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Cardamom Shortbread Cookies are tender, flaky, and have a delicious cardamom flavor with a hint of cinnamon. If you really like cardamom, then you’ll love these cookies.

I love cardamom. It’s one of those spices that just wakes my nose up when I smell even a hint of it. If you like chai, then you’ll like cardamom. It’s a prominent flavor in there. It’s also part of gingerbread spice. If you haven’t heard of or even tried gingerbread spice, then you’re missing out. But you’ll have to wait for that recipe.

What is cardamom?

Cardamom is the seed of several species of ginger plants. It is one of the oldest spices dating back at least 4000 years ago. It’s native to southern India but is also grown in Guatemala which is the largest producer and exporter of this spice. The Egyptians used it for medicinal purposes, as part of embalming, and even chewed the pods to keep their breath fresh.

Traditionally, it’s in the cuisine of India and the Middle East. Asians use it to make a traditional tea. But you can also find cardamom in Scandinavia. The Vikings discovered its delicious flavor and brought it back to their homeland. You can find it in recipes for many breads and pastries. And it’s part of their mulled wine and glogg spice blends.

It has a pungent aroma so a little goes a long way. Some say it tastes like ginger and cinnamon while others think it has a minty lemon flavor. I just think it smells amazing. Maybe a little hint of clove and cinnamon with a dash of coriander.

How many types of cardamom are there?

There are three that I know of. There’s white, black, and green. Green cardamom is the most potent of the three. But it’s also the most expensive cardamom. Black cardamom has a smoky flavor and white cardamom has a mild mint like flavor. It’s added to stews, broths, and stocks to brighten the flavors.

You can find cardamom in whole pods, seeds, and ground. I prefer to keep the seeds in a sealed jar. They will last quite a while stored that way. Grinding them right before using gives you the best flavor. I’ve ground a little extra to use later and it doesn’t have the same vibrant flavor.

What can you make with cardamom?

Cardamom has such a unique flavor. It’s used in sweet and savory recipes and even beverages. Curry, chai and masalas all call for cardamom. Some recipes call for green, some call for black, and some call for both. It’s a delicious flavor added to soups and broths. And great as part of a rub for meat.

Then there’s the sweets. Oh the many sweets you can make with cardamom. Bread pudding, cheesecake, these cookies. It’s the basis of chai which is in many baked goods and beverages. I made some delicious cardamom saffron pistachio yogurt pop. They were DIVINE! Of course, I made those after making a pistachio cardamom ice cream. I really should make that again and post it. It was so good. At least I thought so. The hubs, not so much.

Cardamom is not only flavorful, but it has health benefits, too. The antioxidants in there can lower blood pressure. It has diuretic properties to aid in urinary issues. Finally, it’s been used as a breath freshener for centuries. It has antibacterial properties that prevent gum disease and infections in the mouth.

How do you make cardamom shortbread cookies?

Shortbread is like butter pastry. So, I make mine in a food processor. I put the flour, powdered sugar, salt, and cardamom in the food processor and pulse it a few times to combine. Then I add the diced butter and process until a coarse meal forms. In goes the vanilla and I process until it mostly comes together in a ball.

Once it starts to come together, I turn the cardamom shortbread dough out onto a work surface dusted with powdered sugar. I like to use powdered sugar instead of flour for these cookies. I knead it a little to get all the crumbly bits to come together. I wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate it at least an hour.

After it’s chilled, I take it out of the fridge and let it sit for 5 minutes. Because it’s hard when it comes out and I’ve never been able to roll it out when it’s straight out of the fridge. I even tried beating it with the rolling like I saw on TV once. That didn’t work. So, I take it out and let it warm up a little before I try to roll it out.

I roll my Cardamom Shortbread Cookies out to about 1/3 to 1/2 an inch. Then I use fun shapes like these trees, snowmen, and stars. Of course, the stars cook faster than the other shapes because they’re smaller. So, I suggest putting like sized cut outs on the same baking sheet. So, there’s no one shape that’s overcooked. Speaking from experience on that one. But that’s okay. I like the extra crispy ones. They have a nutty flavor I like. Sort of like browned butter.

What do cardamom shortbread cookies taste like?

They are buttery. And they’re slightly sweet. They’re crispy and delicious. And there’s the cardamom flavor. I put 2 teaspoons in my Cardamom Shortbread Cookies because I knew the hubs wouldn’t like them if I put more in there. But if I was making these for myself? I might add even more than a tablespoon. I love cardamom that much. If you do, then use at least a tablespoon of freshly ground cardamom.

I added a hint of cinnamon to these Cardamom Shortbread Cookies to round out the flavor with the vanilla. It totally works, too. It doesn’t overpower the cardamom. The cinnamon enhances the flavors and really balances the cookie out. Next time I might add a little nutmeg. I think that would make for a delicious cookie. Or make gingerbread shortbread cookies. Oh. Now there’s an idea. Maybe for next year. Stay tuned.

Welcome to #ChristmasCookies Week! That time of year when we soften the butter, fire up the oven, and make cookie trays for family, friends, and neighbors. This year more than 20 top-notch bloggers are sharing their very favorite creations for all to make and enjoy. Join us for a week’s worth of Christmas cookie deliciousness

• Cardamom Shortbread Cookies by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Chocolate Fudge Brownie Oatmeal M&M Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, and Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Easy Holiday Cookies by Christmas Tree Lane
• Gingerbread Macarons by Jen Around the World
• Reindeer Cookies by The Best Cookie Recipes