Delicate Lemon Lavender Shortbread Cookies
These lemon lavender shortbread cookies offer a delicate blend of buttery crumbly texture with subtle citrus and floral notes, perfect for tea time or gifting.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ⅔ cup (135 g) granulated sugar
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- Zest of 1 large lemon
- 1 tablespoon dried culinary lavender buds
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Take the butter out of the fridge about 30 minutes before baking so it softens. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Line your baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl, beat 1 cup (227 g) softened unsalted butter with ⅔ cup (135 g) granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Stir in the zest of one large lemon, 1 tablespoon dried culinary lavender buds, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract gently to avoid breaking down the lavender too much.
- Gradually add 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour and ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt to the wet mixture. Mix on low speed or fold with a spatula until just combined. The dough should be soft and crumbly, not sticky.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few times to bring it together into a ball. If too crumbly, add 1 teaspoon cold water carefully.
- Roll the dough out to about ¼-inch (6 mm) thickness. Cut shapes with a cookie cutter or knife, or shape into a 2-inch (5 cm) diameter log, wrap in plastic, and chill for 30 minutes before slicing into rounds.
- Place cookies about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake at 325°F (163°C) for 18-22 minutes until edges start to turn golden but cookies remain pale and firm to touch.
- Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Use unsalted butter to control salt level. Avoid zesting white pith of lemon to prevent bitterness. Use whole dried lavender buds lightly crushed to avoid soapy flavor. Chilling dough helps maintain shape and texture but is optional. Watch baking time carefully to avoid drying out cookies.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 110
- Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 11
- Protein: 1
Keywords: lemon lavender cookies, shortbread cookies, lemon zest cookies, floral cookies, easy homemade cookies, tea time cookies, buttery cookies