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Home » Blog » Recipes

Chocolate Shortbread Sugar Cookies

Tyler April Townley — Leave a Comment

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Chocolate shortbread sugar cookies on a cookie sheet, next to chocolate bars, chocolate chips, and cocoa powder

These are rich, buttery, and deeply chocolate flavored cookies, without being too sweet. Perfect for every chocolate lover!

Stacked chocolate chip shortbread sugar cookies tied with a black and white ribbon

If you want the best cocoa powder, I only use Valrhona cocoa powder in all of my pastries and baked goods. Valrhona is a French company that has been producing chocolate for 100 years, and while it’s a bit more pricey than the store bought stuff, you’ll really see and taste the difference. I did a side-by-side comparison of different cocoa powders for you, and you can see how Valrhona is a deep, rich, auburn brown, compared to even the store bought “dark chocolate” cocoa powder.

Three spoons with three different brands of cocoa powder.
From left to right: cocoa powder from that Pennsylvanian chocolate company, cocoa powder from that San Francisco chocolate company (dark chocolate), and Valrhona cocoa powder.

If you would like more info on my preferred ingredient brands, tips and tricks, FAQs, and a little cookie science, I cover all of that in my No-Spread Lemon Shortbread Sugar Cookie Recipe.

Overhead view of ingresidents for chocolate shortbread sugar cookies.
Vanilla extract, butter, egg, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, powdered sugar, cornstarch, and all-purpose flour.

Are these technically shortbread or sugar cookies?

They’re kind of both. It’s fine to call these either “decorated sugar cookies” or “decorated shortbread cookies.” But I’m going to refer to any of my cookie recipes that can used as a base for cookie decorating as “shortbread sugar cookies.”

Shortbread Cookies

  • 2 parts flour to 1 part fat
  • No eggs
  • No leavening agent
  • Dense and crispy

Sugar Cookies

  • 3 parts flour to 2 parts fat
  • Contains eggs
  • Contains a leavening agent
  • Light and Chewy

All of my shortbread sugar cookie recipes don’t rise or spread, can be used for cookie decorating, have egg, but no leavening agent, and have a 2 ¼ parts flour to 1 part fat. Which makes them fall somewhere between a shortbread and a sugar cookie. They’re both shortbread and sugar cookies, and neither shortbread or sugar cookies, at the same time. They’re Shrodinger’s cookies!

All of my shortbread sugar cookie recipes can be used for slice-and-bake cookies as well!

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A chocolate shortbread sugar cookie decorated to look like a bar of chocolate.

Chocolate Shortbread Sugar Cookies

No-spread chocolate cookies that can be used for cut-out decorated cookies, or slice-and-bake cookies.
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chocolate decorated cookies, chocolate shortbread, cookies, cut out cookies, decorated cookies, roll and cut cookies, shortbread, slice-and-bake, sugar cookies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Resting Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 15 cookies
Calories: 216kcal

Equipment

  • measuring spoons and cups
  • mixing bowls
  • whisk
  • spatula
  • cling wrap
  • stand mixer with paddle attachment
  • cookie cutters
  • silicone baking mats
  • cookie sheets
  • rolling pin
  • large knife

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric
  • 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup good cocoa powder Valrhona if available
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

  • Whisk dry ingredients (flour, cornstarch, and cocoa powder) together and set aside.
  • Cream butter and sugars with paddle attachment, on medium-low speed, until fluffy and pale in color (about 5 minutes).
  • Add egg and vanilla extract and mix on low speed until thoroughly combined. Scrape down the paddle with a spatula, and then continue to mix on low speed for another 30 seconds to ensure everything is fully incorporated.
  • Add dry ingredients, all at once, and mix on low speed just until dough starts to come together and no dry bits remain. Do not overmix.
  • Turn dough out onto cling wrap, tightly wrap, and refrigerate overnight (or for at least 4 hours).
  • Knead, roll, cut out cookies, and return to fridge or freezer until firm. Leave a couple inches between cookies.
  • Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes, rotate pan, and bake for another 1-5 minutes until edges are starting to darken in color.*
  • Remove cookies from oven and allow to cool on cookie sheet before handling.

Notes

  • Chocolate cookies are a little harder to tell when the edges are darkening, so you can quickly and gently press on the center of a cookie, and if they feel firm, they’re done. If you leave a dent, or they feel squishy, let them bake for a little longer.
  • The reason for adding 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch to your dough is to prevent your cookies from shrinking or spreading during baking.
  • If making slice-and-bake cookies, split dough in half, roll into logs, wrap tightly in cling wrap or parchment paper, and refrigerate before slicing and baking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 70mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 396IU | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to hear how it went! Rate & comment below!

Categories: Cookies, Recipes, Shortbread Sugar Cookies

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Tyler April Townley

Hi, I’m Tyler!

A professional pastry chef turned teacher of all things cookie decorating & more. I’ve made thousands of decorated cookies, cakes, & treats for happy clients over the years. Now I’m sharing my knowledge so you too can bake & decorate like a pro.

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Tyler April Townley

Hi, I’m Tyler!

A professional pastry chef turned teacher of all things cookie decorating & more. I’ve made thousands of decorated cookies, cakes, & treats for happy clients over the years. Now I’m sharing my knowledge so you too can bake & decorate like a pro.

Instagram Pinterest Facebook Twitter YouTube
About · Blog · Shop · Subscribe

Subscribe for Updates

Never miss a recipe or new online!

You can also follow on Instagram & Facebook!

Learn to Decorate Today!

  • Online Cookie Decorating Masterclass
    Online Cookie Decorating Masterclass
  • Products included in my Cookie Decorating Starter Kit
    Cookie Decorating Supply Starter Kit

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