These Sugar and Spiced Shortbread Cookies are crunchy, buttery cookies that have a lot of flavor and almost no fuss. These Shortbread Cookies with Spice are perfect for fall and holiday entertaining and will fill your home with the most beautiful aroma!

Ssugar and spiced shortbread cookies on a baking sheet
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Sugar and spice and everything nice, that’s what these cookies are made of. In my bedroom, I had a darling little plaque that said “Sugar and spice, and everything nice, that’s what little girls are made of.” I couldn’t help but think of it when baking and naming these cookies.

The subtle scent of spices and pretty crystallized sugar were the perfect compliment to basic shortbread cookies. Sugar and Spice Shortbread Cookies are a great way to enjoy the flavors of fall and winter. You can even stamp these easy spiced shortbread cookies.

You only need a handful of ingredients to make this spiced cookie recipe!

  • Butter – Unsalted at room temperature.
  • Dark Brown Sugar – To give them rich molasses flavor.
  • Flour – All purpose flour, sifted.
  • Ground Spices – Cinnamon, ginger and cloves.

How To Make Sugar and Spiced Shortbread Cookies

It doesn’t take long to make these fall cookies!

  1. Cream Butter and Sugar – Beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  2. Add Dry Ingredients – Blend in flour, cinnamon, ginger and ground cloves.
  3. Chill Dough – Refrigerate dough covered for 30 minutes (no longer), while preheating oven.
  4. Make Dough Balls – Using a cookie scoop or teaspoon, make
    1″ dough balls and press with a sugar coated glass
    or stamp.
  5. Bake – Bake until lightly golden brown. Allow to cool 1 minute before transferring to a wire cooling rack.
    6. A cookie stamped with a fall cookie week logo

    Sugar and Spiced Cookies Are Perfect For Festive Gifts

    These cookies stack beautifully, making them great for gifting and when using a cookie scoop to keep the size consistent, it yields about 3 dozen. If you are looking for a food gift to give friends and family, these are perfect! Full of festive flavors, they’re sure to go down a treat!

    Shortbread is a classic cookie to bake around the festive period, as are sugar cookies, but there’s a few key differences:

    • Sugar cookies have much more ingredients.
    • Sugar cookies are typically sweeter.
    • Shortbread cookies are crumbly in texture.
    • Shortbread is usually cooked at a lower temperature.
    Close up of sugar and spiced shortbread cookies on parchment paper

    How Long Do Shortbread Cookies Keep?

    Because shortbread cookies have a denser texture, they keep for slightly longer than other cookies. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature, and they will keep well for around a week. You can also freeze the cookies for 3 to 4 weeks, so they are great to make ahead of time in anticipation for the holiday season!

    A sugar and spiced shortbread cookie topped with sugarTips

    • Line your baking sheet with parchment or a silicone baking sheet for easy removal.
    • Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes but no longer, before baking.
    • Use a cookie scoop to measure the dough so you have consistent sizes.
    A tray of cookies

    If you try this sugar and spiced cookie recipe, please come back to share using my 5 star rating in the comments below! Not only do I appreciate it, but I know readers do, too! For more easy recipes and simple living ideas, subscribe to my newsletter!

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    flavorful sugar and spice shortbread cookies | the best Christmas cookie recipe
    5 from 5 votes

    Sugar and Spice Shortbread Cookies

    By Julie Blanner
    Shortbread Cookies are crunchy, buttery cookies that have a lot of flavor and almost no fuss. These Shortbread Cookies with Spice are perfect for fall and holiday entertaining and will fill your home with the most beautiful aroma!
    Prep: 10 minutes
    Cook: 12 minutes
    Refrigerate dough: 30 minutes
    Total: 22 minutes
    Servings: 36
    Pin Rate Print

    Ingredients  

    • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
    • ½ cup dark brown sugar packed
    • 2¼ cup all purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
    • ½ teaspoon ground cloves

    Instructions 

    • In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
    • Gradually add flour, ground cinnamon, ginger and cloves.
    • Cover dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes (no more), while preheating oven to 325°F.
    • Using a small cookie dough scoop or teaspoon, and the palm of your hands, make 1" dough balls. Press with a sugar coated glass. Optional: follow using a cookie stamp.
    • Bake 12 minutes or until lightly golden. Allow to cool 1 minute. Transfer to a wire baking rack to cool.

    Julie’s Tips

    These cookies stack beautifully, making them great for gifting and when using a cookie scoop to keep the size consistent, it yields about 3 dozen.
    Line baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup!
    Serving: 1g | Calories: 85kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 46mg | Potassium: 13mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 160IU | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.4mg

    Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

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