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Gurabii shortbread cookies are a traditional Macedonian treat and today I’m going to show you how to make them. These crumbly, buttery cookies are made with a few simple ingredients and a splash of whisky!
I know, I know. ‘Tis the season when literally everyone is saying, “If there’s ONE cookie you must make this Christmas, THIS is it!” Still, I’ll go ahead and say it: these are the shortbread cookies you NEED to make this year! I may be a little biased, but I’ll let these crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies speak for themselves.
I’m not saying these Gurabii cookies will make your Christmas the brightest and merriest it’s ever been… but I’m not not saying it, either, if you know what I mean.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Unique & delicious. Gurabii (“Goo-rah-bee”) cookies are a shortbread type kolache, or cookie, made with a nice amount of butter, powdered sugar, and a splash of warming whisky. They’re easy to make, yet undeniably delicious! I’m so excited to share this special family recipe with you all.
- Easy. There is nothing complicated about this cookie recipe. Just mix up a simple dough, shape into cookies, and bake!
Ingredients Notes
You likely have most of the ingredients for this shortbread recipe in your kitchen already! Here’s a quick look at what you’ll need and don’t forget to scroll down to the recipe card for a printable ingredients list.
- Unsalted Butter
- Egg Yolks: Just the yolks, separated from the whites. (Use leftover egg whites in other holiday recipes like these Black and White Meringue Cookies!)
- Powdered Sugar: For the shortbread cookie dough, plus extra for dusting on top after baking.
- Whisky: Just a splash. The choice of whisky is up to you! Scotch is always a good bet for these traditional Macedonian cookies.
- Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract is the best, in terms of natural flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
How to Make Macedonian Shortbread Cookies
To get started, you’ll set your oven to preheat and get all your ingredients at room temperature. Then follow these steps to make these special homemade shortbread cookies:
- Make the Cookie Dough: Before adding the other ingredients, beat the butter with an electric mixer for ten (yes, ten!) minutes at high speed. Beat in the yolks, powdered sugar, baking powder, whisky and vanilla. Finally, you’ll sift the flour into the butter mixture and mix just until it becomes a soft dough.
- Rest: Leave the shortbread dough to rest for 15 minutes.
- Roll Out the Cookie Dough: Roll the dough into small balls and place them on a baking sheet, pressing the balls with the bottom of a glass to flatten them a bit.
- Bake: Pop the cookies into the preheated oven to bake until they’re barely browned.
- Cool: When your Gurabii shortbreads are completely cooled, give them a nice dusting of powdered sugar and then store or serve!
You can also decorate these cookies however you’d like, see below for some ideas!
Can I Make These in Advance?
- You can definitely make the shortbread cookie dough in advance and freeze it for up to 2 months.
- Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap or store it fully airtight in a freezer bag, then thaw it when you’re ready to roll out the dough and bake it.
Tips for Success
- Don’t Over-Mix the Dough: Over-mixing is the number one culprit for cookies that are tough and/or too dry. Make sure you mix in the flour until just combined, and then leave the cookie dough alone to rest.
- Don’t Let the Shortbread Brown: Remove the cookies from the oven the moment they begin to become golden around the edges.
- These Cookies Won’t Expand: The powdered sugar in these cookies means they’ll keep their shape while baking, with little expansion. So press them to about a half inch thick, as they’ll bake at the thickness they’re pressed to.
Decorating Ideas
Like any proper holiday cookie, these easy shortbread cookies are the perfect blank canvases for decorating! Here are some of my favorite ideas for decorating these cookies:
- Coated in sprinkles
- Piped with icing
- Drizzled with melted chocolate
- Dusted with sanding sugar (in all the colors!)
- Topped with red and green candied cherries
- Dipped in glaze or frosted
- Topped with fruit preserves (orange marmalade, apricot jam, raspberry jam, etc.)
How to Store
- Counter: Store your finished cookies airtight and at room temperature for up to one week.
- Fridge: You can also keep them in the fridge to extend their shelf life by a couple of days.
- Gift Giving: I also love storing these traditional shortbreads in individual jars for easy gifting!
Can I Freeze These?
- Freeze the dough: You can freeze the shortbread dough as well as the baked cookies for a month or two. As mentioned earlier in this post, the dough can be frozen tightly wrapped or airtight in a freezer bag. Just thaw, roll, and bake!
- To freeze baked shortbread cookies: I’d recommend freezing the cookies on a baking sheet, and then transferring the solid cookies to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. Thaw on the counter before eating.
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Macedonian Shortbread Cookies (Gurabii)
Ingredients
- 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, , at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2 egg yolks,, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ ounce whisky
- powdered sugar,, for dusting on top
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Have all ingredients at room temperature.
- Place the butter in a large bowl and beat for 5 to 10 minutes at high speed with electric mixer, until creamy and smooth.
- Add the egg yolks, 3 tablespoons powdered sugar, baking powder, whisky and vanilla.
- Continue beating until well blended.
- Sift the flour and mix it in with the butter mixture.
- Mix enough to make a soft, pliable dough.
- Let the dough stand for 15 minutes.
- Shape the dough into small balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- With a glass flatten the dough balls to 1/2 inch thickness.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the shortbreads are lightly browned.
- When they are completely cooled, sprinkle generously with powdered sugar.
- Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
There’s nothing in the world like childhood cookies. These look simple but so good.
Seriously, these look so amazing! I’m a sucker for anything Greek or Bulgarian…and the fact that these are Macedonian make them 10 million times better! 🙂
These ingredients and pictures are superb! wow gorgeous!
Kate-your gurabii look so so good! I love the addition of whiskey. Lovely photos!!z,
soft and delicious looks wonderful
These Gurabii look amazing! I love shortbread and will definitely have to try your version. Yum!
I love how buttery and delicious these look! Beautiful photos too, another great recipe girl!
Simple ingredients, fabulous flavor…these cookies look wonderful, Kate!
Finally I can read you again 🙂
These cookies sounds great. They look so crumby and I’m sure they melt in your mouth. OK, I’m already drooling
Great pictures! These look delicious – shortbread is so good and buttery!