Lavender cookies are buttery and sophisticated, the ideal intersection of flowers and dessert set out on your table.
Lavender Cookies
Updated on Sep. 05, 2024
Florals? For spring? In the words of Miranda Priestly, groundbreaking. In the words of anyone who loves baked goods, florals are necessary—and great all year round.
These lavender cookies capture the sweet, floral fragrance of springtime, no matter the season. A slightly unique flavor in the typical cookie lineup, these are elegant and subtle, and lavender is a vastly underrated ingredient, in my opinion. These buttery cookies are charming as gifts and, really, anytime you want to vary up your sweets game. (Have leftover lavender? Try these other lavender desserts.)
Ingredients for Lavender Cookies
- Butter:Â Because cookies should have that rich, buttery taste.
- Shortening: Shortening has a higher melting point than butter, so it can help the cookies hold their shape while baking.
- Sugar: Sugar does a lot in the baking process—sweetness is a given, but it can also help the cookies brown and stay soft.
- Eggs:Â Eggs bind the other ingredients together to help with stability and fluffiness.
- Vanilla extract:Â This extract adds that extra little bit of sweetness and warmth and helps accentuate the other flavors.
- Almond extract:Â This adds a subtle bit of nuttiness to complement the lavender’s sunny notes.
- All-purpose flour:Â This makes for both chewy or crispy cookies (depending on preference). Make sure to use all-purpose flour because it has the right protein content for cookie baking.
- Dried lavender flowers: If you haven’t baked with lavender before, use it sparingly—it can have a strong flavor (but oh, what a wonderful flavor it is!).
- Baking powder:Â Baking powder is a leavening agent, which makes things fluffy due to a chemical reaction when it’s exposed to heat and moisture.
Directions
Step 1: Make the cookie dough
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Cream the softened butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla and almond extracts. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, lavender, baking powder and salt, then gradually beat the dry mixture into the creamed mixture.
Editor’s Tip: For the best texture, make sure the butter is truly softened, not too cold, and not fully melted.
Step 2: Bake the cookies
Drop the cookie dough in rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking sheets lightly coated with cooking spray. Bake the cookies until they’re golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Let them cool for two minutes before removing them to wire racks.
Lavender Cookie Variations
- Good and glazed: Top the cookies with a lemon-lavender glaze, and don’t forget to sprinkle lavender on top!
- Tea time:Â Earl Grey is another baking flavor that doesn’t get enough time in the spotlight (according to me). Use finely ground Earl Grey tea leaves in the dough for an extra aromatic, floral flavor (and add our Earl Grey tea cookies next on your recipe list).
- When life gives you lemons: Add lemon zest to your cookies. About 1 to 2 teaspoons of lemon zest added to the dough should give it a nice brightness that pairs with the lavender.
How to Store Lavender Cookies
You can store lavender cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. If they’re glazed, separate the layers with parchment paper. You can store them in the fridge for up to five days, and they can be frozen for up to three months.
Can you make lavender cookies ahead of time?
You can! After making the dough and separating it into balls, you can freeze it for up to three months. First, freeze the balls on a sheet pan for about 30 minutes, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. You don’t need to thaw before baking.
Lavender Cookie Tips
What kind of lavender should you use in this lavender cookie recipe?
You can find dried lavender in stores, at farmers markets or online. Make sure the lavender is specified for tea or culinary use; look for lavender flowers or lavender buds. If you’re using fresh lavender, be sure it hasn’t been treated with chemicals.
What should I serve with lavender cookies?
The lavender flavor goes beautifully with lemon, so for a happy hour, pair it with an equally elegant French 75. You could also pair it with lemonade.
Can I make this recipe if I can’t find lavender?
Yes! You could use lavender extract instead.
Lavender Cookies
Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
10 min
Yield
about 6 dozen
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1-1/4 cups sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons dried lavender flowers
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375°. Cream butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extracts. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, lavender, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture.
- Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto baking sheets lightly coated with cooking spray. Bake until golden brown, 8-10 minutes. Cool 2 minutes before removing to wire racks. Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition Facts
1 cookie: 54 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 9mg cholesterol, 35mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
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I am a wedding and event planner and one of my brides served these unusual cookies at her reception, so I had to have this lavender butter cookies recipe. You can guess what her wedding color was! —Glenna Tooman, Boise, Idaho
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