Fall in love with these four ingredient Melting Moments. These buttery shortbread cookies are sandwiched together with creamy vanilla buttercream and make for a beautiful sweet treat.
I love seriously love Melting Moments 💜
These gorgeous sandwich cookies are made of two shortbread-like cookies squished together with homemade vanilla buttercream. But they’re no regular shortbread cookie, these egg-free delights have a special ingredient that gives them unrivalled flavour.
If you love buttery cookies, you will go mad for these Melting Moments.
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always had a soft spot for Melting Moments. In fact, I remember when I was first creating this blog, I even considered naming it Melting Moments. See – true obsession.
And now I know why these plain-looking cookies taste so good. Made with butter, sugar and flour, there’s a fourth ingredient that takes them to the next level flavour-wise – custard powder. That’s also what gives them their typical yellow appearance.
I know that custard powder may not be available in other countries as readily as it is here in Australia, so I’ve also given an alternative, that yields a result pretty close to the original. Trust me – I ate my fair share of Melting Moments just to be sure.
There’s no eggs or raising agents, which means they are super simple to make. And they boast a unique buttery texture that means they literally melt-in-your-mouth -> get it?!
The final touch is a smothering of creamy vanilla buttercream. You could also colour your buttercream if you like – wouldn’t these be cute with a blue or pink filling for a baby shower or the like?
Made with staple pantry ingredients, these Melting Moments will become that recipe you have up your sleeve for when impromptu guests rock up or you need a sweet fix stat.
How to tell if Melting Moments are cooked
Melting Moments are cooked when they are firm to the touch, but they won’t go brown like regular cookies. They usually take around 12 minutes to bake.
How long do Melting Moments last?
Melting Moments will keep well for up to 5 days. Store cookies in an airtight container.
How to make Melting Moments without custard powder
If you don’t have custard powder, you can use a mix of cornflour (or cornstarch) and icing sugar (or powdered sugar) instead. I’ve outlined in the recipe below how to make these Melting Moments without custard powder.
Are Melting Moments gluten free?
Not typically, no.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Hungry for more? Join me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter for more amazing recipe ideas.
Let’s Bake
Melting Moments
Homemade shortbread cookies filled with vanilla buttercream.
Ingredients
Melting Moments
- 230 grams (1 cup / 2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 280 grams (2 cups) plain flour or all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 60 grams (1/2 cup) icing sugar or powdered sugar, sifted
- 4 level tablespoons custard powder*
Vanilla buttercream
- 115 grams (1/2 cup / 1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 375 grams (3 cups) icing sugar or powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3–4 tablespoons full fat or whole milk, room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F) standard / 160 C (320 F) fan-forced. Line two baking trays with baking or parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 1 minute or until creamy. Add flour, salt, sugar and custard powder and beat until a soft cookie dough forms.
- Roll roughly two teaspoons of cookie dough in your hands to form a ball and place on prepared tray. Repeat with remaining cookie dough. Press down on each cookie using a fork.
- Bake cookies for approximately 12 minutes. Leave to cool slightly before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the frosting, place butter in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until pale and creamy.
- Add vanilla, half the sugar and one tablespoon of milk and beat until combined. Add the remaining sugar and another tablespoon of milk and beat until smooth.
- If the frosting is too thick, add an extra tablespoon or two of milk. Add buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip. Pipe buttercream onto one cookie. Add another cookie on top. Repeat with remaining cookies.
Notes
*If you don’t have custard powder, add 3 level tablespoons cornflour (corn starch) and 1 level tablespoon of icing sugar or powdered sugar.
Helia says
This recipe is absolutely wonderful. It’s got the perfect sugar balance and it’s simply delicious! If you follow the instructions perfectly you’ll get a wonderful biscuit! Very yummy, buttery and crumbly and not too soft. I made a lemon flavored butter cream and it’ worked so well! Thank you so much! Will defs make these again. 😍
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Aww so glad you enjoyed them Helia! Thank you for the kind feedback!
Toni says
Hi, do you have a macro breakdown?
Jessica Holmes says
No I don’t sorry.
Elynda says
Had a go-to melting moment recipe but came across this one and decided to try it. This is now my new favourite – less crumbly than the other but not as sweet (which I prefer). Only made 1/2 the buttercream and found that to be the perfect biscuit to buttercream ratio. Definitely worth making it and feel a less guilty as it’s got less sugar 🙂
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Aww love that Elynda! Thank you for the kind feedback!
Sinothando says
South Africa approves… I love it
★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Thanks for the feedback!
Karen Edwards says
Love the recipe! Made perfect melting moments!
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Amazing! Thanks so much Karen!
Edith Kayinga says
Made a quick batch of these, chilled them in the fridge then rolled and cut them. Easy to make. I unfortunately didn’t have time to sandwich them because they didn’t last that long….. 🤦♀️
★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Edith, aww so glad you enjoyed them! I love them even without any frosting too!
alisha says
So delicious.
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Glad you liked them!
robyn holt says
Hi Jessica, these are fantastic, if i can get one for myself !!, just wondering i need a firmer filling recipe for this Australian summer then i could give them as gifts, do you know how this could be acheived. Thanks for your great recipes robyn
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Robyn, I’m so glad you enjoyed these biscuits! You could try making the buttercream and halving the milk (or even just leaving it out) for a thicker filling. Also make sure your butter isn’t too soft. You could also pop them in the fridge to help them stay firm. Thank you for the lovely feedback!
Pauline says
I have just made this and the hoards have attacked them before they have even cooled. Being on a Low FODMAP diet I substituted the flour to LoFo flour and used gluten free custard powder and lactose free milk. The only difference is the slight rounded shape you have while mine is more flattened, otherwise taste is just the same. Thank you for a delicious recipe.
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Pauline, aww I’m so glad these worked out for you! Thank you for sharing your lovely feedback ☺️
Barbara Bensley says
Hi Jessica – you say it’s an Australian recipe but you’re living in the U S. Does this mean your measurements are Australian tablespoons (20ml) or American tablespoons (15ml)? Many thanks. Greetings from Melbourne. Barbara.
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Barbara, I actually live in Australia. So I use a 20ml tablespoon measurement – hope that helps!
tina says
Just made these. I need to work on the shape but they are delicious. Loving your recipes. Every one ive tried has worked perfectly.
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Aw I love hearing that Tina! Thanks for the lovely feedback!
Anneke says
I just made these are they are delicious. A bit sweet for me with the buttercream though. Next time im going to leave them plain as they do taste just like shortbread. Yum!!!!
Jessica Holmes says
So glad you liked them Anneke! And you’re right – they are like shortbread!
Eleana says
I made these with my 7 year old niece and they are AMAZING. Sooo beautiful and truly melt in your mouth 😊
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Aw love hearing that! Glad you enjoyed them Eleana! ☺️
Lelia says
These are custard creams…melting moments are coconut or oat biscuits with a cherry on top!
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Lelia, oh I’ve never had that type of melting moment before – sounds delicious. I grew up with these shortbread cookie sandwiches.
Karen Edwards says
They’re melting moments to me! Monte Carlos have coconut but not melting moment!
Madison Grant says
These are melting moments in Australia
Natalie says
They look soooo soft and buttery and melt in your mouth! I have to try this recipe soon ♥
★★★★★
Jessica Holmes says
Thanks Natalie!