The dough comes together quickly by hand, by pastry cutter, or in a food processor, then rolled into a log, wrapped, and chilled for an hour so it slices cleanly into rounds about a third of an inch thick. Fresh thyme, rosemary, or sage can go into the dough or be scattered on top before baking; either way the herb adds a fragrance that the three base ingredients alone cannot provide. Twelve minutes in the oven is all they need.
The yield is about twenty cookies, also known as cheese coins, which disappear faster than any tin should reasonably allow. They work as a snack, alongside soup, or as something to put on the table before dinner that makes people ask what they are eating. The answer, when you tell them it is three ingredients, is always met with disbelief.
Key Ingredients in This Recipe
You’ll find the complete list of ingredients and exact quantities in the recipe below.
- Salted butter
- Pecorino Romano cheese
- All-purpose flour
- Fresh thyme – or rosemary or sage
How to Make Cheese Shortbread Cookies
Step 1 – Mix the ingredients, by using a food processor, a pastry cutter or just your hands. Don’t over-mix, but do make sure that it is well-mixed. If you want a fresh herb in your cookie, this is the time to add the herb, finely chopped.
Step 2 – Roll the dough into a log, wrap in plastic wrap and place the log in the fridge.
It does not have to be beautiful, nothing fancy, just roll it up, nobody will see this. Once the dough is cool (in about an hour) it will be easier to cut; the thickness of that log will be the diameter of your cookie. My log is about 1.25 inches in thickness. Cut the log into cookies of approx. 1/3 inch thick. This comes out in approx. 20 cookies.
Step 3 – Place the raw cookies on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper or with a nonstick silicone baking mat. If you didn’t add the herbs into the dough, you can still sprinkle them onto the cookies for just some extra flavor.
Step 4 – Place the baking sheet in a preheated oven of 350°F for about 12 minutes.
During these 12 minutes your kitchen will be filled with a lovely aroma and after another 30 minutes, you can start enjoying these Cheese Shortbread Cookies.
Try the recipe and let me know what you think.
Cheese Shortbread Cookies
Pin Recipe FacebookIngredients
- 80 grams salted butter
- 80 grams Pecorino Romano Cheese, finely grated
- 80 grams all-purpose flour
- 0.5 tablespoons rosemary, thyme, sage, optional
Instructions
Dough
- Place butter, flour and cheese in a bowl and mix. Use a food processor, a pastry cutter or your hands. (NOTE 1 and 2)
- Mix well, but don't over mix. If you want to add some herbs as part of the cookies dough. This is the time to add finely chopped herbs.
- Roll the dough into a log of approx. 1.2 inches. Make 1 or 2 logs, whatever is easier to work with. Wrap each log in plastic wrap and place the logs in the fridge for about 1 hour.
Cookies
- Heat your over to 350°F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat.
- Cut the logs in 'coins' of about 1/3 inch thickness and place them on your baking sheet. (NOTE 3)
- Slide the baking sheet in the over and bake the cookies for approx. 12 minutes or until they have a light golden color. (NOTE 4)
- Cool cookies for a few minutes on the baking sheet and then transfer to a wire rack for further cooling.
Notes
- If you’re using unsalted butter, please add 1 teaspoon of salt
- Instead of Pecorino Romano, you can use Parmigiano Reggiano. Make sure you use a high quality cheese, it makes all the difference in the flavor of your cookies.
- If you didn’t mix finely chopped herbs into the dough, you have a second option to sprinkle herbs on top of the cookies, before they go into the oven.
- Bake a little longer, an additional 5 minutes for slightly crunchier flavor and darker color. Please don’t burn them.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Question… can you use this dough as a mini tart shell?
Hello CP; thank you for asking. It’s actually a nice idea to use the dough for making tart shells. I have not tried that, but I cannot think of a reason why it wouldn’t work. The cookies are a little crumbly, so if you have a silicone mold or a non-stick one that may be helpful.