Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Lavender Lemon Cookies

I adore ALL things Lavender. Lavender bath salts, lotion, chocolate, tea, etc.. After planting several Lavender plants in our flower bed this Spring, I felt compelled to incorporate this fabulous herb into a cookie. These cookies have a subtle lavender taste with a stronger lemon flavor. I did feel as though I was making a wonderful sugar scrub at one point when I was combining the lemon zest, lavender and sugar. I thought if the cookies don't come out, I could always use it in the bath. The house was filled with a wonderful fragrance while the cookies were baking. The smell is heavenly when you take them out of the oven. These are just perfect with a cup of hot tea.




Recipe Adapted from: Batter & Beat


Lavender Lemon Cookies:

3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest + 2 tablespoons juice
1 tablespoon dried culinary lavender
1-3/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoons salt
12 tablespoons (1-1/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2" cubes
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a food processor, combine the sugar, lemon zest and lavender until the sugar looks damp and the zest and lavender are fully incorporated, about 30 seconds. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt, then add to the sugar mixture; pulse to combine, about (10) 1 second pulses. Scatter the butter pieces over and pulse until the mixture resembles fine cornmeal, about (15) 1-second pulses. In a measuring cup, beat together the lemon juice, egg yolk and vanilla. With the machine running, add the mixture in a slow stream (should take about 10 seconds) and continue processing until the dough forms into a ball. 
Turn the dough out onto a clean surface, working it into a ball. Roll the dough into a cylinder, approximately 10" long. Wrap with tightly with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 2 hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove dough from plastic wrap and place on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut into 1/4 inches thick rounds. Space cookies 1-1/2 inches apart on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes. After cookies have finished baking, working quickly, immediately start cutting them into shapes with a cookie cutter (or you can omit this step completely). 

Note: This recipe yields approximately 30 cookies. I would probably double the recipe next time and maybe make my cookies a little larger.

Enjoy!





17 comments:

  1. Ah, Spring! The time of year when I get the urge to put both lavender and lemon in everything, even roast chicken. The flavors just work so well together, and your cookies look amazing!

    I bought some lavender at The Savory Spice Shop recently, and while I did use some for cooking, I think I'm going to sew the rest into a homemade eye pillow.

    Also, the coffee shop downstairs makes lavender lemonade. So yummy!

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    1. Mary - Lavender and lemon on roast chicken sounds wonderful!! Out of all the herbs I have, I've never bought Herbes de Provence. I think it is time for another trip to the Spice Shop:) Lavender lemonade sounds luscious:)

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  2. i will definitely be making these! we just planted a bunch of lavender in our garden over the weekend, so i'm already thinking about ways in which i can use it. these sound fantastic!

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    1. Thanks Amy. They were so yummy that I'm already thinking about making them again:) Please let me know how they turn out for you. I adjusted the recipe slightly by adding more lavender to it.

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  3. I'm a big lover of lavender too. We have some in our back herb garden & I love nothing more than to sit outside with a glass of lemonade and smell the lavender when a breeze comes by. And yet I've never baked with it. Isn't that weird? I even have a few recipes from Giada de Laurentis bookmarked, but have never tried them. These would be so great for a Bridal shower I'm planning for late may. I'd already decided on doing a Ladies English Tea theme :)

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    1. Ally - Sounds like my kind of afternoon. Lemonade and Lavender is a great combo:) This was my first time cooking with Lavender. I think these would be perfect for a bridal shower. Love the Ladies English tea theme.

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  4. I've long been a fan of lavender in sweets! These cookies look pretty awesome. Perfect with tea!

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    1. Thanks Renee. I think Lavender in sweets is my new favorite thing:) I'm already starting to think about what I can make next with this fabulous herb.

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  5. I definitely love lavender in anything -- love lavender shortbread and I simply adore a lavender poundcake. I'll have to try these cookies with the lemon in them!

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    1. Martha - Lavender shortbread and poundcake sounds delicious! Thanks for dropping by.

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  6. These are just beautiful! I can't wait to try them. I'm growing a seeming truckload of lavender to have 'unsprayed' for culinary uses. I'm so excited for a good harvest, now!

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  7. Thanks Maggie. Truckloads of Lavender sounds wonderful. There are so many uses for this herb. When planting our flower beds this Spring, I was inspired by the French Lavender fields of Provence. Now I just need a little patio so I can sit outside with my glass of wine and look at our miniature Lavender farm:) Hope you have a Happy Easter.

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  8. Ooooooh I spy a blue egg!! :) Glad that I found your blog via Wendy's!!

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    1. Julie - Ha! Isn't this a fun idea? Thanks for dropping by:)

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  9. these are so gorgeous, i have been craving these... i grow my own lemon and lavenders, one of my favorite cookies and your pic is as beautiful as ever!

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    1. Thank you! I have to admit they were delicious. They were more on the savory than sweet side, which is what I like in a dessert. Your garden is so beautiful. I'm hoping to add some Lemon trees to my garden.

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  10. Wow, these sound really yummy! Have to try them, even though I'm not much of a cookie cook.

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