Description
Lavender earl grey cookies blend fragrant tea leaves with delicate floral notes, creating a sophisticated sweet treat. Subtle aromatics and refined texture make these cookies a perfect companion for afternoon tea or elegant gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks/226 g) softened unsalted butter
- 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (90 g) powdered sugar
- 2 tbsps loose-leaf Earl Grey tea (or 2 tea bags)
- ½ tsp dried culinary lavender, finely ground
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar (for lemon glaze)
- 12 tbsps (180 ml/6 fl oz) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ tsp lemon zest
Instructions
- Dry Mixture Preparation: Sift flour, ground Earl Grey tea leaves, lavender, and salt together in a mixing bowl, creating a fragrant foundational blend for the cookies.
- Butter Creaming: Whip softened butter and powdered sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, incorporating vanilla extract to amplify the aromatic profile.
- Dough Formation: Fold dry ingredients into butter mixture with minimal stirring, ensuring ingredients integrate without overworking the dough.
- Dough Shaping and Chilling: Divide dough into two cylindrical logs, wrap tightly in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to develop flavor and texture.
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F, line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats for optimal baking surface.
- Cookie Cutting and Positioning: Remove chilled dough, slice into 1/4-inch medallions, and arrange on prepared baking sheets with gentle spacing.
- Baking Process: Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges turn golden, indicating perfect doneness and delicate crisp texture.
- Cooling and Finishing: Allow cookies to cool briefly on baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks for complete cooling.
- Lemon Glaze Enhancement: Whisk powdered sugar with fresh lemon juice and zest to create an optional bright, tangy glaze for added complexity.
- Final Presentation: Once cooled, drizzle or spread lemon glaze, transforming cookies into an elegant teatime delicacy; store in airtight container for up to five days.
Notes
- Precision in Sifting: Ensure thorough sifting of dry ingredients to eliminate clumps and create a uniform, fine texture that distributes tea leaves and lavender evenly throughout the dough.
- Butter Temperature Matters: Allow butter to soften at room temperature, but not melt completely. The right consistency ensures a light, airy cookie with perfect crumb structure.
- Minimal Mixing Technique: Handle the dough gently and mix just until ingredients combine. Overmixing develops gluten, resulting in tough, dense cookies instead of delicate, melt-in-your-mouth treats.
- Chill for Success: Refrigerating the dough is crucial. This step helps solidify butter, prevents spreading, and allows flavors to meld, creating more intense Earl Grey and lavender notes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (+1 hour chilling)
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 155
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg