Why do you need to chill shortbread before cooking it?

It is generally not necessary to chill shortbread dough before baking it. In fact, chilling the dough can make it more difficult to work with and can result in a less tender cookie. However, there are a few reasons why you might choose to chill shortbread dough before baking it.

-Chilling the dough can help to prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven. This is especially important if you are making cookies with a delicate shape or if you are using a cookie cutter with a intricate design.

-Chilling the dough can also help to make the cookies more firm and less crumbly. This can be helpful if you are planning to stack or transport the cookies.

-Finally, chilling the dough can help to develop the flavor of the cookies. The longer the dough chills, the more time the ingredients have to meld together and create a richer, more complex flavor.

If you do choose to chill shortbread dough before baking it, be sure to wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out. You can chill the dough for anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight. When you are ready to bake the cookies, remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature for about 15 minutes before rolling it out and cutting it into shapes.