I sampled these award-winning biscuits for research purposes
I admit, I came over all Braveheart when I heard that tearoom and bakery institution Betty’s had won gold at the Great British Food Awards 2026 for its Yorkshire Shortbread Biscuits, making them the best biscuit in the UK.
They can take our lives and our freedom, but they can’t take our precious shortbread. After all, since the 12th century, this foodstuff has been as Scottish as rain. Even Mary, Queen of Scots was a fan of petticoat tails, dotted with caraway seed.
Still, I suppose you shouldn’t knock it until you try it, especially as these awards are judged by bigwigs, including Raymond Blanc OBE and Nisha Katona OBE, and our very own chefs, Adam Handling, Roberta Hall McCarron and Stuart Ralston. However, the Sweet Biscuits Category was judged by pastry chef Cherish Finden - a judge on Bake Off: The Professionals.
It seems that perfection doesn’t come cheap. These are £7.95 for 12, which works out at 66p-ish per biccie. The packaging, which is gallous-ly emblazoned with the words Yorkshire Shortbread, is very cutely illustrated by artist Emily Sutton, and the box opens like a treasure chest.
Ingredients-wise, there are no secrets. It’s just butter, wheat flour, cornflour and sugar. And, yes, they are delicious - not sandy, sturdy yet delicate, golden-retriever-coloured and slightly thicker round the middle. They are the perfect refined shortbread for purists. No fancy business.
Are they the best ever? Well, I guess it's subjective. I quite like those rounds with the crunchy demerara round the edges, or the real chunky bad boys.
I also tried Betty’s Chocolate Shortbread (£8.95) and they’re even more up my street. These are dark chocolate and have an almost-savoury flavour that’s extremely addictive. They only arrived yesterday and I only have six left. Oh dear. I think I’ve unlocked an expensive new addiction and it’s not very patriotic.