Shortbread is a traditional Scottish biscuit made with a high ratio of butter to flour and sugar, giving it a distinctive rich, crumbly texture. It is high in saturated fat from butter (~20–25g/100g) and free sugars, and provides modest amounts of calcium and iron. Energy content is around 480–500 kcal/100g, making it one of the most calorie-dense biscuits. It contains no eggs and is leavened only by the butter fat.
A classic shortbread ratio is 3:2:1 — three parts flour to two parts butter to one part caster sugar. Work the dough as little as possible once combined to keep the texture crumbly rather than tough, and bake at a low temperature (160–170°C) until just pale gold.
Where Shortbread Stands Out
Macronutrients per 100g
Vitamins & Minerals
| Nutrient | Per 100g | % Daily Value* | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chloride | 530 mg | 66% | |
| Vitamin A (RAE) | 297 µg | 42% | |
| Calcium | 138 mg | 17% | |
| Potassium | 133 mg | 7% | |
| Phosphorus | 77.0 mg | 11% | |
| Magnesium | 15.0 mg | 4% | |
| Folate | 14.0 µg | 7% | |
| Selenium | 6.00 µg | 11% | |
| Iron | 1.50 mg | 11% | |
| Vitamin E (alpha-TE) | 1.30 mg | 11% | |
| Niacin (B3) | 1.10 mg | 7% | |
| Manganese | 0.610 mg | 31% | |
| Zinc | 0.500 mg | 5% | |
| Pantothenic Acid (B5) | 0.480 mg | 8% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.400 µg | 3% | |
| Thiamin (B1) | 0.180 mg | 16% | |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.080 mg | 6% | |
| Copper | 0.080 mg | 8% | |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0.030 mg | 2% | |
| Vitamin C | 0.000 mg | 0% | |
| Iodine | 3.00 µg | 2% | |
| Monounsaturated fat | 7.03 g | — | |
| Polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) | 1.23 g | — | |
| Trans fat | 0.740 g | — | |
| Sucrose | 15.6 g | — | |
| Cholesterol | 81.9 mg | — | |
| Beta-carotene | 96.0 µg | — | |
| Retinol (vitamin A) | 281 µg | 40% | |
| Biotin (Vitamin B7) | 3.50 µg | 7% | |
| Omega-6 (Linoleic acid) | 0.880 g | — | |
| Omega-3 (Alpha-linolenic acid) | 0.210 g | — | |
| Omega-3 (DPA n-3) — Docosapentaenoic acid (n-3) | 0.020 g | — | |
| Omega-6 (AA) — Arachidonic acid | 0.020 g | — | |
| Omega-3 (EPA) — Eicosapentaenoic acid | 0.020 g | — |
* % Daily Value based on EU Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs). — indicates no EU NRV established.