Baking · serves 2

Austrian Shortcakes

Butter, sugar, flour, cornflour. Almost nothing else, and they melt.

35 min Easy Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 350g flour
  • 100g cornflour
  • 400g butter, soft
  • 175g icing sugar
  • A few drops rose essence

Method

  1. Sift the flour and cornflour together.
  2. Beat the butter and icing sugar until it goes pale and fluffy. This takes longer than you think and it matters.
  3. Essence, then the flour a little at a time.
  4. Into buttered cupcake tins.
  5. 180°C for 15-20 minutes until golden on top only — they should stay pale underneath.

Questions people ask about Austrian Shortcakes

How long does Austrian Shortcakes take?

About 35 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is straightforward. Most of that is active, so read the method through before you start rather than chopping as you go.

What can I use instead of butter in Austrian Shortcakes?

Use ghee or oil. Ghee has no water in it, so things brown faster and you may need slightly less.

Can I make Austrian Shortcakes ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Austrian Shortcakes vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

Do I need an oven for Austrian Shortcakes?

Yes, this one needs an oven. If you do not have one, look at the no-oven filter on the baking page: eleven of the bakes here are built for a cooker, a pan or the fridge.

What do you serve with Austrian Shortcakes?

On its own, warm, with tea or coffee. Baking is chemistry, so scale it by weight rather than by eye: double every quantity, use a tin with roughly double the area, and expect to add ten minutes or so. Judge it by the skewer, not the clock.

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