Buttery Saffron Shortbread Cookies

Serves 24 cookies
Prep Time

12 mins

Total Time

24 mins

Bake
Difficulty Beginner
Recipe by Anna Ramiz Pastry Chef

Anna is a pastry chef and writer bringing her kitchen stories to life through seasonal, memory-rich recipes.

Buttery Saffron Shortbread Cookies

About This Dish

Saffron Shortbread Cookies with Living Roots Pampore Kashmir Saffron
Buttery, fragrant, and golden, these shortbread cookies are elevated with Living Roots Pampore Kashmir Saffron. Sourced from India’s saffron capital, this high-curcumin saffron brings a floral aroma and rich hue to every bite. Finished with orange zest and turbinado sugar, they’re perfect for tea time.

Ingredients

235 g (1 cup + 2 tbsp) unsalted butter, cold and cubed

50 g (¼ cup) granulated sugar

100 g (½ cup) brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp Living Roots Pampore Kashmir Saffron

½ tsp orange zest

285 g (2 cups) all purpose flour

1 tsp kosher salt

1 beaten egg

½ cup turbinado sugar for rolling

 

This recipe features

Instructions

 

  1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, saffron and orange zest.
  2. Cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy and everything is well-combined, 3-4 minutes. 
  3. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the flour and salt. Continue mixing for another 2-3 minutes, until all dough begins to come together.
  4. Divide the dough into portions. Shape dough into logs, approximately 6 inches long. Chill the shortbread dough until firm, about an hour, or up to 2 days.
  5. When you are ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350° F and line two sheet pans with parchment paper.
  6. Brush the sides of the log with the beaten egg and then roll the dough in the turbinado sugar, pressing it a bit into the sides if needed to help it stick.
  7. Use a sharp knife to slice each dough log into 12 cookies, approximately ½” thick.
  8. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets leaving 1-2” space between them and bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are golden brown.
  9. Let the cookies cool on the pan before serving.