Skip to main content

Scarborough Fair Shortbread

4.7

(15)

Image may contain Food Cake Dessert Pie Confectionery Sweets and Tart
Scarborough Fair ShortbreadRomulo Yanes

While this calls for four herbs, just one or two—rosemary and thyme, for example—would be fine.

Cooks' note:

Shortbread keeps in an airtight container up to 5 days.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    1 hr

  • Yield

    Makes 16 cookies

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup plus 1/2 tablespoon superfine granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 teaspoon each finely chopped fresh sage, rosemary, and thyme
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 egg white, lightly beaten
16 small fresh parsley leaves
16 very small fresh sage leaves (1/2 inch)
16 fresh rosemary leaves
16 (1-inch) fresh thyme sprigs

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F.

    Step 2

    Stir together flour, 1/4 cup sugar, salt, and chopped herbs in a bowl, then add butter and stir with a fork until mixture forms a dough. Divide dough in half and pat each half into a 6 1/2- to 7-inch round on an ungreased baking sheet. Crimp edges of rounds and cut each into 8 wedges with a sharp knife. Lightly brush with egg white and arrange 1 leaf of each herb on each wedge. Brush herbs lightly with egg white and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 tablespoon sugar. Prick each wedge once with a fork.

    Step 3

    Bake until golden, 15 to 17 minutes. Recut wedges while shortbread is hot, then cool completely on sheet on a rack.

Read More
Like spicy carrot rigatoni and weeknight-fancy ravioli with peas.
Like lemony baked salmon and strawberry shortcake roll.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Like creamy butternut squash soup and brown butter toffee chocolate chip cookies.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Double-the-mustard chicken, gingery mustard BBQ sauce, cider-dijon pork with roasted apples, and more.
Like sweet-spicy zucchini and joojeh kebab.
A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.