
Melt-in-your-mouth shortbread squares with a soft, delicate texture star as the famous treat from the hit Apple TV+ show. These unforgettable goodies need only five simple ingredients but pack amazing taste and feel. What makes them special is how basic they are – rich European butter, sugar, flour, vanilla, and salt work together to make something truly wonderful that dissolves instantly when you take a bite.
I whipped up these treats last weekend when friends came over to watch TV, and they were gone in a flash. One of my pals who always passed on shortbread before asked me how to make them right after her first taste. The buttery goodness and soft feel totally changed what she thought about shortbread treats.
Key Ingredients
- European-style butter: has more butterfat (about 82-83%) giving incredible richness and flavor you just can't get with regular American butter
- Granulated sugar: adds the right amount of sweetness while making tiny air bubbles during mixing for the best texture
- All-purpose flour: with its middle-range protein makes the perfect structure without making the delicate treats tough
- Pure vanilla extract: boosts the buttery taste with gentle aromatic hints that make the whole cookie better
- Kosher salt: works against the sweetness and makes all other flavors pop - without it, your cookies would taste dull and boring
- Parchment paper: stops sticking and helps you lift them out easily while keeping the edges nice
- Square baking pan: gives you that famous shape that fans of the show spot right away
Baking Steps
- Get Your Oven Ready:
- Put your oven rack in the middle and heat to 325°F. This lower heat lets the treats cook slowly and evenly without getting too brown on the bottom or sides.
- Fix Your Pan:
- Put parchment paper in an 8-inch square pan with extra hanging over all edges. This makes handles so you can lift everything out in one piece after baking.
- Start Your Butter Mix:
- In a stand mixer with paddle or big bowl with hand mixer, put together soft European butter, regular sugar, kosher salt, and vanilla extract.
- Make Tiny Air Bubbles:
- Beat the butter mix on medium for exactly two minutes until it looks light and fluffy. This adds air for a tender bite, but too much mixing can make them spread too much.
- Add Flour Gently:
- Put in the all-purpose flour and mix until barely combined. The mix should look a bit crumbly like pie dough – that's just what you want.
- Make Your Dough Base:
- Put the crumbly dough into your ready pan and softly press it flat across the bottom. The layer should be about ½-inch thick everywhere so it bakes the same.
- Get a Flat Top:
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap and use a flat measuring cup bottom or spatula to make the top perfectly smooth and even.
- Poke Your Dough:
- Take off the plastic and use a fork to make small, evenly-spaced holes all over the top.
- Cool It Down:
- Put the ready dough in the fridge for 30 minutes. This key step hardens the butter again, stops spreading and makes tall, tender treats with clean edges.
- Bake It Right:
- Put the cold dough in your hot oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until the top is evenly golden brown.
- Slice While Warm:
- After taking it from the oven, let it sit for exactly five minutes, then use a sharp knife to cut into rectangles while still warm.
- Add The Final Touch:
- If you want, sprinkle some extra sugar lightly on the warm top.
- Let Them Cool:
- Let the cut treats cool all the way in the pan.
I got really into making these perfect after watching the show with my daughter. We tried different butters and baking times for several weekends. When we switched to European butter, everything changed – suddenly our treats had that rich, almost nutty depth that makes them extra special. Now we make a batch every Sunday before we watch new episodes together.

Ways To Enjoy
- With Tea:
- Offer these buttery squares next to a nice cup of English tea for the real experience.
- Fancy Dessert:
- For special times, serve with fresh berries and lightly sweetened whipped cream for a classy dessert that shows off their buttery richness.
- Coffee Match:
- If you love coffee, you'll notice how the treats' sweetness works great with strong espresso or cappuccino.
Creative Changes
- Nut Version:
- Change up these classic treats by adding small pieces of toasted pecans or walnuts to the dough before pressing into the pan.
- Citrus Touch:
- For citrus fans, mix fresh lemon or orange zest into the dough.
- Chocolate Addition:
- If you love chocolate, try dipping half of each cooled treat into melted dark chocolate.
Keeping Them Fresh
- Counter Storage:
- Store these treats in a sealed container at room temp, where they'll stay just right for up to a week.
- Longer Storage:
- To keep them longer, lay cooled treats in one layer in a freezer container with parchment between layers.
- Making Stale Ones Fresh:
- Got slightly stale treats? No problem – just five minutes in a 300°F oven brings back their fresh-baked goodness.

Making these treats has turned into a kind of peaceful ritual for me. There's something really satisfying about changing such basic ingredients into something so special by using the right method. The feeling of butter on my fingers as I press the dough, the pattern of fork marks, and the golden smell filling my kitchen – it all creates an experience that goes beyond just making cookies. When I share them with friends, they quickly spot them from the show, but after one taste, they stop talking about TV and start talking about how amazing homemade shortbread truly is.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why is butter temperature important here?
- The butter needs to be just right—cool but soft to cream with sugar well. Too cold, and it won’t mix smoothly; too warm, and your cookies might spread too much. A thermometer can be helpful!
- → Can I tweak these biscuits with extra flavors?
- Absolutely! Try adding a bit of lemon zest, a sprinkle of lavender, or even almond extract. But don’t overdo it—they’re best when simple with subtle tweaks.
- → Why do I have to poke holes in the dough?
- Poking holes ensures even baking by letting steam escape, preventing puffy spots. It’s also a classic shortbread look!
- → My biscuits didn’t crisp up. What happened?
- They might be underbaked. Bake till golden brown at the edges and let them cool completely in the pan for the right texture.
- → Can I scale up the recipe?
- Totally! Double the ingredients and use a 9x13-inch pan. Watch closely, as you might need to add 5-10 extra minutes in the oven.