them under the edge of your cookie dough rectangle as you slice. In a pinch, you can use a metal ruler that you already have at home, but you're better off using a food-grade option (you can get R&M International's six-piece set for about $15 on Amazon).