5 Fun Shortbread Cookie Designs

If you're a cookie monster like us, you're all too aware that sometimes you have to switch things up a bit. So we're going to show you some super fun designs for your next cookie adventure. These are shortbread cookies, and the difference between the dark dough made with cocoa powder and the light dough is what makes these cookies really pop. Om nom nom nom!

Cookie Recipes:

For the chocolate shortbread cookie dough:

• 2½ cups flour
• 1¾ sticks cold butter, cubed
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon

For the shortbread cookie dough:

• 2½ cups flour
• 1¾ sticks cold butter, cubed
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Here's How:

Cream the cold butter and sugar and then add the flour and eggs (and the cocoa powder for the chocolate cookie dough). Add the cinnamon to the chocolate cookie dough and the vanilla extract to the light cookie dough. Knead both portions of dough until well incorporated, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

1. Flower Cookies

Form a small ball from the light cookie dough and 6 small balls from the chocolate cookie dough. Place the light ball in the middle and surround it with the darker ones. The baked cookie is going to look like a pretty flower.

2. Braided Cookies

2.1 You'll need 5 strips that are all equal in width and length from the light cookie dough and 3 equally-sized, slightly shorter strips from the chocolate cookie dough.

2.2 Place the 5 light strips next to each other and fold the second and fourth strip upward. Now place a dark strip crosswise underneath and fold the lighter strips back down.

2.3 Then lift the first, third, and fifth light strips up and place a dark strip underneath. Fold the light strips down again. Repeat the process from the first fold for the third fold.

2.4 You should have a braided square that looks like a chessboard now. Cut a circle out of the dough with a glass or a cookie cutter.

3. Spiral Cookies

Place a rectangular piece of chocolate cookie dough on a rectangular piece of light dough. Roll them up and then cut the roll into slices.

4. Chessboard Cookies

4.1 Form the light and dark dough into two equally thick and long cuboids.

4.2 Cut them both in half.

4.3 Now place a dark half on top of a light half and a light one on top of a dark one. Cut the board into slices.

5. Blooming Cookies

5.1 Cut 3 circles out of both the light and dark cookie dough. The circles should all be equal in size.

5.2 Place the dark circles on top of the light ones.

5.3 Use a pizza cutter to cut the circles in half lengthwise.

5.4 Now form a petal out of the semi-circles, alternating between dough colors (with the light dough facing outward, then the dark dough facing outward, and so on). Then place a small, dark dough ball into the middle.

To Finish:

Now put the cookies into the oven at 350°F for 10-14 minutes depending on the thickness of the cookies. 

Get the instructions for the 13 Cookie Decorating Tricks featured in the bonus video.