Orange Shortbread Bars
Shortbread is a dessert favorite in my house! It can be customized, turned into different shapes, and perfect shortbread only requires flour, sugar and butter. These Orange Shortbread Bars are so fresh and tasty, and the best part is they’re made in only 30 minutes from start to finish!
Orange Shortbread Bar Recipe
Ever since I was a kid I’ve loved shortbread. My mom used to make it often, in different variations. Sometimes dipped in chocolate for the holidays, sometimes with some crushed candy cane, sometimes just plain. Either way, it was always delicious. Recently, on our other blog I made rosemary shortbread…give it a try if you have a chance, it’s so different and good!
This orange shortbread is a delicious recipe for any time of the year, but I specifically love it for Summer. Something about fresh oranges when it’s hot out is so refreshing. Here in the Palm Springs area of California, oranges are aplenty. Around February you can start to smell the orange blossoms and they smell SO GOOD. We have 2 orange trees, one in our front yard, and a split one from the neighbors yard and I love them so much. Where I grew up in Washington, we really only had apple trees nearby.
How to Make Orange Shortbread Bars
These orange shortbread cookies are super simple to make. I made mine into bars, but you could choose any shape you like. The best tip I can give for perfect shortbread is to mix with your (clean) hands, versus using a mixer.
Tips for Perfect Shortbread
Don’t over mix, the beauty of shortbread is the butter melting together with the flour and sugar as it cooks. See the picture above? That’s what the consistency of the dough should look like. Almost like sand!
- Use room temperature butter, not melted, and not cold. This is a great how to guide.
- Don’t over mix! I know, third time I’ve said it. I mean it.
- Press the shortbread dough down using a piece of parchment paper on top. Tamp it down with your hands. The shortbread should all be the same height so the pan cooks evenly (see below photo).
- Don’t overbake. We want the shortbread to be just slightly golden on the bottom.
Other Ways to Flavor Shortbread
Storing Shortbread Bars
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Orange Shortbread Bars
Ingredients
Shortbread Bars
- 2.5 cups flour
- 1 cup softened butter (salted)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp fresh orange zest
Orange Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tsp orange juice
Instructions
- Use softened butter, not melted. Set it out on the counter for 1 hour before making shortbread if you do not have a soften butter setting on your microwave.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees fahrenheit. Prepare a 9×13 inch baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Using clean hands, in a mixing bowl combine butter, sugar, and flour and orange zest. Mix together until you reach a sand like consistency. Be careful not to overmix.
- Spread the dough onto a 9×13 inch baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Spread throughout entire pan. Using an additional piece of parchment paper, press down to make an even surface.
- Place shortbread in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Make glaze while shortbread is baking: Combine powdered sugar, and fresh orange juice. Whisk until lumps are gone.
- Allow shortbread to cool before cutting and drizzling with glaze.
- Serve & enjoy!
Nutrition
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