Stars & Stripes Mascarpone Shortbread: So festive and fun! Perfect for July 4th, Labor Day and Memorial Day picnics and barbecues.
I’ve made different flag desserts before. And they’re fun.
But then I thought, wouldn’t it be really fun for each person to have their very own individual little flag shortbread bar?
And that’s when Stars & Stripes Mascarpone Shortbread came to mind.
The Scottish shortbread layer is thin, buttery and crunchy. Bake the shortbread first.
While still warm, cut it into 2 1/2 ” by 4 ” rectangles.
Cool, then frost with light and airy whipped mascarpone frosting.
Top with freshly picked summer strawberries and blueberries!
Stars & Stripes Mascarpone Shortbread is a fun, easy dessert, sure to please patriots of all ages!
Star & Stripes Mascarpone Shortbread
Ingredients
- Shortbread:
- 2 cups butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 cups flour
- Berries:
- 1 quart strawberries washed
- 1 pint blueberries washed
- Mascarpone frosting:
- 8 ounces mascarpone
- 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- optional: 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin dissolved in a couple teaspoons cold water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- Beat butter until creamy.
- Gradually add 1 cup sugar 'til mixtures is smooth.
- Add in flour.
- Press dough with floured hands into parchment lined 12" X 16" cookie sheet.
- (Parchment makes it easy to lift the shortbread out of the pan after baking for easier, precise cutting.)
- Bake at 375° for 18 minutes or 'til golden brown.
- Remove from oven and cool for ten minutes.
- While still warm, carefully lift shortbread out of the pan with the parchment paper and place on a large cutting board.
- Cut into 2 1/2 " by 4" rectangles while warm.
- When cool, frost with Mascarpone Frosting.
- Mascarpone Frosting:
- Place mascarpone, vanilla, sugar and whipping cream together in a mixing bowl.
- Optional: dissolve 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin in a couple teaspoons cold water.
- Whisk water and gelatin together and let "bloom" a minute or two.
- Add this gelatin mixture in with the other frosting ingredients.
- (Unflavored gelatin helps the light frosting hold up in the heat.)
- Beat all together just until soft peaks form.
- (Be careful not to overbeat or it will quickly turn into butter!)
- Decorate with blueberries for stars and strawberry slices for stripes.
- (I cut the strawberries in half first, then cut those into thin slices, and trim down.)
- Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate.
Notes
Stars & Stripes Mascarpone Shortbread is perfect served with a glass of Triple Easy Homemade Lemonade or Raspberry Limeade!
You may also enjoy: Raspberry Peach Almond Shortbread
Ellen says
So festive and cute! I bet they taste amazing.
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
What a fun, festive dessert idea. Love the shortbread base 🙂
Catherine says
Dear Allie, I absolutely love your shortbread flags. They look like so much fun to make and to eat! Pinning these for later dear. Wishing you a beautiful afternoon. xo, Catherine
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says
These are awesome…such a creative dessert! And they look yummy too!
Jessica says
How smart to use the strawberry pieces for stripes! These look delicious and festive.
Leslie says
I LOVE SHORTBREAD!!!! This looks sooo good. (ps – I was not yelling at you with the ALL CAPS). 🙂
Allie says
Thank you Leslie! No worries. ‘CUZ I CAN YELL BACK, ALL THE WAY TO CHICAGO! 🙂 XO
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
These are just adorable – love your use of berries on these! Though, I don’t just want my own little flag shortbread – I want mine and yours and hers and his and… you get the picture? 😉
Denise says
These look perfect for a summer cookout. Very festive!
Aunt Pinkie says
Oh, my-these look scrumptious and perfect for the 4 th of July! The shortbread looks fabulous, too! Have never bought marscapone cheese-where do you find it!
Allie says
Thanks so much Aunt Pinkie, I thought you especially would like these patriotic flags! Mascarpone is at the grocery store, usually in the refrigerated specialty cheese section. Mine was in an 8 oz. tub. The consistency is similar to cream cheese, a little more sophisticated flavor and a smoother consistency. If you can’t find mascarpone, I think cream cheese would also work, but I’m not positive since I haven’t tried it.
Susie Mandel says
You are so creative. These look really good. 🙂
Megan Marlowe says
These looks deliciously festive!
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen says
These are the cutest shortbread cookies ev-ah!!
Alyssa says
Okay…these are adorable! I was just wanting to make a patriotic treat for the 4th of July and I think I found the one! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
http://www.sweetlytattered.com
Mary says
My favorite cookie of all time is shortbread! Love the decorations!
Renee says
I love everything about these! I love shortbread and they are decorated perfectly!
Julia says
These are so fun for the 4th of July! My kids would go crazy for these. <3
Linda Jenkins says
Another great recipe. I printed off quite a few of your suggestions because they all sound so delicious and easy t make. Now, I just need some time and some motivation. This rainy weather just makes me lazy. It is your motivation that motivates me. Love and prayers coming your way.
Sharon @ What The Fork Food Blog says
I love that you used thin strips of strawberries for the stripes! Such a fun festive treat 🙂
Christina @ Christina's Cucina says
What a fabulous idea and tasty to boot! I love these shortbread, Allie!! Perfect 4th of July creation!
Carina Spring says
Wow, a new “classic dessert” is born, I think!! Happy 4th of July to you all from the Happy 1st of July over here! 🙂
Cynthia/what a girl eats says
I love shortbread for it’s simplicity…and because it’s the perfect pair with so many other things like your mascarpone and fruit!
Eva says
Très original ton shortbread ! J’adore!
LoveCompassionateLee says
The perfect patriotic treat! I love mascarpone 🙂
Happy 4th of July weekend
http://www.lovecompassionatelee.com/thinkoutloud
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says
These shortbread look divine! Such a cute festive idea! Happy 4th of July! 😀
Sharon says
These are beautiful! So proud of you! Love your blogs, too!
Marya Dortch says
I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the structure of your blog? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2 pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?