Nothing beats homemade Gluten Free Shortbread Biscuits. These rich, buttery gluten free shortbread cookies use just four ingredients and produce melt-in-your-mouth biscuits that even beginners can make with ease.
Note On This Gluten Free Shortbread Recipe
- A classic British biscuit: This gluten free shortbread is simple to make and tastes like the real thing. The dough comes together quickly and bakes in about 15 minutes.
- Top tip: For an extra touch, half-dip the cooled biscuits in melted chocolate. They’re perfect for festive gift tins or as a special treat.
- Other recipes to try: If you enjoy these, you might like gluten free chocolate chip shortbread or gluten free millionaire’s shortbread. These biscuits also work well in chocolate tiffin or rocky road recipes.
- Updated: The recipe has been refreshed with step-by-step photos and a troubleshooting & FAQs section to help you get the best results.
Table of Contents
- Note On This Gluten Free Shortbread Recipe
- Don’t just take my word for it…
- Ingredients and Substitutions
- How to Make Gluten Free Shortbread
- Storing and Freezing Instructions
- Recipe Troubleshooting
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Gluten Free Shortbread Biscuits Recipe
- More Gluten Free Biscuit Recipes
- More Gluten Free Cookie Recipes
Don’t just take my word for it…
Jane left ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and said: “These were very easy and very yummy.”
Linda wrote: “I love the shortbread recipe and so does all family and friends. I have to make quite a few when I bake them.”
Dawn left ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and commented: “This is the recipe I now use for my cheesecake base. It’s delicious and so simple.”
Ingredients and Substitutions
Below is the printable recipe card with full quantities. Here are the main ingredients and sensible swaps to consider:
- Caster sugar: In the US, baker’s sugar is the closest equivalent.
- Butter: Unsalted butter is used here. For a dairy-free or vegan version, a firm vegan baking block or hard margarine should work; results can vary slightly.
- Plain gluten free flour: Use a good-quality plain gluten free blend (or an all-purpose gluten free flour in the US). If your blend does not contain xanthan gum, add a small amount to help the dough bind.
- Xanthan gum: This improves dough texture and helps prevent excessive crumbling. If your flour mix already contains xanthan gum, omit the additional amount. Leaving it out may make the shortbread more fragile.
How to Make Gluten Free Shortbread
The printable recipe card below contains the full method. These photos give a quick visual guide to each simple step.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
To store: Cool completely, then keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
To freeze: You can freeze either the uncooked, cut shapes or the baked biscuits. Freeze in a single layer on a tray, then transfer to a sealed container or bag.
Recipe Troubleshooting
This shortbread is forgiving, but if you have issues, these tips should help. Leave a comment if you need more guidance.
Why did my gluten free shortbread spread in the oven?
Chilling the cut biscuits before baking is essential. If the dough isn’t cold enough, the biscuits will spread. You can chill them for 30 minutes or even overnight.
Why is my gluten free shortbread really crumbly?
Omitting xanthan gum, using a different flour blend, or over-baking can make the shortbread crumbly. Use the recommended flour blend and xanthan gum for best texture.
Why did my gluten free shortbread burn?
Shortbread should be a pale, light-golden bake. Baking too long or at too high a temperature will darken and dry them out. If your oven temperature is uncertain, an oven thermometer can help ensure accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to common questions. If yours isn’t covered, leave a comment and I’ll respond.
Yes. Replace the butter with a firm dairy-free baking block or hard vegan margarine. The recipe contains no egg, so this simple swap makes it vegan and dairy-free.
The dough handles better with xanthan gum, which improves texture and reduces crumbliness. If your flour blend already contains a binder, you may not need extra, but I don’t recommend omitting it if possible.
Gluten Free Shortbread Biscuits Recipe
Equipment
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5 cm round cookie cutter
Ingredients
- 50 g caster sugar
- 100 g unsalted butter, softened
- 175 g plain gluten free flour
- 0.25 tsp xanthan gum
Instructions
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Line a large baking tray with baking paper. Add the sugar and softened butter to a bowl and beat until combined.
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Mix the gluten free flour and xanthan gum, then add to the butter and sugar. Stir until the mixture begins to clump, then use your hands to form a ball of dough.
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Roll the dough to about 1 cm thick between baking paper and cut out rounds with a 5 cm cutter. Place shapes on the lined tray with a couple of centimetres between them.
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Re-roll scraps and cut until you have used all the dough; this usually yields around 16 cookies.
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Chill the baking sheet in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This is essential to prevent spreading in the oven.
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Heat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) / Gas Mark 4. Bake the trays straight from the fridge for 15 minutes until just turning lightly golden. They should remain fairly pale.
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Remove from the oven and cool on the tray for 15–20 minutes before transferring to a rack to finish cooling; this helps them firm up without breaking.
Notes
- Chocolate dipped: Once cooled, dip half the biscuit in melted chocolate and leave to set on a rack.
- Storage: Store cooled shortbread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week or freeze for longer storage.
- Weighing: Using scales gives the most reliable results for gluten free baking; small differences in weight can affect texture.
- Photos: Refer to the step-by-step images above if you prefer a visual guide.
Nutrition
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More Gluten Free Biscuit Recipes
If you like this shortbread, try these other gluten free biscuit recipes as well:
- Gluten Free Viennese Whirls
- Gluten Free Rock Cakes
- Almond Flour Chocolate Cookies
- Gingerbread and White Chocolate Cookies
- Gluten Free Biscotti
More Gluten Free Cookie Recipes
Gluten Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Gluten Free Oat and Raisin Cookies
Gluten Free Viennese Whirls
Giant Double Chocolate Cookies
Gluten Free Amaretti Biscuits
Get my cookbook!
For more gluten free meal ideas, the cookbook Delicious Gluten Free Meals contains over 100 recipes for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, sides and desserts.