Lemon Lavender Shortbread Cookies
Delicate, buttery shortbread cookies infused with fresh lemon zest and fragrant culinary lavender. These elegant treats are easy to make and perfect for tea parties, gifting, or a cozy afternoon snack.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 16 minutes
- Total Time: 36 minutes (plus 30 minutes chilling)
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American, French-inspired
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (240g)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (226g)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100g)
- Zest from 2 medium lemons
- 2 teaspoons dried culinary lavender, finely chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Extra lemon zest (for garnish, optional)
- Edible dried lavender buds (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter and sugar with a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add lemon zest to the butter-sugar mixture and massage with your fingers for a minute to release the oils. Stir in dried lavender, salt, and vanilla extract.
- Gradually sift in the flour. Mix on low speed or fold by hand with a spatula until the dough just comes together. Do not overmix.
- Tip dough onto a lightly floured surface, gently press into a disc, wrap in plastic, and chill for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Unwrap dough and roll out to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters into desired shapes, re-rolling scraps as needed.
- Arrange cookies on the prepared baking sheet, spacing about 1 inch apart. Bake for 14-16 minutes, until edges are just barely golden.
- Remove from oven, let sit on the sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While still warm, sprinkle with extra lemon zest or edible lavender buds if desired.
- Serve fresh or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days.
Notes
For gluten-free cookies, substitute a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Vegan butter can be used for dairy-free adaptation. Massage lemon zest into sugar for maximum flavor. Chill dough for best texture and shape. Watch baking time closely—edges should be just golden, not browned. Cookies firm up as they cool.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (about 20g)
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 30
- Fat: 5
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 0.3
- Protein: 1
Keywords: lemon lavender cookies, shortbread, tea party cookies, elegant dessert, floral cookies, easy baking, homemade cookies