Lactose-Free Shortbread Cookies

Shortbread is a minimalist. Containing only three ingredients: butter, flour and sugar, simple is what shortbread is all about. In fact, Simple would be Shortbread’s middle name, if it wasn’t mononymous already. That’s how minimalist shortbread is.

I made these the other day for a friend who avoids butter. Instead, I used Earth Balance, and they came out great. The final product had a nice buttery flavor and a rich texture.

Dairy-Free Shortbread Cookies – makes about 18 cookies

1 1/4 C All purpose flour
1/2 C Earth Balance
1/3 + 1/4C granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour and and the first 1/3 C of sugar in a medium bowl. Cut Earth Balance into the flour mixture until blended. Using a rounded tablespoon, scoop dough onto cookie sheet.

Using the underside of a rounded teaspoon, make little indentations (this helps hold the sugar in the next step).

Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 C of granulated sugar.

Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.