Lorna Doone Cookie Recipe 3 Ways

3 Fun Ways to Enjoy This Classic Shortbread Cookie

When I was little, Lorna Doone cookies were grown-up cookies.

They were elegant. They were served with tea. And at least at my house, they somehow felt a little fancier than the other cookies in the pantry.

Even today, I still think of them as a special treat.

So, naturally, I started playing around with them.

This Lorna Doone cookie recipe actually gives you three different ways to enjoy this classic buttery cookie. First, we’ll make homemade Lorna Doone shortbread cookies from scratch. Then I’ll show you two ridiculously easy ways to dress them up.

Make one. Make all three. I won’t judge.

What Is a Lorna Doone Cookie?

At its heart, a Lorna Doone is a shortbread-style cookie with a buttery flavor, slight sweetness and that wonderful crumbly texture that makes shortbread so good.

And yes, there is a difference between shortbread cookies, sugar cookies and butter cookies.

For this homemade copycat Lorna Doone cookie recipe, we’re sticking with the beauty of a simple shortbread recipe: butter, sugar, flour and cornstarch.

Nothing complicated. Which is exactly why I love it.

Lorna Doone Cookie Recipe: Way #1

Let’s start with homemade Lorna Doone cookies.

You’ll only need a few simple ingredients, and there’s a good chance you already have most of them in your kitchen.

Ingredients

1 stick plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
Scant 1/2 cup cornstarch

Optional: Add a small splash of vanilla extract if you’d like a little extra flavor.

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar

Add the softened unsalted butter and sugar to a mixing bowl.

Using a hand mixer, cream them together until the mixture is smooth and well combined.

You can also use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Either works.

lorna doone cookie recipe

Step 2: Add the Dry Ingredients

Sift the flour and cornstarch into the butter mixture and blend everything together.

If you’re using a hand mixer, don’t panic if the mixture doesn’t immediately look like cookie dough. Mine usually looks more like little lumps about the size of peas at this point.

I simply use my hands to gently bring everything together into a dough.

Sometimes the best kitchen tools really are the ones attached to your arms.

lorna doone cookie recipe

Step 3: Chill the Cookie Dough

Form the cookie dough into a ball and wrap it in plastic wrap.

Place it in the refrigerator and chill for about 20 minutes.

This gives the dough a chance to firm up and makes it much easier to roll and cut.

Step 4: Roll and Cut

Preheat the oven to 325°F.

Roll the chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thick.

For the traditional Lorna Doone look, cut the dough into approximately 2 x 2-inch squares.

Transfer the cookies to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, arranging them in a single layer.

Of course, you don’t have to stick with squares. Grab a cookie cutter and have some fun with it, especially if you’re making these for a holiday or celebration.

lorna doone cookie recipe

Step 5: Bake

Bake the cookies for approximately 20 minutes at 325°F.

The key here is not to let them get too brown. You’re looking for a pale, tender shortbread cookie rather than a golden sugar cookie.

lorna doone cookie recipe

Step 6: Cool and Store

Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely.

Once cooled, store your homemade Lorna Doone cookies in an airtight container.

And try not to eat half of them while you’re waiting for them to cool.

Or do. Again, no judgment here.

lorna doone cookie recipe

Lorna Doone Cookies: Way #2

Now we’re going from classic to ridiculously simple.

This version looks pretty enough for a party platter but takes almost no time to make.

Cream Cheese & Raspberry Lorna Doone Cookies

Step 1

Spread cream cheese frosting over each cookie.

You can absolutely make homemade cream cheese frosting, but I’m going to confess something: I used the canned version.

There. I said it.

lorna doone cookie recipe

Step 2

Top each cookie with a fresh raspberry.

That’s it.

The buttery shortbread cookie becomes a tender base for the creamy frosting and fresh raspberry, and suddenly your grocery-store cookie looks like a little dessert you planned all afternoon.

I’m not telling your guests otherwise.

lorna doone cookie with frosting and raspberry

Lorna Doone Cookies: Way #3

This one started when I found a dessert recipe combining peanut butter, caramel, marshmallows and chocolate over a Lorna Doone crust.

It sounded amazing.

It also sounded like more work than I wanted to do for a cookie craving.

So I thought, why not create an individual version?

Turns out, that was a very good idea.

Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Marshmallow & Caramel Lorna Doone Cookies

Step 1

Spread peanut butter over a homemade or store-bought Lorna Doone cookie.

lorna doone cookie recipe

Step 2

Place a small piece of chocolate bar on top.

Microwave for approximately 10 seconds, just long enough to slightly soften the chocolate.

lorna doone cookie recipe

Step 3

Add a marshmallow.

I found large square marshmallows, but they were much too big for one cookie. I cut mine down into smaller, thinner pieces.

Microwave again for about 10 to 15 seconds.

Keep an eye on it. The marshmallow will puff quickly, which is part of the fun.

lorna doone cookie recipe

Step 4

Drizzle caramel sauce over the top.

Peanut butter. Chocolate. Marshmallow. Caramel. Buttery shortbread.

This may no longer qualify as an elegant tea cookie.

I’m okay with that.

lorna doone cookie chocolate caramel recipe

More Ways to Dress Up Lorna Doone Cookies

That’s one of the reasons I think these may be among the most versatile cookies to keep around. Their simple buttery flavor gives you a great base for experimenting.

Want a few more ideas?

Try spreading a chocolate layer or Nutella over the top and adding whipped topping.

Dip half of each cookie in melted chocolate.

Add a little vanilla extract to your homemade shortbread recipe.

Use cookie cutters instead of traditional squares for holidays and special occasions.

Or crush the cookies and use the crumbs for tart crusts, cheesecake crusts or other favorite desserts.

And don’t overlook the original store-bought Lorna Doone cookies.

If you’re short on time, grocery stores usually make it pretty easy to grab a package. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with taking the shortcut, especially when you’re making Ways #2 or #3.

For me, that familiar buttery flavor still immediately takes me back to childhood and those very grown-up cookies served with tea.

Funny how one little cookie can do that.