Shortbread has a rich buttery taste. It is delicious with a cup of tea or coffee on a cold winter’s afternoon. As much as you enjoy original shortbread, different versions are just as tasty.
You can add cocoa powder, dip shortbread fingers in chocolate after baking, or grate in some citrus before baking. You could add fruit and nuts, and at Christmas, spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon (see also How To Freeze Baklava). Millionaire’s shortbread is very popular. This is shortbread with a layer of caramel and then a chocolate layer on top.
However, perhaps you are having friends over for afternoon tea or you want to have it on hand over the Christmas period. Can you freeze it so that you always can serve it without making a fresh batch? The simple answer is yes, and in this article, we will tell you how to freeze shortbread and how to defrost it. You will be pleased to know that it freezes well.
How To Freeze Shortbread?
It is straightforward to freeze shortbread, and this is the way to do it:
1. Bake and cool down your shortbread.
It takes about two hours for the shortbread to cool down. Place the pieces on a cold tray to speed up the cooling process. You don’t want to put the shortbread in the freezer while it is still warm as the texture could be compromised. In addition, it might bring up the temperature in the freezer and other food may spoil.
2. Divide the shortbread into portion sizes.
You should divide it into portions so that you only defrost what you need in one sitting.
3. Wrap the shortbread in cling film.
It is a good idea to double-wrap the shortbread so that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Freezer burn will ruin the taste and texture of the shortbread. Make sure that the shortbread is wrapped tightly to avoid this.
4. Put the shortbread in freezer bags.
Squeeze out all the air from the bags to ensure that freezer burn doesn’t occur. Put labels on the bags with the date and contents.
5. Put the bags in the freezer.
Can You Freeze Shortbread Dough?
Yes, you can. To do this, divide the dough into portions, wrap in cling film, and then put it in freezer bags. Squeeze out all the air from the bags to prevent freezer burn.
Tips For Freezing Shortbread
- Squeeze out the air from the freezer bags so that freezer burn doesn’t occur.
- Portion out the shortbread so that you only defrost as much as you need.
- Freeze shortbread dough if you prefer although it makes sense to freeze it already baked so that you can enjoy it a little quicker when you come to defrost it. If you freeze shortbread dough, you will have to wait while it bakes.
- Shortbread comes in different forms. It can be one large circle that is divided into segments when it is taken out of the oven, petticoat tails which are long biscuits, and Petites gastelles, the old French for little cakes. The good news is that you can freeze all of them as well as millionaire’s shortbread.
- You can put the shortbread in airtight containers instead. You can layer them so that the pieces of shortbread won’t stick together. Separate each layer with a sheet of greaseproof paper or aluminum foil.
For How Long Can You Freeze Shortbread?
You can freeze shortbread for up to three months. After this time both the taste and texture will begin to deteriorate. Why not bulk bake your shortbread in September or October ready for the Christmas season? You will probably have enough baking and cooking to do once December comes so this will be a timesaver.
How Do You Defrost Shortbread?
The best way to defrost shortbread is slowly and steadily as this helps it to retain taste and texture. Take the shortbread out of the freezer about 12 hours before you want to use it and put it in the fridge. Leave it in the cling film so that the shortbread doesn’t take on any smells from the other items in the fridge. You don’t want your shortbread to smell of fish or something comparable.
Don’t defrost the shortbread in the microwave because you will get mushy biscuits. They’ll still be safe to eat but who wants soggy biscuits?
Can You Refreeze Shortbread?
You can refreeze shortbread safely but it isn’t advisable. If you refreeze, crystals will form on the biscuits and these will make the biscuits soggy. The best thing to do is to freeze the shortbread in portions so that you only defrost as much as you need at one time.
Is It A Good Idea To Freeze Shortbread?
Yes, it is! It is one of the best biscuits to freeze. This is good news as you can plan ahead for the Christmas season, or in fact, for any time of year. Nothing is stopping you from having a rich buttery shortbread biscuit in the summer. Enjoy it with iced tea on a hot summer’s day.. .here can be slight changes to the shortbread when you freeze it but they are minimal. It may become a little crumbly but this won’t affect the overall taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hopefully, you now know all there is to know about freezing shortbread but in case you are still curious, we have answered a few questions here about freezing shortbread and shortbread in general.
Yes, you can freeze caramel shortbread. The only problem is that the texture of the caramel may change a little. It could become slightly grainy but it will still be tasty and safe to eat.
Yes, you can freeze shortbread cookies and you can do this in the same way as you freeze shortbread.
It doesn’t matter if you have chosen cocoa-flavored shortbread as your go-to as you can still freeze it and it will taste just as good.
If you keep the shortbread in an airtight container, it will last for three to four weeks. Also, make sure that you put the container in a cool place and away from sunlight.