Lemon Shortbread Cookies

Explore Scotland – the home of shortbread – with me on my Scottish 'Seafood & Spirits' Tour!
Lemon Shortbread Cookies

These super easy cookies are inspired by melting moments, using rice flour instead of cornflour for more of a shortbread texture. Instead of sandwiching the lemon buttercream between two cookies, I spread it generously on top. You could enjoy these lemon shortbread cookies with a cup of tea or coffee at any time, but I prefer them as an after dinner treat with a good grappa, such as Marolo Grappa di Arneis. Store any leftover cookies (without topping) in an airtight container for up to a week, store the buttercream covered in the fridge and combine them just before serving. See the video below for another easy Scottish-inspired sweet treat.

Makes 21 pieces

Ingredients
  • 125g salted butter, at room temperature (4½oz)
  • 2 tablespoons icing sugar, sifted (26g/1oz)
  • 1 lemon
  • ½ cup plain flour (75g/2⅔oz)
  • ½ cup rice flour (63g/2¼oz)

Lemon Buttercream

  • 50g salted butter (1¾oz)
  • ½ cup icing sugar, sifted (80g/3oz)
  • 1 tablespoon strained lemon juice (20ml)
Method
  1. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
  2. Place butter and icing sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer, finely grate lemon zest over the top and beat together until fluffy.
  3. Sift in combined plain flour and rice flour and mix to combine well.
  4. Turn onto a clean, dry work surface and knead lightly to form a soft dough.
  5. Gently pat and roll into a rectangle about 15 x 20cm (6″ x 8″).
  6. Cut into 21 pieces and place onto a baking paper-lined baking tray with a little space between them.
  7. Bake for 12–15 minutes, until just starting to colour around the edges.
  8. Meanwhile, make Lemon Buttercream: Beat butter, icing sugar and lemon juice together until fluffy; refrigerate until needed.
  9. Remove cookies from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool.
  10. When ready to serve, spread Lemon Buttercream on top of them and enjoy.
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Andrea (Adelaide, SA, Aus)
Andrea (Adelaide, SA, Aus)
My trip to Switzerland was my second adventure with Roberta – my first was Emilia-Romagna and I’ve already booked my next one to Scotland. Roberta takes control of all the things I no longer want to decide. She plans the itinerary to such an amazing extent – the food choices and venues always showcase the region we’re in and never disappoint. The small group works extremely well, with enough downtime to do your own thing but beautifully combined with an itinerary which encompasses all the things you want to see and more.
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Belinda (Balmain, NSW, Aus)
I’ve been on three of Roberta’s food and wine tours so far and each one has been an amazing well-organised experience. From historic Rome and Pompeii to the spectacular Amalfi Coast, remarkable Venice and the charming villages of Switzerland, each tour offers something special. Then there’s the food in fabulous places where you can truly eat like a local. I highly recommend Roberta’s tours to anyone who wants to discover inspired travel through great food, wine and company. I’m already looking forward to the next one!
Neville (St Ives, NSW, Aus)
Neville (St Ives, NSW, Aus)
What made the trip exceptional was the opportunity to meet local winemakers, farmers, chefs and families who welcomed us with genuine warmth and hospitality. Excellent accommodation, outstanding food, superb wines, and every experience felt authentic and personal rather than tourist-focused. Roberta’s local connections and enthusiasm add an extra dimension. She was an outstanding host – her attention to detail, warmth, knowledge and genuine care for every guest made the experience unforgettable. She created a friendly, relaxed atmosphere that brought the whole group together and we returned home with wonderful memories, new friendships and a deep appreciation for Southern Italy and Rome.
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Di (Manly, NSW, Aus)
Absolutely recommend Roberta’s Southern Italy tour! We’ve always been independent travellers so were a little apprehensive – by day 2 we knew we’d made a great decision! Roberta knows people and places far from the tourist trail so we visited wineries where we were always invited for lunch as well as wine-tasting, a family lemon grove high on the Amalfi Coast and a 3rd generation cheesemaker. We stayed in a stunning cave hotel in Matera and a gorgeous family hotel in Scala – and book-ended the tour with the vibrancy of Rome. So many highlights, such a brilliant experience. We will do another tour with Roberta.
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Fiona (Blackheath, NSW, Aus)
Roberta creates wonderful bespoke small group tours with her incredible knowledge of food and wine and adds great accommodation and points of interest. It’s like travelling with your ‘besties’ – including one who’s done all the hard work researching and discovering the best and most interesting places to go, especially to eat and drink. Also factored in is time for you to do your own exploring and discover your own gems. I thoroughly enjoyed Roberta’s trip to the Veneto and Venice.
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Karen (Bowral, NSW, Aus)
Our tour with Roberta through Emilia-Romagna was the highlight of the year. Good company, gorgeous palazzi and great food. What more could one ask for? Roberta's enthusiasm and knowledge made this a once in a lifetime experience through an extraordinary, diverse and very special region.
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