Homemade Shortbread recipe (just as Mcvities & Walkers does it)
Shortbread Fingers are one of my favorite biscuits.
As a teen, I used to indulge a lot on the Walkers and McVities Shortbread brand and loved to have it with a hot beverage, but a few years back, I found a recipe that worked perfectly for me, and now the whole family just can’t have enough.
Although the traditional recipe calls for only 3 ingredients, I like to add one extra ingredient which makes the ”already rich shortbread” even richer and also takes the taste to another level.
Here’s how I prepare mine.
Ingredients for Shortbread
– 150 grams Plain Flour or Fine Wheat flour
– 100 grams Butter (not margarine)
– 50 grams Icing sugar (powdered sugar)
– 2 tablespoonful Powdered Milk (optional, but makes it extra rich and creamy)
Tip: you can add about 3 tablespoonful of Corn flour or rice flour if you want to get a grainy texture.
Also Remember that the powdered milk in this recipe is optional, so feel free to leave it out if you want to.
If you don’t have icing sugar, you can make use of finely ground granulated sugar.
This is the butter I used (oldenburger),it’s sold at big supermarkets |
Shortbread Preparation:
1. Mix the butter and icing sugar together until creamy.
2. Sieve the plain flour + powdered milk(or the corn flour or rice flour) into the bowl and mix thoroughly until well incorporated.
3. Form a ball with the dough and leave to rest in the fridge or in a cool place for 30 minutes.
4. Now, preheat the oven at 170ºC /325ºF for about 5 minutes.
Then Place the dough on a
table and roll it out to 3/4 inch thick width, then cut into 2cm by
10cm shortbread fingers or shapes and gently transfer unto a baking
tray.
5. Using a toothpick, make indents on the shortbread fingers.
6. And finally, place the tray into the preheated oven and bake at 170ºC /325ºF for 10- 12 minutes or until firm, but not brown.
Tip: shortbread should not be browned but should have a cream color.
7. Leave to cool completely, Serve and Enjoy!
Thanks for your comments. Do join us on Nigerian Food TV channel for step by step video recipes ☺.
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Good evening ma ,pls I need recipe of what to take to reduce weight
Ur stuffs are always special
What a lovely and easy recipe this is
Love it
Good evening ma.
Thanks for all u do here, I really appreciate.
Please do you have any recipe for Mgbadume.
Author
I don’t have the recipe for Mgbadume yet
but will upload when I do
Good afternoon ma, please where can I get the wheat bran consumable by human, not animals.
Oyewo Hakeem
How do I improvise if I don’t have an oven?
Author
Hi Nnennia, here’s how to bake without an oven
https://www.nigerianfoodtv.com/how-to-bake-cake-without-oven-and-on/
can i use simas butter
Great job Nky!I want to make mine with home made butter, will it work out ?I bought washed manshanu from a fulani woman and processed it to get butter.have you tried to make it with non store bought butter before?
hi Nky. Good job, I'm planning on making this shortbread biscuit and I want to use home made butter .I stay in the north and processed my butter from local manshanu gotten from the Fulanis. The issue is that I'm sure it has a higher moisture content than store bought butter, do you think it will work?
?…..wonderful
Just ate about 4 of them with my coffee! The Walker ones.they're so expensive and a lot less to make and although those are great,mass produced foods have unhealthy additives!
Yaaay super excited i tried this recipe n it came out really nice thanks Nky.. Wish i could share a pic
wow I must confess ur recipes are nice. I've tried most of them n it taste great, thanks alot NKY
Hi I tried your recipe and after I brought the bough out of the fridge and I tried to knead it, it crumbled I thought I did something wrong so I tried again another day and the same thing happened. Been wondering what I did wrong any ideas? P.s this did not affect the taste Thank you
Hi Naomi,I don't think you did anything wrong. The shortbread dough is not as firm as meatpie dough due to its high buter content ,so you have to handle it carefully.You can watch my video above to see how I worked with it, I'm sure you will get the perfect shape next time.Keep me posted.
Nky Lily Lete…..You are awesomeeeeeee!!!!Thank you!I made my shortbread this morning and it came out really nice…The funny thing is,my 9months old son saw it and wanted it,I gave him and he started eating it like he knew it since.When I tried collecting it from him,see retaliation!He loves it!From myself,my hubby and our son,we say GOD BLESS YOU!!!
Lol… aww that boy knows good thing oo, but pls don't give him too much, bcos of the sugar 🙂 I'm so glad you all enjoyed it, thanks for your beautiful feedback Ann 🙂
Nky God bless you. Been looking for the best menu site until i saw yours. please how do i subscribe so i can comment and ask questions? pls let me know if sandwich maker can be used to heat up the short bread without closing it
Hi Uche, there is a subscribe button at the top of the page and you don't need to heat up the shortbread, it is a biscuit.
Please do I have to grease the baking tray?
No necessary dear Chisom 🙂
you too much.
Thanks Jenny 🙂
This recipe is absolutely great, I'm a lover of shortbread and it's taste just d same, my hubby n colleagues were so amazed at d taste n I just told them were I got d recipe. I used d peak milk tin for my measurements but had to add more flour since twas a little sticky but it still came out so tasty. How long can they last since there is no form of preservative in it?
They can keep up to a month if stored in an airtight container , but I'm sure there won't be any more shortbread remaining for that long 🙂
U ar great,more grace 2 ur elbow
Thanks Olayinka 🙂
So I went to shoprite today and couldn't get oldenburg butter,but I bought "President" butter salted, 200g. Since I don't have measuring scales, I guess I will have to cut the butter in equal halves. How do I now measure my flour and sugar?
If you dont have a scale, you'll have to use containers or cups e,g a tin of peak milk is around 170g, more or less.Hope this helps a little 🙂
Thank you Aunty Nky, you are a life saver! My son has a thing for shortbread and it's very expensive buying on a regular. So I am definitely going to be baking soon. God bless you. Please more cake and Bread recipes for children. My boy is 3.
I sure will.My love to your boy
Thanks for the recipe. I've been using recipes on this site and my family loves everything I make. Thanks once again.
You're welcome Olaide, glad to be of help.And thanks for your lovely feedback 🙂
Hello dear tnx alot. I tried out d recipe d taste was nice but d texture was as hard as normal biscuits wat could have been the problem.
I guess you used much flour and less butter.
Swthrt you the best thanks will try it
🙂
I hope your website helps me also do you give private help tips when requested
If you leave any comment or question on the website, I'll answer to the best of my knowledge 🙂
nice recipe.how do I get your app tp download
May God bless you for this wonderful work. I made my own 'short bread' today. The taste is the same as the mcvities's, it just that my dough was breaking, it wasn't coming together at all. Is that how it suppose to be?
Thanks dearie.The dough is not as hard as normal cookie or biscuit dough and has to be handled with care.Hope you get the shape next time and pls watch the video to see how i handled the dough 🙂
Hi Nky, you're simply wonderful. This generation is lucky to have you. It's like I'm getting addicted to this site, but my biggest challenge right now is that I don't know how to subscribe to your site so that I will be updated with your posts. Pls help me and God bless.
can stove or gas be used in place of oven? if yes how?
Use the same method here https://www.nigerianfoodtv.com/2015/03/how-to-bake-cake-without-oven-and-on.html
thankyou! God bless you! Finally a recipe with no nonsense about thermometers and things. we are always buying this stuff and we can make our own! Thnx again!
you're welcome 🙂
Hi my sist,u r realy doing a great job,wl sure try dis.Plz dear I requested for hw to make PEANUTS long ago i.e groundnut coated wt flour n other ingredients,realy need it urgently plzzzz cos want to practice it ahead b4 making it 4 my child's birthday.Plz just help me out .Thks n God bless
Hi dear, when is your child's birthday?
No alternative to oven,I have a small electric oven like a microwave,but the manual didnt describe cake,bread etc as what it can be used for.
Hi Nky, tanx so much; tried the recipe using Anchor butter and it came out really nice. However, i couldnt roll out as the dough kept breaking and am sure its becos of my measurement, i later used my hand to make short fingers and it was great. Ur too much! Abeg, post bread recipe o
Hi dear, I'm so glad you got it right. The dough is not as hard as normal cookie dough and has to be handled with care.Don't worry bread recipe is coming soon 🙂
please I need the recipe for sponge cake, thanks
Recipe coming soon dearie.
Thanks again, GBU.
Hi Nky, I followed d recipe but the dough dint stick together like yours in d video. What went wrong pls?
Next time add add about 2 tablespoonful of flour to the mixture. If you are working in a hot environment the consistency of the butter will start changing.
Will try that next time, thank you.
Hello Nky nice recipe. I have tried it out but there was a challenge! It was difficult to roll out the dough. It wasn't consistent but rather was breaking making it difficult for a uniform rolling and cutting it into fingers ! Was it that way with u? The recipe came out really tasty though! Pls advice
Hi dearie,I'm glad you enjoyed it.But as for the dough, if you watch the video, you'll see that the dough is not as firm or easy to handle as meatpie dough and has to be handled gently, due to the high butter content.Next time, just add about 2 tablespoonful of flour to the mixture, it will make a little difference and won't disturb the great taste.
Tanx,i guess it dosen't work on pineapple.
You're welcome dearie.Whenever you are working with pineapple and milk, make sure you add the milk at the last moment and drink immediately.
Hi! Anty Nky ,i'll let u kw hw it turned out,once i get butter.I tried making pineapple just lyk orange milk punch but after extracting d pineapple juice,it tasted nice nd whn i added d peak liquid milk,it gave a bitter like taste.Pls what did i do wrong?
You¡re welcome dearie ,I'll be expecting your feedback.As for the drink, fresh pineapple curdles milk and changes its taste a bit.So the fault is the pineapple,
Hello Nky. I am so glad i found your website. If i am making the shortbread for a party, can i make it a day in advance. Can i store it in the fridge and warm same in the oven for 5 minutes the next day? In addition, if i am making in large quantity, can i keep doubling the standard measurements you have prescribed for example, you have made 21 pieces with the measurement prescribed. If i were to make 42 pieces, do i double the measurements? Thank you
Hi dearie, you can make it in advance and store in a airtight container, no need to warm in the oven the next day. I think it even tastes better as the day goes by :)And yes , you have to double the ingredients to make 42+
Tanx anty Nky 4 d reply, U've really helped me alot but i still wnt 2 kw if there is other way 4 me 2 measure sugar nd butter and as for d flour,i still hv 2 reduce alittle frm d peak milk cup 2 get d amout u stated in d recipe,right?
You're welcome dearie.Since you bake a lot , it'll be better to buy a cheap measuring scale, so that you get the exact measurement.And yes , you have to remove about 2 tablespoonful from the peak milk can. If you use real butter like the one in the pic above, some used to have a metric mark on the body(like 50, 100, 125 etc), so just use your knife and cut out the measurement you want.Let me know how it turned out.
Okay dearies. I finally got butter. Like Bolaji said its found in the freezer section. You could get it at shoprite or park n shop. The brands they have are Oldenburger, Bridel, Real and few others (Salted and Unsalted types). MOST OR ALL of them are foreign products.By the way, I got the real taste this way. Thanks to Nky.
Hi Zainab, you are so welcome. Bolaji was also a great help. I'm so glad you found it. I actually used oldenburger butter. I'll be expecting your shortbread pics, hope you haven't finished everything yet 🙂
Am new here, so far I haven't said anything but I have been using ur recipees n it's been great, thanks so much dear for ur good work, I didn't kn baking could be easy n am so loving it, God bless u for meMeanwhile u said blue band isn't butter, wc one can I use that's easy to find cos here confectionaries r hard to get, thanks in advance dear.
Hi Mummyangel, thanks for your lovely comment and I'm glad you decided to comment today, thanks :)As for the butter, you can get it at big supermarkets, such as shoprite or park n shop. Hope you try it and send us your feedback and pics 🙂
HI nky, my shortbread turned out perfect, the taste was like heaven, just like mcvities shortbread. I made the first batch with margarine, but got the mcvities taste when I used butter.Thanks and God bless you. Pls I need bread recipe.
Please what butter did you use? Thanks
You're welcome Bolaji, the butter taste is what makes it stand out. Bread recipe coming soon dearie.
Yes Nky, the butter taste makes it stand out,thanks again.Hello Zainab, the butter I used was from a supermarket in surulere,it is sold in small rectangles, and found at the fridge section. They have different types, I just chose one, sorry I can't remember the name.
Thanks for helping out Bolaji 🙂
Hi. I made mine and I do have some complaints. The taste didnt come out like the normal mcvities. After using the recipe, the dough was still sticky, so I had to add more flour and little icing sugar, in order to get what I saw in your video.And I used blue band butter.My questions, if I want to use measuring cups, what would be my measurements? And what might be the reason behind my taste change and stickiness?Is blue band really okay for it?
Hi Zainab, first Blue band is not real butter, it is margarine and does not taste like butter, that is why you didn't get the mcvities taste dearie. Margarine is hydrogenated and highly processed vegetable oil while Butter is made from cream that is found in milk. 2nd, I don't think you used the recipe as it is, because the dough is not supposed to be sticky, in the video the dough isn't sticky, watch it again and you'll see that.As for using measuring cups, 150ML will give you close to150grms.You can also use the small evaporated peak milk tin which weighs about 170grams.
When I said sticky, I meant my dough was sticky.And not that your dough in the video was sticky. Its just that I had to add more flour to mine to make it look like your non sticky dough.
ok
pls can u give me d name of butter dats nt margrine nd also good for making shortbread biscuit?
I used oldenburger butter, you can get it at big supermarkets
Pls how much is the oldenburger butter?
#740
pls can u give me d name of butter dats nt margrine dat is good for making shortbread?
So happy cuz of dz recipe,tks Nky for d sweet recipe.pls i have measuring problem,which common cup can i use nd pls how many grams is it equal to.
Hi dear, you are always welcome.You can use the peak milk evaporated can, it weighs about 170 grams.
Hello nky. Pls how many ML cup wil giv me 150 grms if I want to measure? Tnks for d recipe nd I want to do it now
Hi dear,150ML will give you 150grms.
Can icing sugar be made at home? I don't have any or can I use normal sugar.
I just posted a recipe for homemade icing sugar, here it isHomemade Icing Sugar
Hi Nky, u are simply wonderful, u are indeed God sent, I just tried it, but it was so hard to get butter what we mostly see is margarine. My kids are so happy. Thank you, one love!
H dearie, I'm so glad your kids enjoyed it and it came out well, even though you used margarine. Thanks for your lovely feedback.
Oh finally..ure God sent,xoxoxotnk u
You're always welcome, xoxo
thank u thank u thank u.No more buying shortbread, now I can make my own.God bless u.
You're always welcome, God bless you too 🙂
Nice Job dear…..thumbs up,Please what effect will it have if I use margarine instead of butter?
If you use margarine, You'll get a different taste, texture and aroma.
Please the butter is it salted or unsalted?
Unsalted.
Wow, I didn't know it could be made at home too. You are the best Nky, will surely try it this weekend,thanks
You're welcome,I'll be expecting your feedback.