I’ve spoken before of my tyrannical behaviour as a child. I am a control freak from way back and ever since I could reach the stove, I loved making my mum breakfast in bed for Mother’s Day. It was always bacon and eggs with toast (lots of butter – I know how she likes it) and I’d carefully carry it to my parent’s bedroom and insist that they eat it in bed with me watching unblinkingly underneath my severe fringe and Anna Wintour haircut. They’d try and make excuses or want to put the tray down on the dressing table but this would make me terribly upset. I think I just wanted to see my parents doing something fun and I have a sneaking suspicion that Carol and Mike Brady were served breakfast in bed by the Brady kids and this was how I wanted my childhood to be.
Each year I make Portuguese custard tarts for my Father’s birthday and Father’s Day but for Mother’s Day it’s something biscuity or buttery as my mother adores butter. Last year she received a Gateau Breton and this year I made a 1234 butter cake for her birthday cake so this year for Mother’s Day I decided to make her some shortbread buttons as she is a keen sewer and knitter and buttery biscuit fanatic.
These shortbread buttons are fairly easy – just make sure to use the best butter you can find. I was relieved to say that they were so much easier than last year’s cupcake bouquet which took a lot of time but was probably a more spectacular looking effort than these. However I loved the homespun look to these and I know my mother will love them.
So tell me dear reader, what exciting things do you have planned for your Mother on Mother’s Day? Or if you’re a mum, what’s the best Mother’s Day gift that you’ve received (or wanted to receive)? 
Shortbread Buttons
An original recipe by Not Quite Nigella
- 200g unsalted best quality butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup caster sugar
- 1 1/3 cups plain flour
- 3/4 cup rice flour
- tiny pinch of salt
- 50g milk or dark chocolate
- silver cachous
- small sugar flowers
- cookie cutters in various shapes and sizes plus a skewer or a chopstick
1. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F. Line two baking trays with parchment and get your cutters and a skewer or chopstick ready. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
2. In another bowl, mix both flours together with salt until combined and then fold into butter and sugar mixture. You may need to knead it slightly so that it comes together. Roll out the dough on lightly floured surface and roll it out so that it is about 4mms thick. Cut out shapes and gently lift them onto the parchment with an angled spatula or something similar. These do not spread much so you don’t need huge gaps between them. Poke “button holes” with chopstick or skewer and make patterns. Take a bottle lid which is slightly smaller than the cutter and gently press down to make an imprint.
Imprints using a bottle lid
3. Bake at 190c/375F for 5 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 160c/315F for a further 10-15 minutes until pale golden (10 minutes for the smaller biscuits). As they are delicate, wait until they are completely cool before removing them from the tray.
4. Melt chocolate in microwave and using a small spoon spread chocolate in a circle in some of the biscuits. you can decorate these how you like so you can use whatever decorations you have to hand. I made “button holes” using silver cachous (nonpareils) and also used small sugar flowers. Leave to set. Store in airtight container.
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68 Comments | Add your own
OMG your mother would looove this! They are so cute! Wonderful presentation.
What a fantastic idea. These are so so cute! I am bookmarking this post to make for my mom when I go home for a visit. Thanks so much!
Those buttons are funny, adorable and a pity to eat them…a wonderful gift to give!
In my case a lunch for Mother’s Day in a nice restaurant, hope it isn’t a full
Totally stumbled and retweeted this delicious post
Cheers!
Gera
Oh, they look so cute!
Cheers,
Rosa
These are so cute! I’ll probably never look at buttons the same again. My husband is cooking a nice turkey dinner and Mom is coming over. I am giving a lot of thought to dessert. I might make it myself so it’s just what I want. We have some frozen Rhodes cinnamon rolls in the freezer. I may suggest those for breakfast.
These cookies are just adorable! Thanks for posting up the recipe
A heart-felt idea that is cheap and cheerful. I bet your mother would love these!
I’m surprised the biscuits didn’t change shape all that much during the baking process. I would have expected a little spreading out.
Oh this is so wonderful! I’m sure your Mum will be so delighted. Using a bottle lid is an ingenious idea. My Mum has demanded brownies for her birthday but I haven’t settled on a recipe yet!
You’re so creative! These are so cute!!
Yet again another fantastic mother’s day gift! I love the lid idea!
Awww, they are as cute as… a button (sorry)! Love this creative idea!
I would love a lie in, a cup of coffe when I get up, and someone to do the washing up. Dream on.
These are so very cute, and your photographs are just perfect.
Love your work! They are sooo pretty!!
My mum is getting Food Safari 3 dvd… which means I can enjoy it too
x
These are absolutely adorable! It’s such a unique way to present shortbread cookies. I love it!
they’re so cute & pretty
you’re mum is lucky to have such a talented cook as her daughter! I’m a talented driver and will be taking my mother out to lunch on sunday. hehe 
Adorable!! what a great idea to use the bottle caps!
how cute are these Lorraine! and i love that you’ve done the step-by-step pictures as well
Oh, these are so gorgeous! I love anything haberdashery or cookie. Your mother is very lucky!
My mum is getting a scarf, and maybe an embellished photo, if I have time to make it (I’m not as organised as you).
Gorgeous! What a lovely mothers day gift. I’m making my mum some earrings…maybe I’ll bake something for her too. All of your recipes have worked well for me so far
those are so adorable! what a great gift idea
i read that! so cute
great work!
They are just so beautiful I would not be able to eat them!
they are very cute – great styling
Those are too adorable…I’ll have to make some soon. Been craving shortbread anyway.
How cute! This must have been great fun to make and decorate. I love shortbread but since these are tiny I’d probably eat wayy too much of it!
These are adorable! And what a cool creative way to present them
I’m sure your mom will love them.
These are so cute! I love anything buttons. I love it how you forced your parents to eat and enjoy your food when you were little! Sounds like something I would have done (though I used to make my mum cups of coffee with cold water and with about 2 tablespoons of coffee in it)
So cute and I am sure they are delicious!
These look so cute!! What a thoughtful daughter you are. This is my second Mother’s Day, and we are all going out for lunch. I’m getting Mum a voucher so she can start getting all her thousands of slides put onto disc (the wonders of technology). I have requested The Really Useful Cookbook by David Herbert.
CUTE! I know what I will get my kids to do on the weekend! xo
Wonderful pictures. And I’m a shortbread fan!!!!!! Thanks for the inspiration. I’m going to make buttons.
oh how nice I want to make these too
great idea!
Oh NQN these are gorgeous! It’s such a creative idea and your presentation is brilliant.
These cookies are just adorable, you are so talented!
These are just adorable! I’m a sucker for butter too. I’m planning for a butter cake myself for Mom.
My tradition for Mother’s/Father’s Day and parents’ birthdays is always taking my parents out for a meal. This year it’s the Fish Markets (fingers cross for good weather!).
Very cute stuff. Liking how you set up the photos with the tape measure and everything
Those buttons look absolutely scrumptious! I was planning to have a special breakfast with mum on Sunday but it turns out I’m working and these look like the perfect thing to say Happy Mother’s Day.
love your buttons and the photos are great – next time I make shortbread i want it to be buttons
Omg that is the most adorable (and munchable) thing I’ve ever seen! First of all, I have a thing for cute buttons, and second of all, shortbreads are one of my most favourite things in the world!
Yay to your creativity and delish recipes
Oh these are waaaay cute. How could your mum do anything but swoon with pride over these? (And then perhaps boast to her friends about how fantastic her daughter is?) ;P
hahahaha….Lorraine!! What a beautiful idea!! Buttons!! hahahaha….they do look beautifully yummie, lovely shortbread with the addition of rice flour!!! Yummie!!
Just precious…can sit & look at them for hours! LOVELY!!
These are so adorable! I love these cookie buttons! The Mother’s day weekend for our family has now been permanently replaced by a celebration of my daughter’s birthday
Big plans for two birthday parties!
OH my goodness, your button shortbreads are SO perfect!! Wow! I love the ones with the little button holes – they’re incredible!!
My mum lives far away, alas, so I won’t get to cook for her this year, but I did sew and embroider her a decorative pillow…
Hooray for the sewing theme! (your buttons were much more tasty, though… 
What a clever and beautiful presentation. So original.
These are great! I’ve got to cook for three little girls in a few weeks time and they’re from New York so they’ve had the cupcake thing to death – these are genius! Thanks!
Those are so cute! What an awesome idea! I have no idea what I’m doing for my mom for mother’s day – she is hard to bake for as she can’t have flour or sugar and I haven’t really planned anything. I might paint her something.
what fun! i don’t believe i have the patience for a project like this, but you’ve done a wonderful job. so clever, you.
Oh, Lorraine, these are SO adorable. Kids and adults alike will go nuts over these little cuties.
I had a first grade teacher who collected buttons. When we graduated, she gave us each a button from her enourmous jar. She would have loved these!
I get a little sad over Mothers’ Day because of my mom (she died when I was 7). The good thing is my MIL is adorable and I’ll visit her.
These buttons are so cute, Lorraine!
These are adorable.
I just bought my 3 nieces each a good pair of embroidery scissors and I think I might make these to send along.
Absolutely adorable, simple and impressive! For me something that is both simple and impressive at the same time = perfect.
They are absolutely adorable! It’s gonna be my first Mother’s Day as a mom – I wish someone thinks of something as thoughtful as your cookies! I’m sure you mom is going to love it.
So darn adorable.
Hi pigpigscorner-I hope so! She hasn’t seen them yet so here’s hoping
Thankyou!
Hi Feasting on Art-Thankyou! Very cool, I hope that she likes them!
Hi Gera-Thanks and thanks so much for stumbling and retweeting them!
Have fun at your lunch Gera!
Hi Rosa-Thanks very much!
Hi Barbara-Thanks! That sounds like a lovely Mother’s Day. Mmm cinnamon rolls for breakfast is a great plan!
Hi CulinaryCara-Thanks! You’re so welcome
Hi Simon-Ha well I wasn’t necessarily going for cheap but yes it is! I also bought her another present
Nope shortbread
doesn’t change shape very much at all.
Hi Steph-Thankyou so much! I hope so
Hehe at “demanded”! I’m sure you’ll bake some fabulous ones!
Hi Anita-Thankyou so much!
Hi Trisha-Hehe thanks! Yes I was looking around to do an imprint and realised that the bottle lids were perfect!
Hi Angela-Hehe thankyou! I hope your dream comes true Angela!
Hi Cakelaw-Thanks! I had to borrow all those props for my mum!
Hi Iron Chef Shellie -Thankyou! Ahh great present and great idea
Hi lisa -Thankyou so much! I hope she likes it
Hi Betty-Thanks so much, you are too kind!
Sounds like your mum will have a wonderful Mother’s Day too!
Hi Arundathi-Thanks! It came out of desperation!
Hi shez-Thanks very much-I did as many as I could with butter on my hands
Hi belle-Me too! I am a button fanatic too. My friend Queen Viv has a gorgeous button necklace I adore. Greta presents and I
know yours will be accompanied by a gorgeous card too!
Hi Tiffany-Thanks! I bet the earrings will be stunning!
Oh fantatsic! I’m so glad to hear that-YAY!
Hi _mel_-Thankyou so much!
Hi BettyHungryGirl-Thanks so much!
Hi tlmouse-Hehe I have been munching away at them. I made a double batch just in case-just in case of what I don’t know
Hi Renee-Thanks! Styling for them was very important
Hi FRMRSMarketGirl-Thankyou! They’re very easy and so much fun to decorate
Hi maris-Thanks! They were! I’ve been dying to make these for so long
Hi Alexandra-Thankyou so much
I hope she will!
Hi Bria-Thanks, me too!
Haha yes I think they thought they should just go along with it! LOL at your coffee! Did they
drink it?
Hi meg-Thankyou! They were really buttery and crumbly good
Hi Megan-Thankyou so much! That sounds wonderful and a very thoughtful gift! It’s good to put in requests-then you get
exactly what you want
Hi Big M-Hehe I bet the boys won’t have any trouble with them!
Hi Gale-Thankyou! Very cool, I hope you like them!
Hi snooky doodle-Thanks so much!
Hi Arwen-Thankyou so much! I had so much fun photographing and styling these
Hi Sara-Aw shucks, thankyou!
Hi Karen-Me too I admit
Sounds lovely! Oh cool, the Fish Markets is a nice idea!
Hi Jude-Thanks! All of that was borrowed from my mum. She didn’t ask why. I think she’s used to be borrowing random things
Hi Clarice-Thankyou! Ah yes in the absence of your presence, these would be a great present!
Hi Johanna-Thanks! Yes and it’s so easy to make them as buttons!
Hi Jenny -Hehe thankyou! I love collecting buttons too. Just random stray ones! Thankyou so much, you are so sweet!
Hi Forager-Thankyou! I hoe so but she’s a litle subdued with her reactions
Who knows how she’ll react?
Hi Sophie-Thankyou so much Sophie!
Hi deeba-Thanks so much!
Hi 5 Star Foodie-Thankyou! Ahh so a shared event? Sounds like double the fun!
Hi Astra-Thankyou!
Hehe those were so easy, no need to ice at all 
That sounds like a wonderful gift Astra!!
Hi Jaime-Thanks so much!
Hi Prue -Thanks! Oh very cool, I bet they like them! Especially in cute girly colours!
Hi anna-Thankyou! Ahh yes that is hard. Perhaps a cheesecake with a modified base and sweetened with honey? Painting her
something sounds wonderful!
Hi grace-Hehe Grace I bet you do! You make such great things all the time!
Hi Leela-Thankyou so much! You are too kind!
Hi Blond Duck-Oh wow that is rather cool of her! Did you get to choose your button?
Hi Patricia-Oh I’m so sorry to hear that Patricia
Bu that is good to hear about your MIL! 
Thankyou!
Hi Michelle-Thankyou!
Oh yes they’d accompany them perfectly! 
Hi Kristen-Thankyou! Yes they are simple so you are totally right!
Hi Paula-Thanks so much! Aww your first, how very cool and special! Have fun!
Hi Michelle-Hehe thankyou!
these are so adorable!!
Ooh these are adorable! I’ve been eyeing a similar recipe for a while, but never got around to buying rice flour.
Wonderful post and great theme for the pics. Love the tape measure.
So mother’s Day here? Well my Mom is very quirky. She will be getting a giant jar of Nutella and an array of anchovies, a selection of different brands. She is an anchovy freak. Go figure. I can’t go near them. Plus I will bake her an orange-pineapple pie, her favorite.
You know Lorraine, Mother’s Day in Indonesia is on December 22. tee hee hee, so no I’m not doing anything for mum.
But look at the adorable buttons!
I love how your shortbread buttons really do look like buttons!
Lorraine, these are adorable. I have seen some shortbread button cookies before and similarly thought they’d be great to make. Mostly because they were so unusual looking. I’m glad you reminded me. My mum is also pretty crafty and would love these, but I never even put the idea together. My mum is getting a mocha roulade for Mother’s Day this year. She’s a coffee freak so hopefully a good choice. Well done on the cookies. Soooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute!!!!
Hi Chris-Thankyou! I saw it in the supermarket the other day so if you’re inspired you don’t need to make a special trip
Hi Libby -Hehe thankyou. I think she wondered why I wanted it all but is used to my prop borrowing!
Hehe that is so funny!
She sounds very quirkily wonderful-just as long as she doesn’t eat them in front of you right?
Hi Taiko Tari-Oh really, so close to Christmas! Thanks!
Hi Midge-Thankyou so much!
I really wanted hem to so that’s great to hear 
Hi Julia-Thankyou! Oh you’ve seen them in shops? Sounds like mums everywhere are getting well and truly spoilt!
Hello, I just discovered your website while I was googling Weiss mangoes and cream bar…and I have to admit, I think I’m totally hooked on your website! The recipes are fantastic and your decorations and pictures are just absolutely wonderful! I will definitely read this blog for more recipes!
Also, I just want to ask, concerning this recipe, is it okay to not use rice flour? I’m curious why you used rice flour, as the various shortbread recipes I’ve read before didn’t have that. Thanks!
Hi Jesse-Thankyou so much, that’s very kind of you to say
I believe rice flour changes the texture of the shortbread although you could certainly use all plain flour. I personally really like it with a portion of it with rice flour but it’s totally up to you!
Oh Nigella, I can’t get over how cute and artistic these buttons are. You were quite the little girl. My interest in food didn’t begin until 12 yrs old. My mom taught me how to make good coffee at about seven I believe.
Again, Your artistry is so inspiring. Aloha from Marilyn
Lorraine,
This cup measurement, is it based on 1 cup = 250g???
Thanks
ST
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