• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup butter, at room temperature
• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon white sugar, or as needed

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Mix together flour, butter, and 1/2 cup sugar in a bowl with your hands until well combined. Press dough into an ungreased 11 ½ x 7 ½-inch sheet tray or jelly roll pan. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar. Bake in the preheated oven until edges are light brown, 20 to 30 minutes. Cut shortbread into squares in the pan while still warm. Cool completely before removing squares from the pan.