Lemon Lavender Cookies

Spring is just around the corner and these Lemon Lavender Cookies are the perfect treat to celebrate this wonderful season. Buttery, tender, and infused with fresh lemon zest and sweet lavender. Bring in the golden afternoon by decorating these cookies with beautiful edible flowers.

These Lemon Lavender Cookies are just so pretty and delicious to eat. They have a wonderful sandy-like texture and sugary, crisp edges when they are baked in the oven. The fresh lemon zest brightens every thing up and is lovely with the dried lavender.

I am a big fan of Disney’s Alice in Wonderful and these cookies remind me so much of the movie. Serve them as an afternoon snack or at your next tea party!

Looking for more spring-filled desserts, then try my Creamy Honey Cheesecake, Lemon Bars with Graham Cracker Crust, and Strawberry White Chocolate Cheesecake.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Only a few ingredients- There are just a handful of ingredients in this cookie recipe. Ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.
• Lavender sugar- I grind the lavender and granulated sugar and sprinkle it on top of the cookies for an extra dose of sweet lavender.
• Easy to make- This recipe is the easiest cookie recipe you will ever make. It can also be made ahead of time.
• Loaded with flavor- These cookies are not overly sweet but are packed with incredible flavor.

Ingredient Notes

• Butter- I use unsalted butter and leave it out at room temperature for 2-3 hours to soften.
• Sugars- I use powdered sugar to lightly sweeten the dough and white granulated sugar to coat them.
• Lavender- I use dried culinary English lavender.
• Lemon Zest- I use a microplane to zest my lemon. Make sure to take off the yellow portion and not the white.
• Edible flowers- You can use pansies, fresh lavender, chamomile or any other small edible flowers.
• Egg white- Brushing egg white on top of the cookies will help the lavender sugar stick as well as keep the shape of the flowers.

Step By Step Instructions – Shortbread Cookies and Lavender Sugar

Here is how to make and bake these lavender cookies.

STEP 1: Mix the dry ingredients. Use a sifter to make sure no lumps get inside your cookie dough. In a medium bowl, combine the flour and salt.

STEP 2: Cream butter. In a stand mixer, add softened butter, confectioner’s sugar, vanilla, lavender and lemon zest. Cream for 1-2 minutes.

STEP 3: Add in flour mixture. Combine the flour mixture into the creamed butter mixture. Mix until just combined.

STEP 4: Refrigerate dough. Scrape dough onto a large piece of cling wrap. Flatten and wrap in plastic. Chill for 1 hour until firm.

STEP 5: Roll dough. Let dough come to room temperature for 30 minutes so that it will be more pliable and not crack when rolling. Flour surface and roll out dough to 1/4″ thick.

STEP 6: Cut out cookies. Using a cookie cutter, press into dough. Place cut out cookies onto a parchment lined sheet pan.

STEP 7: Chill dough. Place cut out cookies inside refrigerator for 30 minutes to harden up.

STEP 8: Lavender sugar. Place granulated sugar and dried lavender inside food processor or mortal and pestle. Pulse a few times to break down the lavender into the sugar. Set aside.

STEP 9: Bake cookies. Bake cookies in a 325 degree oven for 6-8 minutes. Remove from oven. Let cool.

STEP 10: Decorate cookies. Separate egg white from egg and brush onto par-baked cookies. Gently arrange and press edible flowers onto cookies. Lightly brush with egg white. Sprinkle with lavender sugar.

STEP 11: Finish baking. Place cookies back into oven to finish baking. Bake for 3-4 minutes until edges are crisp and lightly golden brown.

STEP 12: Cool cookies. Transfer cookies onto a wire rack to cool before serving.

Decorating The Cookies

The best part about these cookies, aside from how incredibly delicious they are, is how pretty and delicate they look. The edible flowers really make these cookies extra special. I have always been obsessed with pressed flowers and these cookies really remind me of them.

Although they are edible and can completely be enjoyed, feel free to remove them before eating. You can also skip the flowers all together and just sprinkle them with the lavender sugar.

Expert Baking Tips

• I use powdered sugar instead of granulated sugar to sweeten the dough. It creates a melt in your mouth cookie and significantly cuts your mixing time.
• I always chill my dough after mixing as well as after punching them out. It helps avoid breakage when rolling the dough and keeps its shape once it is baked in the oven.
• I bake these cookies in a 325 degrees oven vs. 350 degrees so that they do not brown too fast and the flowers still maintain their vibrant color.
• If you do not own a food processor, you can use a coffee grinder or mortar and pestle to make the lavender sugar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Storing and Freezing

These Lemon Lavender Cookies can be kept in an airtight container after they are baked for up to 5 days. Wrap them in plastic wrap or place in a Ziplock freezer bag.

Freezing

I do not recommend freezing the cookies that have been decorated with the edible flowers. They will become limp and not look very pretty once they thaw out. Instead, freeze unbaked, punched out cookies on a parchment lined sheet pan. Wrap in plastic and decorate the cookies when ready to bake.

To thaw out cookies, place inside the refrigerator overnight or leave at room temperature for 15-20 minutes. Follow the same procedure for decorating and baking.