By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026
Serves 12
231 cal · 55 min
Polka Dot Shortbread
Recipe GLPRdb012990c092e8
Buttery shortbread cookies studded with colorful jam, creating a classic British treat. These delicate, crumbly cookies feature jewel-like dots of jam throughout, perfect for tea time or gift-giving.
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Ingredients
16 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
7½ ounces granulated sugar
¾ teaspoon salt
10 ounces all-purpose flour
¼ cup jam of choice
Directions
Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Stir in the salt until combined.
Gently fold in the flour until the dough just comes together; do not overmix.
Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface and roll or press to about 1/4-inch thickness.
Using a small spoon or piping bag, create small dots or swirls of jam across the dough surface, spacing them evenly.
Cut the dough into individual cookies using a small biscuit cutter or knife into desired shapes.
Place cookies on an ungreased or parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between each.
Bake for 12-15 minutes until the edges are just set and the cookies are pale golden; the jam should remain slightly soft.
Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Store in an airtight container for up to one week.
Comments
This is an honest shortbread with a bare ingredient list that every Charlotte grocer stocks year-round at stable prices, making the cost per serving roughly $0.80 based on bulk butter and sugar. The stated 55 minutes is accurate for rolling, cutting, and baking; there's no hidden prep. It's a low-fuss recipe that doesn't demand attention once in the oven and reheats well or stays fresh in an airtight container for days. The main drawback is that the final result hinges entirely on jam quality—drugstore preserves will taste like corn syrup and food coloring, so you'd want to spend a bit more for something better, which adds to the per-serving cost.
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