From Better Homes and Gardens

Shortbread can be dressed up or down simply by adding spices, dried cherries, or pecans. All of these variations will easily sweeten up a Christmas cookie exchange.

Shortbread

From Better Homes and Gardens

The warm, gooey nut mixture that tops this shortbread is also fantastic over ice cream.

Nutty Shortbread

From Better Homes and Gardens

Make the vanilla-flavored shortbread in advance and store them in the freezer. Then when you're ready to present them, add the fresh orange frosting to make an elegant sandwich cookie.

Vanilla Bean Shortbread Sandwiches with Orange Buttercream

From Better Homes and Gardens

Basic shortcake becomes an extra special cookie with the addition of lavender. Serve as a snack or on a dessert tray for tea or dessert.

Lavender Shortbread Bites

From Better Homes and Gardens

When served with a sponful of lemon curd, this classic cookie becomes a luscious dessert.

Macadamia Nut Shortbread

From Better Homes and Gardens

Sugar-glazed pecans and tender apricots pleasantly contrast with these shortbread cookies. Serve extra pecans as a snack on their own or sprinkle them on waffles, pancakes, or ice cream sundaes.

Mini Shortbread Stacks

From Fine Cooking Magazine

This shortbread is buttery and fragrant with lemon zest. The texture is chewier than traditional shortbread, and I've added cornmeal for crunch and texture.

Lemon Cornmeal Shortbread Bars

From Ladies' Home Journal

These tree-shaped cookies look divine on a holiday buffet but are easy to make and decorate.

Brown Sugar Shortbread Trees

From Better Homes and Gardens

For the macadamia lover, chopped nuts are pressed into the tops of these shaped cookies prior to baking. Make the recipe ahead of time and freeze.

Coconut Macadamia Shortbread Coins

From Food & Wine

Flo Braker flavors her ethereally light shortbread with finely ground espresso beans. The best part is the golden, gooey butterscotch glaze, which becomes deliciously fudgy as the bars sit in the cookie jar.

Butterscotch-Glazed Coffee Shortbread Bars

From Better Homes and Gardens

Rolled oats add texture and healthful goodness to shortbread cookies.

Oatmeal Shortbread

From Better Homes and Gardens

These buttery cookies are so rich, they melt in your mouth! The classic combo of mint and chocolate are a cool twist to a classic shortbread recipe.

Double Chocolate-Mint Shortbread

From Better Homes and Gardens

A touch of ground cocoa-chile blend adds a gentle spicy-warmth to these glazed holiday wonders.

Spicy Chocolate Shortbread

From Food & Wine

Sugary desserts often overwhelm dry reds like Bordeaux, but this dish is so subtly sweet it almost doubles as a cheese course. The mascarpone's creaminess smooths out the wine's tannins; the compote and shortbread echo its hints of cherry and anise.

Dried Cherry Compote with Shortbread and Mascarpone

From Food & Wine

Mary Odson's sister Cathy came up with these bars, which have a nutty, streusel-like topping and a crisp shortbread crust.

Apple Pie Bars

From Better Homes and Gardens

High-sparkle sanding sugar is a little coarser than granulated sugar. It's available where cake decorating supplies are sold and by mail.

Pastel Cream Wafers

From Better Homes and Gardens

These chocolate cookies get their inspiration from the classic cake. Dipped in white chocolate, they look fantastic on a dessert tray.

Red Velvet Shortbread Cookies

From Vegetarian Times

Rich, buttery shortbread is an ideal holiday cookie option because it keeps well and is sturdy enough to pack into gift baskets or send to faraway friends and family. For party preparation, either premeasure ingredients and combine on-site, or make the dough, press into the pan, and bake when you arrive.

Chocolate Chip Shortbread

From Better Homes and Gardens

The delicate sweetness of pecans gives way to the essence of coffee in these pretty cookies.

Latte Shortbread Sticks

From Better Homes and Gardens

Raspberry-chocolate chips enhance the delicate citrus flavor of these cookies. Dark chocolate chips are an equally delicious substitute.

Orange and Raspberry Chip Shortbread

From Better Homes and Gardens

Delectably light, these cookies have a buttery flavor with an unexpected hint of almond and toffee.

Toffee Almond Shortbread Bites

From Better Homes and Gardens

A basic shortbread recipe requires nothing more than butter, flour, and sugar. This version is dressed up a bit with the addition of maraschino cherries and a dip in melted white chocolate.

White-Chocolate Cherry Shortbread

From Better Homes and Gardens

Roll out and cut shapes to mark any special occasion: spring gatherings, birthdays, Valentine's Day, Christmas, St. Patrick's day, and more. Bright color icings, in easy to manage tubes, make decorating as much fun as eating.

Shortbread Ornaments

From Better Homes and Gardens

These three-layer dessert bars have a cookie crust, creamy filling, and chocolate top.

Twixy Shortbread Bars

From Food & Wine

This is Jacques Torres's recipe for sables, a classic French butter cookie with a sandy, crumbly texture (sable means "sandy") -- though this fabulously dense version is actually more like shortbread.

Sugar-Crusted Chocolate Cookies