FAQs
Our answer
What happens if shortbread dough is too wet? ›
When cookie dough is too wet, your cookies may come out too thin and crispy, too dense, or just plain bad. However, this problem is easily fixed if you know how. To fix a cookie dough that's too wet, add in some more flour one tablespoon at a time.
Why is my shortbread squishy? ›
If it's still soft, doughy or malleable/pliable, it's undercooked. If it starts turning brown, it's overcooked and will be hard to eat. If it's brown or dark brown, bin it and start over.
Can I rebake undercooked shortbread? ›
Problem eight: Once cooled, if I know my biscuits are underbaked can I put them back in the oven? Jo's solution: You can. Also, if you don't eat shortbread within a few days and they go soft, you can refresh them in the oven, too.
How to crisp up shortbread? ›
Return to the 350F oven, BUT IMMEDIATELY TURN THE OVEN OFF! Let sit on the baking sheet in the still-warm oven for 30-45 minutes. (30 minutes for a lightly crisp, light coloured cookie or up to 45 minutes for a crispier, lightly golden cookie). Remove from oven and transfer cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Why does my shortbread have a soggy bottom? ›
Soggy bottoms
This normally happens when the oven is not hot enough or the pastry is not baked for long enough. However, it can also be because too much water was added to the dough.
What are common mistakes when making shortbread? ›
The most common mistakes when making shortbread are over-working the dough, and incorporating too much flour. The less you work the dough, the more crumbly and melt-in-your-mouth your shortbread cookies will be.
How do you know if shortbread is undercooked? ›
Undercooked shortbread will be doughy and chewy. Slightly overcooked and it will become chalky, brittle and hard. Is shortbread supposed to be soft when it comes out of the oven? Yes, upon cooling it will firm up.
How to stop shortbread from going soft? ›
After shaping the cookies, don't rush to the oven! Instead, chill the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or so (overnight is OK, too). A short stay in the fridge will firm up the cookies and solidify the butter. This will help keep them from spreading too much.
How to fix soggy biscuits? ›
If you want to make soft biscuits crispy again, you can try reheating them in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C). Place the biscuits on a baking sheet and bake for 5–7 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.
But in a quick fix that saves both fear and butter, Garten suggests simply adding more water if the batter is more crumble than dough. "If the shortbread dough feels dry, I add a teaspoon or two of water until it's easier to work with," Garten explained.
How to fix soggy cookies? ›
Some people toss a piece of bread in with the cookies to help absorb any excess moisture. You could also re-crisp them by baking on a wire rack in a 300 degree F oven for a few minutes.
Why is my shortbread gooey? ›
There are a variety of reasons why the shortbread could be damp underneath but it is most likely that either the dough is being pressed out too thickly, the pan is not metal so heats up too slowly, or the oven temperature is too high causing the top to brown before the bottom has cooked sufficiently.
What if my shortbread dough is too wet? ›
If your dough is too wet, however, you can try adding more flour, a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches the desired consistency.
How do you keep shortbread crispy? ›
To keep crispy cookies crisp, you need to keep them away from moisture. Always store different types of cookies separately—soft cookies can cause crispy cookies to soften due to their extra moisture. Place crispy cookies in an airtight container, but don't completely seal it.
What to do if my shortbread dough is too sticky? ›
If your dough is too sticky and it's impossible to work with you can add some extra flour, just a little at a time. Make sure you weigh the extra flour you add and then you'll be able to adjust the recipe correctly the next time you bake.
What are the most common mistakes when making shortbread? ›
The most common mistakes when making shortbread are over-working the dough, and incorporating too much flour. The less you work the dough, the more crumbly and melt-in-your-mouth your shortbread cookies will be.
What if biscuit dough is too wet? ›
If you add too much liquid, it will not ruin the biscuits, but the dough will be very sticky and more difficult to work with. If you find your dough is too sticky, you may add a bit more all-purpose flour OR you can make them more like drop biscuits (dropping balls of dough on a pan instead of rolling out the dough.
