Brown sugar shortbread cookies are simple, yet so delicious you can’t stop at just one! Perfect for the holiday cookie tray or any day with a cup of coffee or tea. Full of brown sugar and butter, these are easy and quick.

I’ve made these for years along with my Nana’s Sand Tarts and favorite Sugar Cookies and the shortbread are always the first to disappear from the tray. Not many folks make homemade shortbread cookies, so I wanted to share this recipe so you too can make them!
Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookies
When it comes to holiday baking, this is a recipe I keep handy for cookie trays and to give as gifts. The brown sugar matched with salted butter make this a cookie that is both savory and sweet and will be your new favorite recipe!
No more waiting for the shortbread tins to arrive in the supermarket! With only three ingredients, you can make these all holiday season!
What you need to make Shortbread Cookies
For this Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookie recipe, you only need three things to make them. If you bake holiday cookies, then you will definitely have these ingredients on hand! You will need:
Related recipes: Monster Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cast Iron Skillet Cookies, Nutella Sugar Cookies, Watermelon Slice Cookies, 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Yes! That is all you need! See? I told you it was easy!
Bring butter to room temperature and add to your bowl. Cream with a fork or you can add to a stand mixer with paddle attachment to get started. Add in your brown sugar and cream until light and fluffy.
Gradually add in your flour until it is completely incorporated.
Place dough ball onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth- about 3 minutes.
Then, using a rolling pin, roll dough out into an 11×8 inch rectangle.

Cut into 2×1 inch strips (I like to use a bench scraper for nice straight lines!) With a fork, prick three times on each cookie section.

Transfer to baking sheet lined with parchment paper
(1 inch apart) and bake in 300-degree oven for 25 minutes, or until the bottom of shortbread are light brown. Cool on pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack
to cool completely.
Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Directions
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Gradually stir in flour and mix well.
- Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 3 minutes.
- Roll (with pin) into a 1/3-in.-thick rectangle measuring 11 in. x 8 in.
- Cut into 2-in. x 1-in. strips. Place 1 in. apart on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Prick with a fork 3 times.
- Bake at 300° for 25 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Cool for 5 minutes on pan then transfer to a wire rack.
*Recipe adapted from Brown Sugar Shortbread in Quick Cooking Premiere 1998
Cookie Trays and Gifts
These Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookies are the perfect addition to any holiday cookie tray. Guest will be pleasantly surprised by the buttery flavor.
I love to give these as gifts as well! After cookies are cool, take half the batch and place in a nice cookie tin. Take remaining shortbread cookies and dip halfway into melted chocolate.
Set on rack over wax paper to let cool and set. Then place in box with other cookies.
Wrapped with a nice bow, this is a great homemade gift to give to the mail person, bus drivers, teachers or neighbors!

Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookies

Brown sugar shortbread cookies are simple, yet so delicious you can’t stop at just one! Perfect for the holiday cookie tray or any day with a cup of coffee or tea.
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Instructions
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Gradually stir in flour and mix well.
- Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 3 minutes.
- Roll (with pin) into a 1/3-in.-thick rectangle measuring 11 in. x 8 in.
- Cut into 2-in. x 1-in. strips. Place 1 in. apart on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Prick with a fork 3 times
- Bake at 300° for 25 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Cool for 5 minutes on pan then transfer to a wire rack.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Brown Sugar Shortbread in Quick Cooking Premiere 1998
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 250Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 124mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 3g

Do you have a favorite cookie recipe to share at the holidays? We would love to try it!
We are so honored to be a part of a virtual cookie exchange with HouseofCookies. Be sure to follow the hashtag for more deliciousness and check out the list below for more fantastic cookie recipes:
Holiday Rich Butter Cookies – Houseful Of Nicholes
Rolo Pretzel Cookies – Creating Really Awesome Fun Things
Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies – Ashley & Co
Minty Holiday Cookies – Amy Ever After
Scottish Shortbread Christmas Cookie Wedges – Albion Gould
Loaded Oatmeal Raisin Cookies – This Worthey Life
Pretty Decorated Sugar Cookies – 100 Directions
Christmas Rose Cookies – Divas With A Purpose
Nutella Brownie Cookies – Big Green Pen
No Bake Cookies – Hysterical Mom
Norwegian Cookies – Kringla – Little Family Adventure
Cake Mix Christmas Cookies – Mom Generations
Rolo Pretzel Cookies - C.R.A.F.T.
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