FOOD NEWS
Is There A Difference Between Butter Cookies And Shortbread?
By Tom Maxwell
Shortbread and butter cookies are slightly crumbly and crisp treats that seem almost identical. However, their differences come down to flour, egg, and sugar ratios.
Due to differing ratios, shortbread cookies are crumblier and more "sandy" than butter cookies, which are firm and solid enough to be iced.
Shortbread doesn't use eggs, while butter cookies do, making butter cookie dough more pliable and robust than its shortbread counterpart.
Shortbread also uses a higher ratio of butter to flour and is baked at a lower temperature, giving it its signature delicate consistency that crumbles in your mouth when bitten.
Butter cookies also use a lot of butter but contain more flour and sugar. They also hold their shape better, making it easier to cut them into shapes and decorate them with icing.