Lavender Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies

A few years ago I stepped out on a culinary limb (for me) and tried making a sugar cookie with lavender.

I absolutely love lavender….in soaps, candles, lotions, oils, etc. But I wanted to try baking with it!

Fortunately, that risk paid off and the resulting cookies were delicious! There is just a tiny hint of lavender that is balanced by the sweet, warm vanilla bean so it definitely doesn’t taste like soap.

The original recipe was buried in an old Mother’s Day cookie tutorial and really wasn’t getting the proper attention it deserved. Since it’s the perfect cookie flavor for all things Spring, I thought I would dust it off and give it it’s own post!

How to Make Them

Just like with my classic sugar cookie recipe, start by creaming together the butter and sugars. Then add in the egg, vanilla bean paste, and lavender extract.

Once the wet ingredients have been thoroughly mixed, mix in the flour, salt, and lavender buds.

If you want a much more subtle flavor, blend the lavender and granulated sugar in a food processor before adding in with the butter, as I describe in the original post. However, I quite like the look of the lavender speckled throughout the cookies.

After the dough has chilled overnight (to really enhance all the flavors), cut out and bake just like a normal sugar cookie.

These cookies are unexpectedly delicious! While they may not be everyone’s cup of tea, they are perfectly sweet (just sweet enough before adding on loads of icing) with a very subtle floral flavor from the lavender. Definitely give them a try if you want to mix things up this Spring!

Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/3 cup powdered sugar

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

• 1 egg

• 2 tsp vanilla bean paste or seeds of one vanilla bean + 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/8 tsp lavender extract

• 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

• 1 tsp lavender, lightly crushed

• pinch of salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place the butter and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer. With the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until soft and fluffy, about 1 minute.

2. Mix in the egg, vanilla bean paste, and lavender extract until completely incorporated.

3. Mix in the flour, lavender, and salt until all flour is combined.

4. Turn dough out on to a sheet of plastic wrap. Wrap up and place in the fridge until ready to use. Dough can be rolled out right away if your in a pinch.

5. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.

6. Place a piece of parchment paper down on the counter top. Roll dough out on the parchment paper, using minimal flour to keep the rolling pin from sticking.

7. Cut dough out to the desired shapes. Bake for 15-17 minute, or until just barely brown around the edge.