White Chocolate Lemon Shortbread

I adore this white chocolate lemon shortbread! It is a traditional Scottish shortbread recipe adapted with fresh lemon juice and zest, and once baked, dipped into white chocolate and decorated with lemon zest. Lemon shortbread cookies are one thing but having these iconic flavours together in shortbread takes this to the next level. Lemon shortbread dipped in chocolate is going to be your favourite recipe!

I love shortbread. Lemon chocolate shortbread is simple and so easy to make your own. Whether that’s this recipe for white chocolate and lemon shortbread or mix it up and try cranberries with dark chocolate. You could even omit the fruit altogether and try adding spices or tea leaves.

The options for shortbread are endless, however, the flavour combination of white chocolate and lemon is my favourite.

Why you’ll love this white chocolate lemon shortbread recipe

• Shortbread takes 3 main ingredients, it’s so simple.
• You’ll love whipping white chocolate lemon shortbread up for Elevenses to have with a cuppa and a friend or taking them on a summer picnic.
• These lemon shortbread dipped in chocolate travel well and can be assembled at your destination if you want full style points.

Top Questions

Is all shortbread Scottish?
Which sugar is best for shortbread?
Why is Scottish shortbread called shortbread?

Ingredients

All you need to make traditional shortbread is only 3 ingredients. Unsalted butter, Sugar and Flour. It’s just that simple. Then to take it up to the white chocolate lemon shortbread you only need to add lemon zest and white chocolate.

LEMON

Thislemon shortbread dipped in chocolate recipe calls for a whole lemon, you need the juice of half and the zest of half in the dough. This gives a sharp tangy taste that pairs beautifully with the buttery crumbly Scottish shortbread. The small pieces of zest create a lovely decoration, it’s fresh and simple.

Lemon chocolate shortbread would make a lovely Wedding Day dessert or favour. The lemon shortbread dipped in chocolate would even be a yummy pudding for a fresh summer picnic.

If you don’t have any lemon you can make this shortbread as just white chocolate shortbread, it’s so sweet and tasty that I love making and decorating it for friends.

WHITE CHOCOLATE

I am not the biggest lover of white chocolate, I prefer the taste of milk chocolate but this white chocolate lemon shortbread might be good enough to convert me. The shortbread squares are dipped in melted white chocolate, meaning that in every bite you get zesty lemon, buttery shortbread and creamy white chocolate.

How to make lemon shortbread dipped in chocolate – step by step

This white chocolate lemon shortbread is so easy to make, but before you start, preheat your oven and line your baking tin with greaseproof paper. This will make removing your shortbread from the tin much quicker meaning you can dig in sooner!

• Add the butter and sugar to a mixing bowl. Cream together using an electric mixer, or by hand with a wooden spoon.
• Sift the flour into the bowl and gently mix it until it is mixed in. Mixing gently helps to avoid over mixing your dough which can make it chewy.
• Add 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice and the finely grated zest of half a lemon.
• Using your hands, mix together until a soft dough has formed. Don’t overwork the shortbread dough. Once it’s come together it’s done.
• Press the dough into the baking tin, making sure it is as even as possible. This makes for a nice even lemon white chocolate shortbread.
• Using a knife, gently score the shortbread into biscuit size pieces, then using a fork poke holes in the shortbread.
• Bake the lemon shortbread cookies for around 15-20 minutes, don’t let the biscuits brown. You want them pale golden.
• Take the shortbread biscuits out of the oven and cut them again where you marked out.
• Leave the biscuits to cool before removing them from the tin.

DECORATION

• In 20 second bursts in the microwave, melt the 100g white chocolate. When melted add in the optional 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. This will help loosen the chocolate and make dipping easier.
• Carefully use a knife and cut thin pieces of the lemon zest for decoration.
• Dip the shortbread pieces into the chocolate or smear it on with a spoon. Add the lemon zest pieces on top.
• Allow the chocolate to set and serve.

Lemon chocolate shortbread shortbread top tips

• When you make this lemon shortbread dipped in chocolate mix your melted white chocolate with a tablespoon of tasteless oil ( I used vegetable) this helps the chocolate loosen and makes dipping so much easier.
• You will want your butter at room temperature before you start baking, if you keep your butter in the fridge then get it out 30 minutes before you are ready to start. Alternatively, if you’re an avid baker ( or like me, hate using cold hard butter) consider a butter dish, they keep your butter cool enough not to melt but soft enough for easy spreading.
• Leave your lemon white chocolate shortbread to cool in the tin for at least 10minutes. This acts as a resting time and makes it much easier to remove from the tin. You will want the shortbread cooled befor the chocolate to have set before digging in.

Lemon shortbread dipped in chocolate serving suggestions

I am not sure you could improve lemon shortbread dipped in white chocolate but you could always serve a square of shortbread with a strong cup of tea.

STRAWBERRIES

Lemon zest is tangy and balances the sweetness of the white chocolate really well; if you want to pimp up your lemon white chocolate shortbread you should serve it with a few strawberries. The colour not only looks great but the flavours blend perfectly and make for a lovely summery dessert.

LEMONADE

I love serving this lemon shortbread dipped in chocolate with a cool glass of cloudy lemonade or with a lemon-based tea. It works very well for afternoon tea and a light bite when it’s a picnic or chilling in the garden with friends.

Equipment

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• Kitchen Scales
• Mixing bowl
• Fork
• 8-inch square cake tin
• Greaseproof paper / baking parchment
• Knife
• Chopping board
• Zester (optional)

The best piece of equipment for this recipe is the zester with a channel that helps makes those beautiful pieces of zest for the decoration. I use this OXO zester (aff link).

Storing lemon chocolate shortbread/ Making ahead of time options

You can make lemon and white chocolate shortbread up to a couple of days before you intend to serve it. Please note that is best when freshly baked and eaten.

If you have leftovers or need to transport your lemon white chocolate Scottish shortbread, wrap it in some greaseproof paper and layer it into an airtight container.

This lemon chocolate shortbread recipe can sit in a cool dry cupboard for up to 3 days or follow you on your picnic adventure.

Substitutions and variations

PEANUTS & RASINS

These two flavours mix to give peanut butter and jelly taste to the shortbread squares. If lemon and white chocolate aren’t your ideas for a delicious flavour match then why not try this PB&J style shortbread.

FESTIVE SHORTBREAD SQUARES

If winter is quickly approaching then swap out the lemon for dried cranberries, add some pecans and a little cinnamon for a Christmassy flavour bomb! You can still dip them in chocolate, personally, I would suggest rich dark chocolate for this variation but you can use your favourite!

DARK CHOCOLATE SHORTBREAD

As much as white chocolate shortbread is divine, changing it to a dark chocolate shortbread recipe works incredibly well. When it comes to dipping the shortbread in chocolate, replace the white chocolate with the dark chocolate and dip away.

CHOCOLATE ORANGE SHORTBREAD

This might be the best idea I have had in a while. Chocolate orange shortbread is absolutely delicious and I will have the full recipe up on it’s own soon. Until then make this recipe and swap out the lemon for orange and the white chocolate for milk chocolate or dark chocolate.

You could even use Terry’s Chocolate Orange melted to dip the shortbread in to make the shortbread dipped in chocolate even better.

Lemon shortbread dipped in chocolate is a hugely adaptable recipe and it can take on all the flavours you love the most.

Lemon shortbread cookies FAQS

Is all shortbread Scottish?

Shortbread is a Scottish creation but has travelled the world in the centuries since it was created. Shortbread recipes haven’t changed much since its creation so when you try shortbread now it’s all connected to the original Scottish buttery shortbread.

Which sugar is best for shortbread?

All you need to make traditional shortbread is only 3 ingredients. Unsalted butter, Sugar and Flour. The best sugar to use for shortbread is caster sugar as it’s more refined than granulated. However, if you don’t have caster sugar, granulated will do in an emergency craving.

Why is Scottish shortbread called shortbread?

Shortbread is called short because of the traditional ratio of one part sugar to two parts butter that shortbread uses. It adds a high-fat content to the dough which gives the shortbread a short buttery crumb which is described as short.

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Recipe

Lemon Chocolate Shortbread

Sisley White

I adore this white chocolate lemon shortbread! It is a traditional Scottish shortbread recipe adapted with fresh lemon juice and zest, and once baked, dipped into white chocolate and decorated with lemon zest. Lemon shortbread cookies are one thing but having these iconic flavours together in shortbread takes this to the next level. Lemon shortbread dipped in chocolate is going to be your favourite recipe!

5 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Bakes, Biscuits, Sweet Treats

Cuisine English, International, Scottish

Servings 18 shortbread fingers

Calories 155 kcal

Equipment

• Kitchen Scales
• Mixing bowl
• Fork
• 8-inch square cake tin
• Greaseproof paper / Baking parchment
• Knife
• Chopping board
• zester (optional)

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• 250 g (2 cups) plain flour / all purpose flour
• 150 g (5 2/7 oz) unsalted butter
• 60 g (2 ⅛ oz) caster sugar (plus extra for sprinkling)
• 1 (1) lemon
• 100 g (3 ½ oz) white chocolate
• 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) vegetable oil (optional)

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4.
• Line an 8-inch square cake tin with greaseproof/parchment paper.
• Add the butter and sugar to a mixing bowl. Cream together using an electric mixer, or by hand with a wooden spoon.
• Sift the flour into the bowl and gently mix it until it is mixed in.
• Add 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice and the finely grated zest of half a lemon.
• Using your hands, mix together until a soft dough has formed. Don't overwork the shortbread dough. Once it's come together it's done.
• Press the dough into the baking tin, making sure it is as even as possible.
• Using a knife, gently score the shortbread into biscuit size pieces. Using a fork poke holes in the shortbread.
• Bake in preheated oven for around 15-20 minutes, don’t let the biscuits brown.
• Take the shortbread biscuits out of the oven and cut them again where you marked out.
  
• Leave the biscuits to cool before removing them from the tin.
• In 20 second bursts in the microwave, melt the 100g white chocolate. When melted add in the optional 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. This will help loosen the chocolate and make dipping easier.
• Carefully use a knife and cut thin pieces of the lemon zest for decoration.
  
• Dip the shortbread pieces into the chocolate or smear it on with a spoon. Add the lemon zest pieces on top. Allow the chocolate to set and serve.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 155kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 2gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 6mgPotassium: 41mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 211IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg

Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only.

Keyword lemon shortbread, lemon white chocolate shortbread, Scottish shortbread, shortbread, white chocolate dipped shortbread, white chocolate lemon shortbread, white chocolate shortbread

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