Link to this page

Fairy Bites: Shortbread Recipe in Miniature!

Fairy Bites: they’re tiny shortbread cookies that are just TOO adorable.

You make them like a traditional shortbread using the usual butter, sugar, flour and flavoring – but with two twists.

Fairy Bites with The Cookie Elf

The first is the addition of nonpareils, those itsy-bitsy cookie decorations that are actually teeny balls of colored sugar (see more on nonpareils.) You mix them into the dough. And you can use colored nonpareils to fit the occasion – say, red and green for Christmas shortbread cookies or red, pink, and white for Valentine Fairy Bites.

And second is this: you cut the dough into bite-sized pieces before baking. Then you set the bites on the baking pan with a bit of space in between each one.

Voila! You’ve got perfect little confections for a tea party or favors or for a holiday cookie tray.  They’ll make you smile!

Prep time: 10-15 minutes

Bake time: 15 minutes

Makes about 80 shortbread bites

Ingredients

¾ cup butter, slightly softened

½ cup granulated sugar

½ teaspoon almond or vanilla extract

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon salt

4-5 tablespoons multi-colored nonpareils (about ¼ cup or 2 ounces)

Directions for Fairy Bites

Steps to take when making Fairy Bites with The Cookie Elf
  1. Preheat oven to 325ºF.
  2. Line an 8 x 8 or 9 x 9-inch baking pan with plastic wrap. Leave a 1-inch overhang. Set out baking sheets, but leave them ungreased.
  3. Place butter, sugar, and extract in a medium mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer on medium speed combine the ingredients, scraping the bowl often, until the mixture is creamy. Reduce speed to low. Add flour and salt until dough is well mixed. Stir in nonpareils.
  4. Knead the cookie dough 4-5 times in the bowl until it forms a ball. If the mixture does not form a ball quickly, then it is too dry. Add 1-2 additional tablespoons of softened butter and try again.
  5. Press the cookie dough evenly into the baking pan. Use a block box of butter or margarine to smooth and even out the shortbread surface.
  6. Use the overhang to lift the cookie dough from the pan. Place the bars on a cutting board surface. Cut the dough into ½-inch squares. You can trim uneven edges if you wish. Gently place the tiny squares on the ungreased baking sheets, ½-inch apart, using a small spatula or an icing knife.
  7. Bake shortbread for 15 minutes or until the bottoms begin to brown. Remove the pan from the oven.
  8. Store cookies in an airtight container.

Special Baking Tips for Fairy Bites

Always use butter when baking shortbread. (Read why this is important.)

Choose either almond or vanilla extract, according to your taste.

Adapt Fairy Bites to fit any event or celebration. Simply choose nonpareils and sprinkle colors to match the theme of the event or holiday.


See more types of shortbread on our Shortbread Pinterest board.

More Simple Shortbread Cookie Recipes

Brown Sugar Pecan Shortbread recipe ...

Cherry Chocolate Chip Shortbread: just 7 ingredients ... 

Cherry Shortbread Recipe: colorful and easy shortbread variation...

Fruitcake Shortbread: Easy Fruited Christmas Shortbread Cookie Recipe ... 

Funfetti Sugar Cookies: great for kids!

Ginger Shortbread Cookies: Ginger Bread variation ..

Mexican Wedding Cakes: not just for weddings ...

Millionaire Shortbread Recipe: Rich Without Breaking the Bank ...

Toffee Shortbread Cookies: Just 7 Ingredients!


Return from Fairy Bites to The Cookie Elf home

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Find A Cookie Recipe or Cookie Baking Tip


The Cookie Elf

FREE! 6 Easy Cookies Recipes for Kids and Families

Get your free copy here or when you fill in the form below.

I'm a member of Food Blogger Pro. Learn how to start and grow your food blog.