When it comes to classic afternoon tea recipes, the home bakers of the Country Women’s Association are the experts. Here, they reveal their prized shortbread recipe that’s easy, quick and fun to make with everyone in the family. Perfect as a gifting idea, or to whip up as a treat, this simple shortbread recipe is the only one you’ll need.

What you need to know before you start

This foolproof recipe for shortbread doesn’t require complicated steps or hard-to-find ingredients. It’s made from three pantry staples you likely already have in your kitchen, and requires simple equipment such as a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, a rolling pin, baking trays, a sharp knife and a fork. If you don’t have access to a stand mixer, a stiff whisk (and some patience) will work just as well. 

While this recipe creates rectangular-shaped shortbreads, you’re free to have fun with it and use cookie cutters to form different shapes, like Christmas trees. These beautifully buttery biscuits make excellent edible gifts, perfect for your Christmas bake sale, or are excellent enjoyed with a cuppa for afternoon tea. Depending on how you serve them, you may need food-safe gift bags or baking paper with twine for gifting. 

Why is this the best shortbread recipe?

The Country Women’s Association (CWA) is synonymous with quality classic bakes and this traditional shortbread recipe from their archives is no different. It takes under an hour to bake, and uses three affordable and easily accessible ingredients to create an incredibly rich and buttery biscuit with a beautifully crumbly texture. It can be enjoyed as is, but can easily be transformed to create new flavour spins on a classic. 

What is the secret to making good shortbread?

Made from just three ingredients, this easy shortbread recipe is a great one for bakers of all levels. Beating the butter until pale and fluffy is an important step that should not be missed. This helps to incorporate air for volume, easily dissolve the sugar and adds flavour for creating a classic shortbread. It should take roughly 5-6 minutes. 

Common mistakes when making shortbread

Overmixing your dough is a common problem many bakers face when making shortbread. Overmixing will lead to a more rigid and tough shortbread. Once you add your flour to the butter and sugar, gently mix until just combined. 

What ingredients you’ll need

Salted butter: We prefer cultured butter due to its depth of creaminess and hint of sharpness, however, unsalted butter from the supermarket is just as good. Whichever you choose, be sure the butter is at room temperature before using. 

Caster sugar: The fine granules of caster sugar dissolve easily to ensure a sweet delicate, melt-in-your-mouth finish. 

Plain flour: Flour provides the structure for the shortbread biscuits, allowing it to hold its shape while creating a light and crumbly texture. 

How to make the best Country Women’s Association shortbread recipe

This easy recipe comes together in just a few steps. Begin by preparing two large baking trays by lining them with baking paper, then storing in the fridge until you’re ready to use. A chilled tray will help the biscuits hold their shape. As it chills, prepare the dough by combining the butter and sugar until pale and creamy. Add the flour and mix until just combined before rolling out into 1cm-thick rectangles and chilling in the fridge on the trays.

After around 10-15 minutes, cut the dough into your desired shape. Ever wondered why you poke holes in shortbread? Marking the biscuits with a fork allows steam to escape while baking for a more uniform texture. Bake for roughly 25-30 minutes or until golden. While the CWA recipe is strictly traditional, for a fun twist, feel free to try adding some lemon, lime or orange zest to your dough for a burst of citrus. You can even add vanilla or sprinkle some sugar or chocolate chips before baking for a crunchy textured top. 

How to store shortbread

Once cool, store shortbread in an airtight container in a cool place for up to 2 weeks. It can also be kept in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer for up to 3 months. 

What to serve with shortbread

Serve your shortbread biscuits for afternoon tea with a cup of tea or coffee. Feel free to get creative and dip your biscuits in chocolate, served with whipped cream and fresh berries for a refreshing modern take.    

If you love our shortbread recipe, try this 

For different takes on the classic shortbread recipe, try these sweet baking twists:

• Tamarind millionaire’s shortbread
• Chocolate shortbread
• Wholemeal shortbread