Try these Vanilla Bean Shortbread Cookies for a fun and flavorful twist on classic shortbread. Fragrant vanilla bean paste and a sprinkle topping make these melt-in-your-mouth cookies totally irresistible!
Shortbread cookies never go out of style! Add these Easy Whipped Shortbread Cookies to your dessert menu next.
Why These Cookies are Best
You’ll love the simple buttery sweet vanilla taste of these shortbread cookies–and how easy they are to make!
- Easy shortbread – You only need 5 ingredients for dough!
- Made with real vanilla – We use vanilla bean paste for a rich, fragrant vanilla flavor that makes these buttery cookies stand out from the crowd.
- White chocolate – Spread a little melted vanilla bark on top for even more sweetness.
- Covered with sprinkles – Mix up the sprinkle colors for different occasions!
Love easy slice and bake cookies? Try our cinnamon roll cookies next!
Ingredient Notes
- Vanilla bean paste is a baking ingredient made by combining the finely ground seeds from a vanilla bean with vanilla extract. It puts the creamy vanilla flavor front and center in these cookies. Dont’ have any on hand (you can order on amazon), use 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and the seeds from one vanilla bean.
- Unsalted butter is my preference over salted varieties in shortbread cookies. It gives you more control over the ultimate taste of the cookies.
- Powdered sugar sweetens these cookies and helps provide that light and delicate crumb we love in shortbread.
- White chocolate melting wafers create the perfect topping for these shortbread cookies! If you can’t find them, use melted vanilla almond bark instead.
Easy Instructions
- Make the shortbread dough: The dough may be crumbly. That’s totally normal. Just use your hands to work the dough until it starts to stick together.
- Roll and chill: Continue using your hands to roll the dough into a foot-long log. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
- Slice and bake: Use a sharp knife to cut the dough into individual slices. Bake until the cookies begin to brown on the edges.
- Decorate: Once the cookies have cooled, melt the white chocolate (or vanilla bark). Spread a small amount onto each vanilla bean shortbread cookie then immediately add a few sprinkles.
Recipe FAQs
To slice raw cookie dough, use a sharp (not serrated) knife. Rotate the log of dough a few inches after each slice to help keep the dough smooth.
Shortbread dough often gets crumbly because, unlike most cookies, it has no egg to bind the ingredients together. If it’s too crumbly to shape, knead the dough a few times to soften the butter and help the dough become more cohesive. It may take a couple of minutes but eventually you should be able to form it in a smooth log.
If you don’t have vanilla paste available, I recommend using a whole vanilla bean. Scrape out the seeds and add them to the dough for a wonderful strong vanilla flavor!
Yes, vanilla shortbread cookies are freezer friendly! Store the baked cookies in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw the cookies cookies before adding melted white chocolate and sprinkles to the top.
More Easy Cookie Recipes
- Apple Shortbread Bars
- Grinch Cookies
- Raspberry Crumble Bars
- Rice Krispie Treats
- Dark Chocolate Brownies
- Easy Snickerdoodle Recipe
Cookie Recipes
See all Cookies recipes
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Vanilla Bean Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla bean paste
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ cups Ghirardelli white chocolate wafers or vanilla almond bark, melted
- ¼ cup sprinkles
Instructions
- In a a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and powdered sugar. Add vanilla bean paste and mix until fully blended.
- Add flour and kosher salt. If the mixture is still crumbly after blending, use hands to fully combine.
- Place dough on a lightly floured counter. Roll into a 12inch log. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- When ready to bake, slice dough into thin slices. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 12-14 minutes in a 350 degree oven, until cookies begin to lightly brown on edges.
- Once cooled, spread a small amount of melted vanilla bark onto each cookie and immediate add sprinkles.
- Allow to set, about 15 minutes. Store in a covered container for up to 7 days. ENJOY.
Notes
- What can I substitute for vanilla paste? If you don’t have vanilla paste available, I recommend using a whole vanilla bean. Scrape out the seeds and add them to the dough for a wonderful strong vanilla flavor!
- Storing: These cookies keep well for about one week in an airtight container. But good luck not eating them all long before then!
- Add-ins: Add mini chocolate chips to make Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies. Add lemon and enjoy an easy lemon shortbread cookie!
- Holiday variations: Customize these Vanilla Bean Shortbread Cookies by using different colors of sprinkles. We love them with pink and red sprinkles for a Valentine’s Day treat! Or add festive sprinkles for Christmas!
- Freeze Cookies. Use my tips on how to freeze cookie dough for later.
- Caramel. Spread some dulce de leche between two cookies like we do with our alfajores.
- Make ahead: This shortbread dough can be stored in the fridge for several days before baking. When you’re ready for homemade shortbread just slice and bake. As easy as store bought refrigerated cookie dough but tastes so much better!
- See blog post for more recipe tips and tricks.
Nutrition
Vanilla isn’t a background player in these Vanilla Bean Shortbread Cookies. It’s the star!
I always reach for my vanilla bean paste! I bet it’s amazing in a shortbread cookie!
Vanilla Bean Paste *Swoon* I could drink that stuff. Actually, don’t, it’s kind of gross. But man oh man it makes cookies sing. LOVE these fun shortbread cookies! You always make everything look so festive Aimee 🙂
LOL. had to chuckle at the “it’s kind of gross.” So true. Great in cookies, not as a drink! hehe!!!
Love the vanilla bean + shortbread combo – they sound amazing!
I love the little flecks that vanilla beans add to baked goods. I’ve never seen vanilla paste before — I’ll have to look for it!
These lovely little vanilla shortbread cookies are totally getting me in the holiday mood, Aimee! And yes, I agree, Rodelle’s vanilla bean paste is the best! It’s one of my favorite ingredients… and then you put the sprinkles on! Oh, I’ll be heading to the kitchen postehaste! Thank you!
You’re welcome!! And agreed, oh vanilla bean paste how I love thee….
Shortbread. Sprinkles. Vanilla. All my favorites! Love these.
I’ve never heard of vanilla paste before! Sounds incredible 🙂
Yay Rodelle!!!
I love vanilla bean and it’s so genius in these shortbread cookies!
I LOVE these cookies, these are the ultimate Christmas cookies!!!
So umm their vanilla sounds absolutely fantastic! And I might need to go ahead and try some, along with these insanely incredible cookies. I can’t get them out of my mind!!
These sound dreamy — the more vanilla the better!!
I don’t do many cookie exchanges either , but we sure do love to bake lots of cookies; these look like a great addition to any cookie tray
I adore Rodelle vanilla paste! I could buy it just for the scent! These cookies are adorable! Shortbread is a must for the holidays!
Those look sooo good! It always amazes me how much vanilla I go though during the holiday season!
these look like the perfect cookie!! I loooove shortbread cookies! Beautiful Aimee
These are so beautiful perfect for the holidays and for santa.
I’ll have to order some because my grocery store doesn’t seem to carry vanilla bean paste!!
I have never seen Rodale Vanilla! I am going to have to keep my eyes peeled because shortbread is my FAV, and vanilla bean? I die. Pinned!
What a wonderful cookie! I’ve never used vanilla bean paste…but I’m kind of dying to now! 🙂
I love Rodale vanilla and it goes on sale often at my grocery store so I can get a huge jar for about 10 bucks. Like that’s 4 jars of other brands in 1. And for a vanilla fiend like me, well, that’s huge 🙂 I love the looks of these, Aimee! pinned!
Thanks for pinning Averie! I can only imagine how much vanilla you go through 🙂