Buttery Scottish Shortbread Fingers Recipe with Sea Salt
A simple and classic recipe for buttery Scottish shortbread fingers topped with flaky sea salt, delivering a melt-in-your-mouth texture and a perfect balance of sweet and savory.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Total Time: 35-40 minutes
- Yield: 16 fingers 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Scottish
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour, sifted
- Sea salt flakes (like Maldon or fleur de sel), for sprinkling
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Line your baking tray with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, beat together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in vanilla extract if using.
- Gradually add sifted all-purpose flour and combine gently with a spatula or hands, avoiding overmixing.
- Transfer the crumbly dough to the parchment-lined tray and press evenly into an 8×8 inch (20×20 cm) square about 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) thick.
- Lightly score the dough into finger-sized rectangles about 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and 4 inches (10 cm) long using a sharp knife or bench scraper.
- Generously sprinkle flaky sea salt over the top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until pale golden and firm to the touch but not browned.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Break along the scored lines into fingers once fully cooled.
Notes
If dough feels too crumbly, add a teaspoon of cold water to help bind it. Avoid overmixing after adding flour to prevent tough shortbread. Use flaky sea salt for best texture and flavor. Let shortbread cool completely before breaking to maintain crumbly texture. For a meltier crumb, add a teaspoon of cornstarch to the flour.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 shortbread finger
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 4
- Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 11
- Protein: 1
Keywords: shortbread, Scottish shortbread, buttery cookies, sea salt, homemade treats, easy baking, simple ingredients