Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies

Chocolate Chip Shortbread CookiesThe classic buttery cookie meets sweet chocolate morsels. The best part? They’re easy to make and require no chilling dough!

We’re no stranger to shortbread cookies here. If chocolate shortbread has you weak at the knees, you’ll love this Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Shortbread too.

Chocolate chip shortbread cookies stacked on top of each other.


Why this Recipe is Best

  • Only SIX ingredients
  • Ready in half an hour
  • Perfect buttery texture
  • Mini chocolate chips that melt in your mouth
  • No chilling the dough!

That’s right. Unlike most shortbread recipes that call for the dough to chill in the fridge, you get to totally skip that step here.

When you just can’t wait to indulge in an easy cookie recipe, this Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookie recipe is just what you need.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients needed for chocolate chip shortbread cookies.

Here’s all you need to make shortbread cookies with chocolate.

Butter. Butter is the heart and soul of any shortbread. Use a good quality unsalted butter here if you can.

Powdered Sugar. This is also known as confectioner’s sugar.

Vanilla extract. You’ll love the flavor of homemade vanilla extract in these cookies. Store bought works too!

Almond extract. Use real almond and not imitation flavor for best results.

All purpose flour.

Mini chocolate chips. I use semi-sweet. Dark, milk or white chocolate would be tasty additions too!

Easy Instructions

Step by step photos showing how to make chocolate chip shortbread cookies.

STEP 1. Preparation

Line a baking sheet with parchment and preheat your oven.

STEP 2. Make the dough

Beat the butter and powdered sugar with the extracts. Mix in the flour and fold in the chocolate chips.

STEP 3. Shape and bake

Press the dough into a large rectangle on the baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Immediately use a pizza cutter to slice the still-warm dough into strips.

Let cool and enjoy!

Tips and Tricks

  • Use softened butter. Cold butter is more difficult to work into the dough and disrupts the consistency of chocolate chip shortbread cookies. For today’s recipe, salted butter would be equally delicious.
  • Crunchy vs. soft cookie. As written, this recipe makes cookies with a slightly soft center. If you want a crunchier shortbread cookie, leave them in the oven a bit longer. Keep a close eye on them if you choose to do this; they burn quickly.
  • Let cool completely. Before storing chocolate chip shortbread cookies, they need to be room temperature. Otherwise, the steam from the warm shortbread will soften the cookies.
  • Add walnuts. For a delicious twist, make our Chocolate Chip Walnut Shortbread cookies! You’ll love the sweet and salty combo.
Rectangle shortbread cookies with chocolate chips on a baking sheet.

Recipe FAQs

How do you store homemade shortbread cookies?

Store cooled shortbread cookies in an airtight ziploc bag or container with a lid. They will keep for up to 5 days. Baked shortbread cookies also freeze wonderfully. Store in freezer bags and enjoy within 3 months.

Can you freeze chocolate chip shortbread dough?

Yes, if preferred you can make the dough ahead of time and freeze it prior to baking. Shape it into a log, wrap it in plastic wrap and foil (or a freezer bag) and freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to bake, slice frozen dough into circles and bake for 8-10 minutes, adding more time if needed.

Will regular chocolate chips work in this recipe?

You can use regular sized chocolate morsels but I find they are a bit heavy for the dough and are more likely to “fall out” of the cookies. Mini chocolate chips work best if you can get them!

I forgot to soften my butter on the counter! How can I soften butter fast?

If your forgot to plan ahead and your butter is ice cold, don’t fret! Just pop it in the microwave for a few seconds at half power.

Shortbread cookie bars on parchment paper cut into rectangles.

Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies Recipe

4.72 from 14 votes
By: Aimee
Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies – The classic buttery cookie meets sweet chocolate morsels. The best part? They're easy to make and require no chilling dough!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 30 cookies

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
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Instructions 

  • Line a 15×10-inch baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degree.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with powdered sugar, vanilla and almond extract until creamy. Add in flour and beat until combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
  • Drop dough into center of baking sheet, and using the heels of your hand, press dough into a large rectangle. You want the dough to be the same thickness throughout, so keep pressing until you have a rectangle about 12×10-inches and about ¼-inch thick.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes, until edges begin to lightly brown. Remove from oven and immediately cut into strips using a pizza cutter. Cool completely and store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. ENJOY.

Notes

  • Use soft butter. Cold butter will be hard to work into the dough and the cookie texture will be off. Did you forget to put your butter out at room temperature in advance? You can soften it with a few seconds in the microwave at 50% power!
  • This recipe makes cookies that are soft in the center. That means you’re going to take them out of the oven before they’re browned. If you want a crunchier cookie, feel free to leave the cookies in the oven for another minute or two. Just keep a close eye on them! They can burn quickly.
  • Let them cool completely. Before you store the cookies in a container or ziploc bag, be sure they’ve cooled completely. Put them in while they’re still warm and the steam will soften the cookies quite a bit.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar, Calories: 131kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 16mg, Sodium: 2mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 7g
Course: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

What’s better than a perfect shortbread cookie recipe? A no-chill shortbread cookie recipe with chocolate chips!



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About Aimee

Aimee is a dessert lover (specifically rice krispie treats), workout enthusiast, self-taught foodie, and recipe creator.

Learn more about Aimee.

Affiliate Disclosure:**There may be affiliate links in this post! By clicking on them, or purchasing recommended items I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I love! Thank you for supporting Shugary Sweets! See my disclosure policy for more info**

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Posted on May 17, 2021

Comments & Reviews

  1. I think I may be new to your site. Recipes look easy👍 and delicious. If I’m not on your mailing list, please add my email address. Thank you. Shipahoybg@gmail.com

  2. Is the Almond Extract a MUST? I went shopping for ingredients TWICE and still failed to notice we didn’t have any Almond Extract 🤦🏾, I was making these for Mother’s Day.

  3. That looks like a delicious recipe.
    What are the measurements of the baking plan….including the depth.
    Different countries sell different sizes….knowing all the numbers makes a recipe successful because I can get the correct size pan.
    Thank you for sharing.

    1. You just need a flat baking sheet. The size doesn’t matter, as long as it’s larger than 12×10-inches. You’ll press your dough into that size rectangle.

  4. 5 stars
    I have such a weakness for shortbread and adding chocolate chips only made it tastier! Thank you for a reliable recipe!

  5. Yummy! This is the perfect mash-up of my favorite chocolate chip cookie – but with the richness of shortbread. Perfectly sweet… that is to say… not too sweet at all. I can’t believe how delicious these cookies are and will definitely make them again!

  6. Yummy! This is the perfect mash-up of my favorite chocolate chip cookie – but with the richness of shortbread. Perfectly sweet… that is to say… not too sweet at all. I can’t believe how delicious these cookies are and will definitely make them again.

  7. Do you have to line pan with parchment?
    Did that for another cookie recipe and they weren’t done inside even after extra baking time.
    What did I do wrong?

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