Shortbread

The origins of shortbread can be traced back to about the 12th Century when butter or lard was added to bread dough, thus the name shortbread. It was not until the 17th Century when sugar was introduced to the UK that it became more of a sweet biscuit, as we know it today. The Dean's story begins in 1975 at the heart of Helen Dean's kitchen, in the small town of Huntly, North East Scotland. It was here that Helen first created her delicious traditional shortbread. First baking for friends and family who loved the ‘melt in the mouth’ sensation. Her husband Bill, a Drum Major, thought it was so delicious he decided to use Helen’s baking to help raise funds for the local Huntly pipe band. Their touring helped to spread her shortbread's fame far and wide. Soon the aroma of home baking would fill the town as Helen established her own small bakery to meet demand.So popular was the light and crumbly shortbread that in 1992, Dean's moved to a new purpose built bakery on the outskirts of Huntly.