Craving for shortbread cookies but there is no Girl Scout cookie box in sight? We’ve got you covered. You don’t have to bear another cookie-less day. Just follow this easy shortbread cookie recipe and have a bite of the classic Girl Scout Trefoil.
Trefoil, The Classic Girl Scout Cookie
The word trefoil is derived from the Latin word trifolium which means “three leaf.” Trefoil is a leafy portrayal of the Girl Scout three-folded promise — 1) to serve God and my country 2) to help people at all times, and 3) to live by the Girl Scout Law. And trefoil shortbread cookies are the cookies that represent Girl Scout’s promise in their iconic shape.
Before we get into the making of Trefoil cookies, let us learn a little about the history of Girl Scout cookies. Back in the 1920s and 1930s, Girl Scout members would bake their own shortbread sugar cookies at home and sell them door-to-door. Little by little, these cookie sales expanded from girls baking in their kitchens at home to the big commercial enterprise we all know and love today.
Originally, there were just three choices: Peanut Butter Sandwich (Do-si-dos), Shortbread (Trefoils) and Chocolate Mints, now called Thin Mints. Today, Girl Scout members produce an even greater variety of fresh shortbread recipes, making the people anticipate the cookie season all the more. Still, the classic Girl Scout cookie Trefoils remains a favorite in the Cookie Lineup.
Trefoil Shortbread Cookies and Wine: The Perfect Pair
It is high time to pair your Girl Scout treats with more than just tea, coffee, milk or ice cream. If you love your fair share of beverages, too, you can actually pair Trefoils with wine. Wines usually have richness and creaminess that blend perfectly with shortbread cookies.
A glass of wine will bring out the sweet, buttery flavors in your made-from-scratch Trefoils cookies. So learn how to bake classic Girl Scout cookies with our easy shortbread cookie recipe and take out that fine wine long hidden in your rack. This perfect pair will definitely fill your late-night cravings.
How To Make Copycat Trefoil Shortbread Cookies
Satisfy your mid-afternoon or late-night munchies with these classic Girl Scout cookies. These shortbread biscuits with a hint of vanilla flavoring are made with easy steps. Have a bite of your own shortbread cookies in just a few minutes!
Prep: 10 mins
Chill Time: 1 hr
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 1 hr 25 mins
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 tsp salt, to taste
- 1 lb unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour and salt. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl attached to a hand beater, cream together butter and sugar for roughly 5 to 7 minutes or until light pale.
- Add vanilla extract and continue creaming.
- Fold the sifted flour mixture into your creamed butter mixture until evenly incorporated.
- Roll the dough on a lightly-floured surface and then, divide into 2 pieces and shape into square or round logs, about 1 ½ inches thick.
- Wrap each dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.
- When ready to bake, remove the dough from the refrigerator 15 minutes prior to slicing.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut slices of the cookie logs ⅛ to ¼ inches thick each. Then press with a cookie stamp of your choice.
- Bake for 15 minutes and check.
- Let them cool before serving. And there, you can now enjoy your own copycat Trefoils with your friends and family!
Recipe Notes
- When baking, it’s best to bake one sheet at a time to allow even heat circulation around the sheet, ensuring that each cookie will be browned the right amount.
- If you want your trefoils extra crumbly, wait until the edges become golden brown before removing them from the oven.
- Store in an airtight container, if not eat them immediately.
Nutrition
- Sugar: 10g
- :
- Calcium: 21mg
- Calories: 633kcal
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Cholesterol: 139mg
- Fat: 53g
- Fiber: 1g
- Iron: 2mg
- Potassium: 55mg
- Protein: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 33g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Trans Fat: 2g
- Vitamin A: 1619IU
Nutrition Disclaimer Want to share your experience making these copycat Trefoil shortbread cookies or have any tips to perfect the recipe? Join the discussion in the Baking and Desserts forum and let us know your thoughts on these classic Girl Scout inspired treats!
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FAQs
Ingredients: ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), SUGAR, PALM OIL, WHEY (MILK), CORN SYRUP, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA, SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE), CORNSTARCH, SALT, SOY LECITHIN, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR (MILK).
How many cookies in a sleeve of trefoils? ›
Traditional shortbread cookies. Approximately 38 cookies per 9 oz. package.
Why do you put cornstarch in shortbread cookies? ›
Cornstarch provides the shortbread with structure, but its biggest job is keeping the cookies extra soft, tender, and light. I love adding a small amount to chocolate chip cookies too. Optional Coarse Sugar Topping: For an optional sparkly crunch on your shortbread wedges, add a sprinkle of coarse sugar before baking.
What's the difference between butter biscuits and shortbread cookies? ›
Shortbread cookies, butter cookies, and sugar cookies are all light in color and buttery, but there are a few key differences: Eggs: Butter cookies and sugar cookies typically contain eggs, while shortbread cookies can be made with or without eggs. The egg makes the dough more pliable and less crumbly.
Are Trefoils discontinued? ›
Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Do-si-dos, Trefoils, and more favorites are all returning for 2024. (FYI, some cookies are sold under two names because GSUSA sources them from two different bakeries.)
What are Trefoils called now? ›
Samoas are now “Caramel deLites.” Do-si-dos are “Peanut Butter Sandwiches.” Tagalongs are “Peanut Butter Cookies” and Trefoils are “Shortbreads.”
Why are Girl Scout shortbread cookies called Trefoils? ›
Trefoils were also the first Girl Scout Cookie back in 1935, when the Girl Scout Federation of Greater New York raised enough money through the sale of commercially baked cookies to buy it's own die in the shape of a trefoil.
Are Trefoils good for you? ›
Shortbread and Trefoils were the clear winner among all of the Girl Scout Cookies. Compared with other varieties, they were the lowest in calories per cookie (30 and 32 calories, respectively). They were also the lowest in saturated fat and added sugars.
What are the discontinued Girl Scout Cookies? ›
14 Discontinued Girl Scout Cookies That Are Gone Forever
- Raspberry Rally. This little treat occupies a unique spot in Girl Scout cookie history. ...
- All Abouts. ...
- Dulce de Leche. ...
- Animal Treasures. ...
- Juliettes. ...
- Olé Olés. ...
- Thanks-A-Lot. ...
- Lemon Chalet Crèmes.
Tips To Make the Best Shortbread Cookies
- Choose High Quality Butter. No matter what brand of butter you buy, if it's real butter, you can rest assured that it's the best. ...
- Keep Ingredients Simple. ...
- Add Flavor. ...
- Don't Overwork. ...
- Shape Dough. ...
- Chill Before Baking. ...
- Bake Until Golden. ...
- Add Finishing Touches.
Butter is an emulsifier and it makes cookies tender. It also adds in the crispy-around-the-edges element. Adding too much butter can cause the cookies to be flat and greasy. Adding too little butter can cause the cookies to be tough and crumbly.
Why do you put shortbread in the fridge before baking? ›
Why do you put shortbread cut-out cookies in the fridge before baking? This is to resolidify the butter. The butter is at room temperature when making the dough resulting in a soft dough. If baked straight away, the butter would melt away immediately when hitting the hot oven and the shortbread would spread.
What's the difference between Scottish shortbread and regular shortbread? ›
Traditional Scottish shortbread is a simple recipe made with sugar, butter, flour, and salt. Other shortbread styles will include leavening agents like baking powder and baking soda, which makes them crisp instead of crumbly like traditional Scottish shortbread.
Why use unsalted butter in shortbread? ›
Use unsalted butter for balanced flavour. Unsalted butter was traditionally used in baking because it was a superior product to salted - salt is used as a preservative so unsalted butter was thought to be fresher.
Is butter or margarine better for shortbread? ›
Shortbread relies on really good-quality unsalted butter for its flavour, so don't skimp on this and never use margarine!
Why are Girl Scout Cookies called Trefoils? ›
Trefoils were also the first Girl Scout Cookie back in 1935, when the Girl Scout Federation of Greater New York raised enough money through the sale of commercially baked cookies to buy it's own die in the shape of a trefoil.
Are Trefoils vegan? ›
Do Girl Scout Cookies Have Dairy? Yes, some Girl Scout Cookies contain dairy as an ingredient, such as the non-vegan flavors like Samoas, Tagalongs, and Trefoils.
What are the ingredients in the Girl Scout Cookies? ›
INGREDIENTS: SUGAR, ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), VEGETABLE OIL SORTENING (PALM KERNEL OIL AND PALM OIL), COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), CORNSTARCH, CARAMEL COLOR, MOLASSES, CORN SYRUP, SALT, SOY LECITHIN, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, LEAVENING ( ...
