Lavender Shortbread Cookies

Tender, buttery shortbread cookies have been a mainstay in many households for decades. If your family enjoys the old-school cookie recipe, lavender shortbread cookies feature a light floral flavor as a delightful spin on the classic.

Our lavender shortbread recipe starts with a traditional shortbread cookie base but mixes dried lavender right into the dough for a beautiful pop of purple color and flavor. Lavender is then also infused with confectioners’ sugar to make a lovely topping that dusts the baked cookies. The cookie dough comes together simply with just seven ingredients, and since the recipe makes four dozen cookies, it’s a wonderful, easy option for when you need impressive batch cookies for a crowd.

Ingredients for Lavender Shortbread Cookies

• Confectioners’ sugar: Confectioners’ sugar is combined with dried lavender, which infuses the sugar with floral flavor. Once the lavender shortbread is baked, the lavender sugar is dusted over the cookies.
• Dried lavender: Dried lavender provides the main flavor for these cookies. You can find dried lavender in spice shops or use untreated fresh lavender from the garden.
• Butter: Butter is the base of any shortbread recipe, providing excellent flavor and a light texture. Soften the butter to room temperature by taking it out of the fridge ahead of time to let it warm up a bit for proper incorporation.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar adds balanced sweetness and plays a role in the texture of these cookies.
• All-purpose flour: Flour is necessary to provide structure in baked goods. Learn how to measure flour correctly while gathering your ingredients. Hint: We like to use a kitchen scale.
• Cornstarch: The cornstarch in this lavender shortbread recipe helps produce a tender cookie texture.
• Salt: A pinch of salt goes a long way in helping balance the flavor and sweetness of these cookies.

Directions

Step 1: Prep the lavender sugar

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In a bowl, combine the confectioners’ sugar and 2 teaspoons lavender. Cover the mixture and set it aside at room temperature for 24 hours.

Step 2: Cream the butter and sugar

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In a bowl, cream the butter, sugar and remaining lavender.

Editor’s Tip: Proper creaming of butter and sugar sets the cookie dough up for success. Cream the mixture until it is pale and fluffy, three to five minutes.

Step 3: Add the dry ingredients

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch and salt. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture until a soft dough forms.

Step 4: Chill the dough

Divide the dough in half. Wrap the dough or place it in airtight containers and refrigerate it until easy to handle, about two hours.

Step 5: Cut the cookies

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Preheat the oven to 325°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut the dough into 1-1/2-inch squares. Repeat with the remaining dough.

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Place the cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Prick each with a fork several times.

Step 6: Bake the cookies

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Bake the cookies until the edges are lightly browned, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool for one minute before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

Step 7: Dust with the lavender sugar

Sift the reserved lavender sugar and discard the lavender. Sprinkle the cookies with the infused sugar, and save the remaining sugar for future use in another lavender dessert recipe.

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Lavender Shortbread Cookies Variations

• Add a glaze: While these cookies showcase excellent flavor on their own, you certainly can dress them up with a simple glaze drizzled on top. Whisk together confectioners’ sugar and water, then add an extract such as vanilla, almond or lemon.
• Incorporate lemon: Lemon and lavender are a complementary flavor match. To add a touch of citrus, beat fresh lemon zest into the cookie dough while creaming the butter and sugar. (Zest the lemon with a Microplane or zester for best results.)
• Make sandwich cookies: Two cookies are better than one—especially when there’s frosting between them. Pair two cookies and sandwich them with vanilla buttercream frosting or lemon frosting. You could even make shortbread sandwich cookies and dip them in chocolate.

How to Store Lavender Shortbread Cookies

Shortbread cookies should be stored at room temperature to keep them fresh. Keep lavender shortbread in an airtight container or a zip-top resealable plastic bag.

How long do lavender shortbread cookies last?

Stored in an airtight container, lavender shortbread cookies will keep at room temperature for up to one week.

Can you freeze lavender shortbread cookies?

Shortbread cookies freeze wonderfully. To store them in the freezer, place the cookies in an airtight container. Freeze the cookies for up to three months and allow them to thaw at room temperature for several hours or in the fridge overnight.

Lavender Shortbread Cookie Tips

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Can you use fresh lavender for shortbread cookies?

While dried lavender will provide a more concentrated flavor, you certainly can use fresh lavender for these shortbread cookies. Be sure the fresh lavender is free of chemicals and has been washed and dried thoroughly.

Can you make lavender shortbread cookie dough ahead of time?

This lavender shortbread recipe is a great make-ahead cookie. Because the dough needs to chill, you can choose to make the dough, wrap it and leave it in the fridge for up to three days. You can also freeze the cookie dough for up to three months, then leave it to thaw in the fridge before cutting and baking.

Can you make other shapes from lavender shortbread?

The dough is cut into small squares, but you can certainly choose another option. Cut the shortbread dough into small rectangles or use cookie cutters to cut the dough into round or heart shapes.

Why did my lavender shortbread cookies spread?

Because of the butter in the dough, shortbread cookies require chilling time in the fridge. This helps resolidify the butter, preventing it from melting and spreading too much when introduced to the heat of the oven. If the lavender shortbread cookies spread while baking, it’s likely that the dough didn’t have enough time to chill.