Shortbread is made using just four ingredients – butter, sugar, flour and vanilla extract – and the secret lies in the quality of these ingredients. Buy very good unsalted butter and the best vanilla extract you can afford. Delicate and buttery, crumbly and light, shortbread is delectable served alongside poached or roasted fruit, or vanilla ice cream. But arguably, nothing surpasses the pleasure of nibbling on shortbread in the late afternoon with a good pot of tea.