Baking does not always have to be complicated or intimidating. Sometimes, the simplest ingredients and the most trusted products are all you need to build confidence and joy in the kitchen.
Buttercup Margarine has become exactly that for me, a trusted companion in baking. Indulging in simple pleasures feels effortless when you know your ingredients will deliver consistent, beautiful results. Since my discovery of baking with 2i Nutriday dough, nothing had quite matched the confidence boost I needed in the kitchen... until Buttercup entered the chat.
Funny enough, Buttercup wasn’t even on my radar at first. I mentioned it in passing last year casually, and that’s when my mom-in-love lit up with excitement. She couldn’t hold back her joy “Buttercup is back!” she exclaimed. What followed was a wave of nostalgia as she shared how Buttercup used to be her go-to for all her baking. Cakes, biscuits, and pastries, she swore by it. According to her, the results were always spectacular. Golden, tender, flavourful, and reliable. Margarine often doesn’t get the credit it deserves, yet it is one of the most versatile products you can keep in your fridge. It works beautifully in both cooking and baking, making it a practical, everyday staple. One of the things I truly appreciate is that Buttercup comes in both brick and spread form. In many households, those two formats serve very different purposes and must be respected accordingly. The brick is often reserved for baking and cooking, while the spread is perfect for toast, sandwiches and quick meals. Having both available simply makes life easier.
Shortbread cookies are one of those baked treats that never go out of style. They are humble, elegant and incredibly satisfying. If you’re not enjoying the original EatSumMores, I encourage you, just like I did, to whip up a batch at home. These cookies require very few ingredients, don’t take long to prepare, and bake quickly. They’re ideal for beginner bakers and seasoned ones alike. That said, I do recommend regulating how often you make and enjoy them. They’re dangerously good, and as with most things, too much of anything isn’t the best idea.
So what makes shortbread cookies so good? It’s the butter. A good shortbread relies heavily on fat for flavour and texture. Buttercup Margarine delivers a rich, buttery taste while creating that signature tender, crumbly texture shortbread is known for. While classic shortbread is perfect on its own, there’s something magical about dressing it up just a little. Adding Rhodes Extra Fruit jam brings a burst of fruity sweetness and colour. You can sandwich two cookies together with jam or thumbprint the centre before baking, or serve jam in the dip. With Bridgerton season upon us, it feels only right to honour Lady Whistledown with a warm batch of shortbread cookies and a proper cup of tea while binge-watching the latest season. I’ll be honest, I haven’t started the new season yet. I’m a little apprehensive. It is the kind of show that deserves the perfect moment. I need to sit with my calendar and actually plan how I’m going to watch it. Do I start an episode mid-day and finish it in the evening? Do I split it across quiet pockets of time? Keeping it as an evening guilty pleasure sounds ideal, but evenings rarely cooperate. There’s supper to make, homework, bedtime routines, quality time, something to watch with hubby, and the constant effort to get a healthy number of hours of sleep.
So daytime it is. This week. With tea. And shortbread. And please no spoilers. I cannot stand it when someone hears you mention a show and they immediately word vomits vague but revealing comments that somehow give everything away.
INGREDIENTS
250g Buttercup Margarine (brick) ½ cup icing sugar 2 cups cake flour 2 tsp baking powder Optional: vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat your oven to 160°C and line a baking tray with parchment paper. Cream the Buttercup Margarine and icing sugar until pale and smooth. Add vanilla if using, then gently fold in the flour and baking powder. Mix until a soft dough forms. Do not overwork. Roll out the dough or shape as desired. Cut into fingers, rounds or shapes. Place on the baking tray and chill for 20 minutes. Bake for 20–25 minutes until lightly golden at the edges. Cool completely before serving, dipping in chocolate or adding jam if desired. Baking with Buttercup reminds us that simple pleasures are often the most rewarding.
