Air-Fried Shortbread: A Quick, Crispy Treat?

Shortbread is a traditional Scottish biscuit that is usually made with one part sugar, two parts butter, and three parts flour. It is renowned for its crumbly texture and rich, buttery flavour. While shortbread is typically baked in an oven, it can also be made in an air fryer. Air-fried shortbread is just as easy to make as its oven-baked counterpart, requiring only a few common ingredients and simple preparation methods. This article will explore the topic of making shortbread in an air fryer, providing an introduction to the process, the necessary ingredients, and the steps involved in creating this delicious treat.

Air fryer shortbread ingredients

Air fryer shortbread is a simple recipe that requires just a few basic ingredients. Here is a list of the essential components and some optional additions to customise your shortbread:

Essential Ingredients:

• Flour: Use plain or all-purpose flour as the base for your shortbread dough. The amount of flour can vary depending on the desired consistency and texture. A higher ratio of flour to other ingredients will result in a drier and crumblier shortbread.
• Butter: This is the key ingredient that gives shortbread its rich, buttery flavour and melt-in-your-mouth texture. Use unsalted or salted butter, depending on your preference. European-style butters like Kerrygold are recommended for their extra butterfat and sweet, creamy flavours. For a vegan alternative, you can swap butter with vegan butter.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar is the most common choice, but you can also use caster sugar or powdered sugar for a melt-in-your-mouth feel. Brown sugar will give your shortbread a subtly richer flavour and make them more tender.

Optional Ingredients and Additions:

• Salt: Adding a small amount of salt, especially when using unsalted butter, can help balance the sweetness of the shortbread.
• Cornstarch: Also known as cornflour, this ingredient is said to enhance the melt-in-your-mouth quality of the shortbread, making it even more delicate.
• Chocolate, Dried Fruit, or Spices: For a personalised twist, you can add chocolate chips, dried fruit (such as currants, cranberries, or blueberries), or spices like cinnamon or ginger to your shortbread dough.
• Zest and Juice: For a unique flavour profile, you can add the zest and juice of an orange or lemon to your dough for a citrusy twist.

Air fryer shortbread recipe

Ingredients:

• 150g butter (room temperature)
• 60g caster sugar (plus extra for sprinkling)
• 240g/1¾ cups plain/all-purpose flour
• 75g/6 Tbsp granulated sugar (plus extra for sprinkling)
• 175g/¾ cup unsalted butter

Optional:

• Salt
• Brown sugar
• White sugar
• Muscovado sugar
• Cornstarch
• Zest of an orange
• Orange juice
• Hot chocolate powder

Utensils:

• 20cm x 20cm baking tin (or a tin that fits your air fryer)
• Mixing bowl
• Wooden spoon or electric mixer
• Air fryer

Method:

• Grease a suitable baking tin or line it with parchment paper.
• Add the butter and sugar to the mixing bowl and cream them together with a wooden spoon or electric mixer until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
• Sift the flour into the bowl and mix it all together. If you're using the optional cornstarch, add it in this step.
• Use your hands to combine the dough until a soft dough has formed.
• Preheat the air fryer to 160°C and transfer the shortbread to the greased tin, spreading it out to reach all corners. Press the shortbread down with the back of a spoon so that the surface is level and flat.
• Use a fork to make some holes across the surface of the shortbread. This will help the heat flow through the shortbread so that it cooks evenly.
• Put the shortbread into the air fryer basket and air fry for 12 minutes. Check on it at 10 minutes to make sure it isn’t burning; it is ready when it just starts to turn golden. The shortbread might feel slightly stodgy and uncooked to the touch, but it will harden as it cools down.
• Carefully remove the shortbread from the air fryer basket, leaving it in the tin to cool down.
• You can gently score through the shortbread to slice it as it cools down. But don’t be tempted to take it out too soon, or the shortbread might crumble!
• Optionally sprinkle with a little extra caster sugar before serving.

Tips:

• If you want to make chocolate orange shortbread, add an extra 28g/1oz/3 tablespoons plain/all-purpose flour, 60g/2oz/½ cup hot chocolate powder, and the finely grated zest of a medium orange, plus 2 tablespoons of the orange juice.
• If you want to make smaller shortbreads, use a cookie cutter to make individual shortbread rounds.
• You can use a potato masher to press the shortbread dough down firmly into the tin.
• If you want to make the shortbread crispier, add leavening agents like baking soda or baking powder.
• If you want to make the shortbread crumbly, introduce white rice flour or cornstarch.

Air fryer shortbread cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for making shortbread in an air fryer will depend on the quantity of ingredients used and the size of your air fryer. Most recipes suggest cooking shortbread in the air fryer for around 12 minutes at 160°C, but some recipes recommend cooking for up to 35 minutes at varying temperatures.

One recipe recommends preheating the air fryer to 166°C and air frying the shortbread for 9 minutes. Another suggests cooking for 20 minutes at 150°C/300°F, and then a further 15 minutes at 180°C/360°F.

It is important to keep an eye on your shortbread while it is cooking in the air fryer, as the timing and temperature may need to be adjusted depending on the thickness of the shortbread. For example, one recipe recommends checking on the shortbread after 10 minutes to ensure it is not burning, and removing it from the air fryer when it is light golden in colour.

The size of your air fryer will also determine the size of the baking tin you can use, which will impact the cooking time. For example, a larger air fryer may fit a 20cm x 20cm baking tin, while a smaller air fryer may only fit a tin that is 20cm/8 inches in diameter.

Air fryer shortbread preparation

Air fryer shortbread is a quick and easy recipe that can be made with just a few simple ingredients: flour, butter, and sugar. Here is a step-by-step guide to preparing delicious shortbread using your air fryer.

Ingredients:

• Butter: Use room-temperature butter for the best results. You can use either salted or unsalted butter, depending on your preference. If you choose unsalted butter, you may want to add a small amount of salt to the recipe.
• Sugar: Caster sugar or granulated sugar can be used, with a little extra for sprinkling on top before serving. For a richer flavour and more tender shortbread, you can use brown sugar.
• Flour: All-purpose flour is perfect for this recipe. You can also add cornstarch or cornflour to make the shortbread even more melt-in-your-mouth.

Equipment:

• Air fryer: Ensure your air fryer is large enough to accommodate a baking tin or silicone pan that fits your shortbread dough.
• Baking tin or silicone pan: Choose a tin or pan that fits comfortably inside your air fryer. A round 20cm/8-inch pan is a good size, but you may need to adjust depending on your air fryer model.

Method:

• Grease your baking tin or line it with parchment paper to prepare it for the dough.
• In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar using a wooden spoon or an electric mixer until they are well combined and have a light and fluffy texture.
• Sift the flour into the mixing bowl and combine it with the butter-sugar mixture. You can also add any additional ingredients, such as a small amount of salt, at this stage.
• Use your hands to bring the dough together until it forms a soft, cohesive ball. Be careful not to overwork the dough, as this can affect the texture of your shortbread.
• Preheat your air fryer to 160°C or the equivalent temperature setting.
• Transfer the dough to your prepared baking tin, spreading it out evenly and pressing it down with the back of a spoon to create a level surface.
• Use a fork to prick holes across the surface of the dough. This step helps the heat circulate evenly during cooking, ensuring your shortbread bakes uniformly.
• Place the baking tin with the dough into the air fryer basket. Set the temperature and time according to your recipe; cooking times may vary, but generally, it should take around 12-20 minutes for the shortbread to bake.
• Check on your shortbread periodically to ensure it doesn't over-brown. It is ready when it is lightly golden. The shortbread may feel slightly soft to the touch, but it will harden as it cools.
• Carefully remove the baking tin from the air fryer and allow the shortbread to cool down in the tin.
• Once cooled, gently slice the shortbread into portions. You can sprinkle a little extra caster sugar on top before serving.

Your air fryer shortbread is now ready to be enjoyed! This simple recipe is a great way to make a delicious treat with minimal effort and maximum flavour.

Air fryer shortbread cooling and serving

Once your shortbread is lightly golden and cooked, carefully remove the tin from the air fryer basket and leave the shortbread to cool down inside the tin. It will continue to harden as it cools, so don't be tempted to put it back in the air fryer if it feels stodgy or uncooked.

You can score the shortbread into slices as it cools, but don't try to remove it from the tin too soon, or it may crumble.

Once the shortbread has cooled, you can remove it from the tin and sprinkle with a little extra caster or granulated sugar, if desired. Then, it's ready to serve!

If you want to make your shortbread ahead of time, it can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks. Alternatively, you can freeze it for up to a month.

Frequently asked questions