Basic Shortbread

This basic vegan and gluten-free shortbread recipe can be used for stand-alone cookies or dressed up with chocolate, caramel, jams, or a variety of other toppings. I used Miyoko's vegan butter, put regular sugar through a coffee grinder to make it extra fine, used Bob's Red Mill gluten free flour (the one without the xanthan gum), and put 1/3rd cup golden flaxseeds through a coffee grinder to make the flaxseed meal.
Servings: 36 yield(s)
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 45 mins
Total Time: 65 mins
Ingredients
  • 1 cup All Purpose Flour
  • 1 tsp Vanilla (or clear imitation vanilla)
  • 1/3 cup Flax Seed (Ground into meal)
  • 1/4 cup Sugar (Ground fine)
  • 1 tbsp Coconut Oil (I prefer virgin, but you can use processed if you dislike the smell)
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 325° and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
  2. Grind Flax Seed and Sugar into a fine flour/powder using a coffee grinder, then mix in a large bowl with the All-Purpose Flour
  3. Add chilled butter to the mix and work into the flour mixture with your hands for about 5 minutes, until a crumbly dough is formed
  4. Add coconut oil and vanilla and continue working dough for another 1-2 minutes
  5. Turn dough out onto parchment paper, then set another piece of parchment paper on top and use a rolling pin to flatten dough to desired thickness
  6. Score the dough along desired break points using a fork or knife, but don't cut all the way through
  7. Bake for 45 minutes, then allow to fully cool on the baking sheet before separating
  8. (OPTIONAL) Once cooled, apply powdered sugar, chocolate, or jam as topping