Individual Shortbread Cookies with Vanilla and Sea Salt

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Buttery shortbread cookies infused with pure vanilla extract and topped with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for a perfect balance of sweet and savory. This American recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, layers unsalted butter, powdered sugar, and all-purpose flour into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 110 calories and feeds 24, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Add this recipe to your weekly plan" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 20 min Serves 24 American cuisine 110 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 325°F. In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup softened unsalted butter and 3/4 cup powdered sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  2. Step 2: Add 1 tsp vanilla extract and mix until combined.
  3. Step 3: Gradually add 2 cups all-purpose flour, mixing on low speed until dough forms and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
  4. Step 4: Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Gently flatten each ball with the palm of your hand.
  5. Step 5: Sprinkle 1/2 tsp flaky sea salt evenly over the tops of the cookies.
  6. Step 6: Bake for 18-20 minutes until edges just begin to turn golden. Remove from oven and cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

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