Description

These elegant Lemon Lavender Shortbread Cookies combine bright citrus with floral herbs for a sophisticated yet simple treat. Made with just a few pantry staples, they offer a melt-in-your-mouth texture perfect for tea parties or gifting.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons (4g) dried culinary lavender
1 large lemon (about 2 teaspoons zest)
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
2 tablespoons white chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light, fluffy, and pale yellow (2-3 minutes).
Add the lemon zest and dried lavender to the butter mixture. Mix on low speed just until combined.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed or stirring by hand until just combined. Do not overmix.
Shape the cookies: For cut-out cookies, chill dough for 30 minutes, roll to ¼ inch thickness, and cut into shapes. For drop cookies, scoop tablespoon-sized balls and place on baking sheets 2 inches apart.
Bake for 12-15 minutes until edges are barely golden but centers look pale.
Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once cool, sift a light layer of powdered sugar over the tops if desired.

Notes

Ensure butter is softened but not melted to prevent spreading. Use culinary-grade lavender to avoid soapy flavors. Do not overmix the flour to keep cookies tender. Cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 110
Sugar: 5
Sodium: 50
Fat: 6
Saturated Fat: 4
Carbohydrates: 12
Protein: 1

Keywords: lemon lavender shortbread, 3 ingredient cookies, easy shortbread recipe, lavender cookies, lemon cookies, tea time snacks, gluten-free option