Lemon Lavender Shortbread Cookies

Life is Sweet.

Filled with sugar and all things chocolate.

This was the first time I baked with lavender and truth be-told, I’m not a huge huge fan of floral flavors. My bestfriend actually bugged me for a while to make her something with lavender, so that was the inspiration for this post. I came across this recipe a while ago on Sweetopolita’s beautiful blog and bookmarked it for a future baking project. The time had came – I finally went to a specialty food store and found some culinary lavender.

• Servings: 20 Cookies
• Time: 2 hours
• Difficulty: easy
• Print

• 1 C unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp icing sugar, sifted
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp dried culinary lavender
• 1 tbsp grated lemon zest (rind)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1-1/2 C AP flour
• 1/2 C cornstarch
• 1/4 tsp salt

1. With an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth and creamy (1-2 mins)
2. Slowly add the icing sugar and beat for another couple mins. Beat in the vanilla.
3. Stir in the dried lavender, lemon zest, and lemon juice. (The original recipe doesn’t call for juice, but I found that the cookies didn’t have enough lemon flavor, so I’d probably suggest to add a little if you like lemon)
4. Stir in dry ingredients and mix until incorporated. Flatten the dough into a disk and saran wrap.
5. Chill for at least one hour in the refrigerator
6. Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in the middle of the oven. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment  or baking mats.
7. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough 1/4″ thick. Cut desired shapes, place on pans and chill in for about 15 mins before baking.
8. Bake until very light golden brown, 10-12 minutes. Carefully transfer cookies to wire racks to completely cool.

The cookies had a hint of lemon and even slighter hint of lavender flavor. I didn’t mind them, but I think my friend probably liked them more than I did (she’s currently/ has been for a while obsessed with all things lavender). I love the scent of lavender but am still a bit weary about floral-tasting foods.. it’s just not a common ‘flavor’. With that being said, I’ve tried a lavender latte, which was absolutely amazing. Hmm.. I don’t know, on the fence with this one. If you have any lavender-inspired recipe suggestions that I could try, I’d love to hear them!

I do have to say that I love the delicate soft texture of these cookies – reminds me of something that would be served at a high-tea event!

Headed to Angie’s Fiesta Friday event – fashionable late as usual ( lol sorry Angie!). Check out the whole party here!