Highland Shortbread Showdown 2025
- Michelle's Monologues
- Mar 14
- 6 min read
This time last week we were preparing for our travels to the Scottish highland city of Inverness. Excited for the third annual Highland Shortbread Showdown. What a treat, it was too! With delicious traditional shortbreads and also some incredible, flavoured shortbreads including lime & cardamom, lemon & lavender, and milk chocolate, rosemary & sea salt. Here's more on the fun event and why you should put the Highland Shortbread Showdown in your diary for next year.
Highland Shortbread Showdown 2025
About Inverness
The Scottish highland city of Inverness was granted city status in 2000. Home to over 47,000 people (2022) it is one of the smallest cities in Scotland. Famous for its history, location, and attractions.
Getting To Inverness
Inverness is easily reached by bus (Scottish Citylink), train (Scotrail/LNER), plane (Loganair/British Airways/Easyjet/KLM and American Airlines), or by car. With connections from other Scottish cities and towns including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, and Oban.
On this occasion, we travelled by train (Scotrail). The journey takes just under 4 hours from Edinburgh, stopping at eight stops (Haymarket, Stirling, Gleneagles, Perth, Dunkeld & Birnam, Pitlochry, Kingussie and Aviemore). Beware there are longer journeys with more stops. There were no snacks or beverages available on the evening departure (there were also no marked seat reservations). The three train carriages were very quiet, it was okay.
The return train journey, was busier with more carriages, snack & beverage trolley as well as seat reservations marked. Would I travel with Scotrail again? Yes, but prefer LNER (comfort/availability of snacks/beverages and seat reservations).
Accommodation In Inverness
There is accommodation for all in Inverness, from hostels and quaint guest houses to comfortable hotels across all different budgets. We opted to stay at the Premier Inn Inverness Centre (River Ness) on Huntly Street. The beds, service, and food are always so good at a Premier Inn! The location is also a key factor when we are selecting accommodation and the location of this Premier Inn is perfect. Located directly on the River Ness, only a 10-minute walk away from Inverness Train Station and the main city centre. It was also only a short walk along the River Ness to Eden Court Theatre and Cinema, the venue for the Highland Shortbread Showdown 2025.
Where To Eat In Inverness
There is lots of choice when it comes to eating in Inverness, from pizza chains, to luxury restaurants. You might like to enjoy a tasty bite from The Victorian Market. We arrived late on Friday evening and after all the delicious shortbread on Saturday, we opted for some small bites at the hotel - Thyme Bar & Grill Restaurant (Katsu Chicken Topped Chips). Delicious.
What To See & Do In Inverness
The capital of the highlands is a great base to explore Inverness and the surrounding areas, with art galleries & museums (the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery has exhibits on the history of Inverness including Pictish Stones and the Jacobites), botanic gardens (Inverness Botanic Gardens is the most northerly botanic gardens in the UK. The Tropical House is a must-visit with its carp pond, waterfalls, and collection of cactus. Located in the former walled garden of Bught House), Inverness Cathedral (Anglican Cathedral dedicated to St Andrew), The Victorian Market (located in the city centre, the 19th-century indoor market has an array of gift shops, a flower shop as well as cafes and other eateries), and don't miss the beautiful circular walks along the River Ness and across to River Ness Island.
Some of the places you might like to visit in the surrounding area are Culloden Battlefield (the site of a famous battle in Scottish history), Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle (will you see the famous Loch Ness Monster from Urquhart Castle or perhaps on a boat trip? The ruined 13th-century castle, once one of the largest castles in Scotland, with over 500 years as a fort, is prominent in Scottish history). Fort George (the 18th-century fort is home to the Highlanders Museum, as well as being an active army base for the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland). Clava Cairns (Bronze Age circular burial chamber tombs), and Cawder Castle & Gardens (see the 15th-century tower that was built around a legendary holly tree, three stunning gardens including a formal holly maze, grand herbaceous borders, and Auchindoune Gardens with vegetables, orchard, and arboretum).
History of Scottish Shortbread
Shortbread is said to have originated in the 12th-century but refined in the 16th-century by Mary Queen of Scots. She is said to have enjoyed Petticoat-Tails - the thin, crispy, and buttery delicate triangles cut from a larger circle, made to resemble the petticoats that medieval ladies, like Mary Queen of Scots would have worn.
Today shortbread comes in all shapes, sizes, and flavours. With the traditional rounds, fingers, and Petticoat-Tails being the most common. Made with three ingredients, 1 part sugar, 2 x parts butter (best quality), and 3 parts sifted flour (by weight). Mixed together but not overly worked, shaped, placed on a baking tray, pierced with a fork on the top to create small holes for steam to escape, and so that it is not soggy. some say to chill before baking (keeps shapes better if individual biscuits) in the oven until golden brown. Afterwards, sprinkle with a little more sugar. Yum!
About The Highland Shortbread Showdown 2025
The 3rd year of the annual Highland Shortbread Showdown, took place at Eden Court Theatre and Cinema. Located off the beautiful River Ness Walk. The free event hosted by Visit Inverness Loch Ness took place between 10am - 2pm.
2025 saw finalists from 7 Scottish regions:
Venture North - Caithness and Sutherland
Visit Inverness Loch Ness - Inverness and Loch Ness
South of Scotland Alliance - Dumfries, Galloway and the Borders of Scotland
Fife - Food from Fife destination
Nairn - Discover Nairn destination
Visit Cairngorms - Cairngorms National Park
Visit Angus - Destination of Angus.
The finalists were R. Macdonald & Son, Cawdor Castle, The Royal Marine Hotel, Brora, The Pentland Hotel, The Bake Hive, Fisher & Donaldson, Nairn Golf Club, Golf View Hotel and Spa, Auld Bar Cafe, Logie Steading, Northern Sands Hotel, and Scot Mountain Holidays.
The shortbreads were all delicious! With both traditional and flavoured shortbreads including Lime and Cardamon, Chocolate, Pistachio & Rose, Spiced Orange & Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Rosemary and Sea Salt, Lemon & Lavender, and Blood Orange & Candied Gogi Berries.
MC'd by Sarah Rankin, MasterChef Finalist 2022, private chef, caterer, food writer and cookbook author - Kith.
The four judges were Jeni Janetta from Bad Girl Bakery, KJ from Kj's Bothy Bakery, one-half of local food influencers Haim & Awa - Kelly, and expert baker Paul from Mackenzies Bakery Skye.
All the shortbread was scored on texture, flavour, and appearance.
While the final results were being added, local musician - Jack Nicholson entertained the crowd with some firm favourites.
Congratulations to all and the winners were:
Overall Winner - The Bake Hive
Best Traditional Bake - Pentland Pentland Hotel
Best Flavoured Bake - Fisher & Donaldson
Public Choice - Dorothy - R Macdonald & Son
Best Stall - Fisher and Donaldson
Special award for the improvement of her bake - Christine from Logie Steading
Incredible day. Lots of fun and of course delicious shortbread.
One for the diary next year. Hope to see you there!
Also, did you know, I offer Scottish Food & Drink Walking Tours in Edinburgh? Find out about Edinburgh's horrible histories, discover hidden gems, see some of the well-known landmarks and try 10 Scottish food & drink tastings on an Edinburgh 3-hour walking tour, including some classic, traditional and modern delicious bites. Being a photographer you know I will snap away, capturing all the highlights of the tour. So you can take the memories home to re-live and share. Now taking bookings for 2026.
Until next time...
Happy Travels, Michelle x
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