Set out these buttery savory herb shortbread crackers at the cocktail hour for an elegant alternative to chips. I’ve included a pretty customizable menu and place cards to help you set the theme for a brunch or afternoon tea.

herbed shortbread crackers prove shortbread isn’t only for dessert
Shortbread is one of my favorite things to eat, and granted I mostly go the sweet route, but every now and then I crave these cheesy biscuits, they go great with a chilled glass of wine. If you love this concept be sure to check out my gorgeous pansy topped shortbread!
In addition to my recipe, I’m including downloadable printables for your next spring brunch or gathering. The menu is customizable so you can print them out with your own fabulous line up. Place cards, too! You’ll need Adobe Acrobat Reader (it’s free) to fill in your menu and print. Instructions below.

fresh rosemary is rolled right into my shortbread dough for a fabulous herby flavor
I used rosemary from the overgrown bush just outside my front door, it thrives in the California heat and provides me with an endless supply. The stalks are long and sturdy enough to use as skewers for my Rosemary Chicken Skewers, but for this savory shortbread recipe I snip the tender tips. I process them right into the dough which gets infused with that wonderful piney flavor.

herb shortbread can be changed up in lots of ways
You can have endless fun with this concept. Use thyme or sage instead of rosemary (be sure it’s fresh!) and roll more fresh herbs right onto the top of your dough before cutting. The laminated herbs will cook right into the crackers.


how to serve savory shortbread crackers
These savory shortbread crackers are substantial enough to be served on their own so they make a super easy starter with some nice white wine. You don’t really need to add cheese because it’s baked right in!
which wine goes best?
I suggest a dry Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, but go with what you love.

Tips for making savory herb shortbread ~
- Butter should be at room temperature, I leave it out overnight.
- Measure your flour using the fluff, scoop, and level method for accuracy.
- Use fresh rosemary, dried won’t be nearly as fragrant. Remove the leaves from the stems and give them an initial chop before adding to the processor.
- Process the dough in your food processor just until it comes together in a lump. This should happen in 30 seconds to a minute. You can do this by hand, just be sure to get the dough thoroughly mixed and all the flour hydrated by the butter so it isn’t crumbly.
- Depending on the moisture content of your butter and cheese, you may need to add a tiny bit of water to your dough to bring it together. Start with 1/2 tsp and go from there.
- If you are going to laminate fresh herbs on your crackers I found that some worked better than others. Parsley, sage, lavender, and thyme worked well for me. Parsley kept its green color the best of all.
- I bake my shortbread so that it has a soft texture, like a shortbread cookie. If you’d prefer a crisper texture, cut them a little thinner and bake a little longer.

The menu pdf file is fillable with your own text if you open it using Adobe Reader (see instructions below), while the place-cards simply have a blank space for you to fill in your guest’s names by hand. Of course you could also print out a blank menu and fill it in by hand, as well, if you were just going to display one copy on a counter or a buffet, for example.
Simply click on the links below to download your free copy of either the printable menus or place-cards!
To use the fillable option on the menus, follow these steps:
- Download Adobe Reader if you don’t already have it (it’s free.)
- Open the menu file in Adobe Reader, and fill in the text boxes with your menu items.
- To print either file, make sure your print settings are set to “scale” at 100%.
- Cut out your menus or place-cards along the lines indicated at the corners using scissors or a paper-cutter.

Happy spring entertaining!
Rosemary Parmesan Shortbread
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups flour
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 Tbsp finely minced rosemary leaves (If you like you can mince the rosemary right in the food processor first)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- whole herbs for laminating onto the dough
Instructions
- Put the flour, cheese, rosemary, salt and pepper into the bowl of a food processor. Add the chunks of soft butter and pulse about 30 times to combine into a crumbly mixture. The process until the dough comes together, this should not take longer than 30 seconds to a minute. If the dough does not come together, add a tiny bit of water to the bowl, start with 1/2 tsp, and process again.
- Turn the dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap and bring together into a smooth flat disk, just like you do with pie crust dough. The dough should be smooth and uniform, without dry floury parts. Knead it with your hands if necessary. Wrap the disk in the plastic and refrigerate for an hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350F
- Roll out the dough to about 1/4 to 1/8 thickness. I do this between two sheets of waxed paper and it works like a charm, no sticking. If you want to laminate herbs onto the surface of the dough, lay them out onto the dough, leaving space between. Put the waxed paper back over the top and lightly roll with your rolling pin to press the herbs right into the dough. Use a 2 inch round cookie cutter to cut out your circles. Remove the dough to a baking sheet. Reform the leftover dough, roll and repeat until all the dough is used.
- Bake the shortbread for 10-15 minutes, until they are just starting to turn pale golden around the edges. Cool for a few minutes on the pan, then remove to a rack. The shortbread will firm up as it cools.
Video
Cook’s notes
- Make it ahead ~ you can make the crackers up to a couple of days ahead of time, or freeze the dough.
- Make it easy ~ if you don’t care about the herbs laminated on top of the crackers you can roll the dough into a log and slice and bake.
- Make it pretty ~ use edible flowers in place of the herbs ~ try spicy marigold petals.
- Make it with different herbs ~ I think thyme or sage would be fabulous.
- Make it with different cheese ~ other hard aged Italian cheeses like Asiago, Romano, or Grana Padano would work too.
Nutrition



103 Comments
Marwa
September 3, 2020 at 9:57 amHello! Thank you for the recipe.
I would like to make it two days before for a party. Can I Make it ahead and leave the dough in the fridge for a couple of days? Or do you advise me to bake and freeze? Thanks a lot!
Sue
September 4, 2020 at 6:48 amYou can definitely keep the dough in the fridge. I do it all the time.
LoneStarGatherings.com
August 15, 2020 at 3:12 pmI made these as an appetizer to go with the martinis that kicked off my dinner party, so I left out the extra herbs on top. However, when I make them again I will add the herbs and serve them with a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Gris. They are so delicate and flavorful. The guests raved! Delish! Thank you for the post.
Sandra
July 8, 2020 at 8:08 amWow! these look SO delicious and attractive. My herb garden is at it’s peak and I can’t wait to try these. Thanks for posting 🙂 Sandra
Emily leberman
June 24, 2020 at 8:41 amI have never cooked with Almond Flour, but my boyfriend has recently started Keto.. thoughts on subbing All Purpose Flour for Almond. Would that also work?
Sue
June 24, 2020 at 9:36 amAlmond flour would make the cookies too delicate, I’m afraid, Emily. You might look up a cookie recipe specifically using almond flour and then see if you can top with the herbs.
Nan Zingrone
June 24, 2020 at 1:59 pmI make Keto shortbread with a combination of almond flour and coconut flour. They hold up very well as thin cookies. I think that would work. I’m saving this receipt to try.
Flora
June 26, 2020 at 8:51 amHi there Sue! I love this recipe and your pictures are beautiful. Would you mind if I shared the recipe on my Instagram page? I will credit you for the image and recipe however you’d prefer.
Mary Beth Carr
May 28, 2020 at 11:17 amDelicious! I made these and your Pansy Topped Shortbread cookies yesterday. So pretty! Great way to start the summer baking season!
MIchelle
December 29, 2019 at 11:04 amCan you freeze the actual cracker?
Sue
December 29, 2019 at 11:14 amYes, shortbread freezes really well, and I had no trouble with the herbs on top.
Cindy
November 3, 2019 at 11:01 amThese savory shortbread biscuits are delicious! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe ?.
I could eat them all in one sitting..they almost melt in your mouth! They will be a great accompaniment to potato and leek soup!
Sue
November 3, 2019 at 7:34 pmThanks Cindy!
Cheryl
October 22, 2019 at 10:00 amThese crackers are so delicious and easy to make. My guests were impressed.
Barbara Rosenblum
October 17, 2019 at 6:36 pmI froze the cut out cracker dough. Do you bake them frozen or defrost them first?
Sue
October 17, 2019 at 7:37 pmYou can leave them out for a bit to soften, but they don’t have to be completely thawed.
Connie Moczygemba
August 7, 2019 at 12:02 pmThese look beautiful and sound delicious. I will be baking these soon.
I was wondering if they can be kept at room temperature after baking or does the cheese content require refrigeration.
Sue
August 7, 2019 at 1:14 pmI keep my shortbread cookies at room temperature for several days, Connie.