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A plate of golden-brown 3-ingredient butter cookies with delicate piped swirls, crisp edges, and a soft, buttery crumb, made with butter, powdered sugar, and all-purpose flour.

Buttery Piped Shortbread Cookies

Delicate, melt-in-your-mouth piped shortbread cookies made with just butter, powdered sugar, and flour. Simple, elegant, and irresistibly buttery.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 30 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

Equipment

  • Piping bag with large star tip, baking sheets, parchment paper

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment.
  2. Beat softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
  3. Add flour gradually and mix just until a soft dough forms.
  4. Transfer dough to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip.
  5. Pipe swirls or rosettes onto the baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart.
  6. Bake 12–15 minutes until the edges are just barely golden. Centers should remain pale.
  7. Cool on the pan 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

Notes

Use softened (not melted) butter. Do not overmix once the flour is added. Bake only until the edges are lightly golden. Salted butter works well. Store in an airtight container. Best the day they are made but keep nicely for sever