How Do You Eat Shortbread Fingers?
By M.-L.
@MALUSE (69413)
Germany
August 7, 2021 12:40pm CST
Occasionally, I order groceries online instead of walking to the nearest supermarket. It's not far away, but I'm not so keen on hauling my things home. Besides, I like browsing through the catalogue of products the online supermarket of my choice offers.
The last time I did that I was attracted by Paterson's Shortbread Fingers (Scottish Bakers Since 1895), the 'No 1 Brand In Britain'. It may sound strange, but I don't remember eating this speciality when I was in England. I don't even remember when was the last time I visited. It was so long ago. Besides, I was living as a paying guest in the household of a German woman who was married to a South African. No Scottish shortbread in their cupboard!
Anyways, I felt nostalgic and ordered it. And now comes my question: how does one eat it in a civilised way? The pieces in the box are about as long as a finger, as high as a finger and as wide as two fingers (hence the name I guess) – and very, very dry. Simply looking at them gives me bouts of silicosis.
One could dip the shortbread fingers into the liquid one is having with them. Yet, somehow, this doesn't attract me. I don't want to have crumbs swimming in my tea.
I tried smearing jam and a thin layer of Quark (similar to cottage cheese) on the shortbread fingers, but they aren't made for being smeared on. They're too brittle and crumble too easily and make a mess on the plate.
Now, members living on the British Isles and lovers of shortbread from other parts of the world: Please enlighten me on how you eat and enjoy your Shortbread Fingers!
15 people like this
15 responses
@xFiacre (12605)
• Ireland
7 Aug 21
Good heavens, @Maluse , spreading quark on something as sweet as shortbread? You’ll have nightmares. Shortbread is a peculiar confection. I would eat it alongside a nice cup of tea, but each bite really does take a good mouthful of tea to wash it down. I know you have your own blend of tea that you prefer and I’m sure it will be just right for the job. It is indeed quite crumbly, and more than one finger of it gives me indigestion. Next you’ll be trying clootie dumpling!
3 people like this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
7 Aug 21
I've checked the package. Yes, there is butter in the shortbreads. The info says: "Butter (milk)" I wonder what this is supposed to mean. As far as I know, butter is always made of milk!
I don't enjoy munching the dry thingies, butter or not, and as I've described having pieces of shortbread swimming in my drink of choice doesn't please me, either.
2 people like this
@sallypup (57972)
• Centralia, Washington
7 Aug 21
@xFiacre When I was a kid I ended up staying for a while with an elderly German lady. I didn't realize that she had cartons of buttermilk in her fridge. I grabbed a carton and poured some on my cereal per usual. Ooooops. Very sour and clabbered stuff. Not a fun surprise. I never heard of buttermilk in shortbread cause shortbread is sweet and buttery.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
8 Aug 21
I expect by time the shortbread reaches you in the shops it is well past it's best to be fair.
Freshly baked shortbread will make the house smell lovely, it should melt in the mouth & taste very buttery. It is rather cloying and tends to stick to the roof of your mouth hence drinking plenty of tea or coffee to help wash it down. My mother rarely if ever made it thank goodness we would either break our teeth on it or we would choke on it as it would be as dry as sand. Thankfully an aunt used to make the best shortbread on earth & l make it to her recipe. A pinch of salt, only ever butter never any other fat, flour, caster sugar & a little semolina.
The butter should be very very cold gently rubbed into the flour with the finger tips once all made rest in the fridge then roll out, cut into fingers or rounds then bake. The semolina makes it slightly more crispy, less crumbly & less cloying.
Freshly made is so much nicer & really simple to do. Shortbread never has anything else put on it! The older it is, the drier it will be so either dunk or wash down with copious amounts of tea. Freshly made is the key here! Shop bought is really not good.
When we bought a microwave there was a recipe which cooked in it record time. The first batch was nice but far too crumbly the second time it caught fire!!!!!!! I have never made it that way again my aunt would be disgusted if she heard that.
So in summary: freshly made with lots of tea or coffee! Enjoy! 
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
8 Aug 21
@MALUSE Such a shame whilst the shop one is acceptable it is not quite like freshly baked shortbread. I guess the same could be said about a French Baguette it needs to be eaten relatively quickly hours later it is unpalatable.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156488)
• United States
8 Aug 21
I think I would savor them plain and just clean up the crumbs! :-) But then I'm from Ohio in the US; so what do I know? lol
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
7 Aug 21
I just eat them as they are. Sometimes I eat them with a cup of tea, but I never dip them in my tea. When I was living in Scotland I saw people who dipped them in their tea, but I prefer to eat them as they are.
@kaylachan (57829)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Aug 21
As is, I supose. I'm not really a duncker, either.
1 person likes this
@Torunn (8609)
• Norway
7 Aug 21
I would eat them just as they are, maybe with a cup of tea (possibly coffee, if you like that), but not dunk them. They're not that good for dunking really, especially if it's the ones with sugar coating. I could also eat them with milk. I love milk and biscuits.
I got introduced to them by my Scottish friend when we both studied in Vienna. She used to dunk some of them I think, it depended on the texture. We used to get them in the English food shop. Quite big shop, had all kinds of weird things you'd never think anyone would miss.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (49054)
• United States
7 Aug 21
I’ve never had a shortbread Finger, but I love shortbread. I’d have it with a cup of coffee.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325923)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Aug 21
I hadn't thought about them as being difficult to eat apart from the crumbs they give off.
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
8 Aug 21
I am not sure I've ever tried them before. At least I don't recall. I'd put some cheese on it or farmer cheese even and have it with tea.
@arunima25 (85389)
• Bangalore, India
7 Aug 21
I never had them. But if it has butter, we can just pick it up and take a bite. it should taste good that way.
@kobesbuddy (74594)
• East Tawas, Michigan
7 Aug 21
We don't often have shortbread fingers, but I love them with a cup of coffee. I use to frost them, canned butter cream frosting.
