Description
Delicate lavender earl grey cookies blend classic British tea flavors with delightful French-inspired baking techniques. Fragrant herbs and delicate sweetness create an elegant cookie perfect for afternoon tea or special gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (227g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 ¼ cups (250g) granulated sugar
- 2 ¼ cups (270g) all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsps pure vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp finely ground Earl Grey tea (from 3 tea bags or 4 tsps loose leaf tea)
- ½ tsp culinary-grade lavender, finely ground
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 2 tbsps granulated sugar
- Blue cornflower petals (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper, creating a pristine workspace for cookie crafting.
- Dry Blend: Whisk flour, pulverized Earl Grey tea leaves, crushed lavender buds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl, ensuring uniform ingredient distribution.
- Butter Cream: Utilize a stand mixer to transform sugar and butter into a light, billowy mixture with a pale, cloud-like consistency, approximately 2-3 minutes of vigorous blending.
- Wet Integration: Reduce mixer speed and fold in egg and vanilla extract, blending until seamlessly incorporated while periodically clearing the bowl’s edges.
- Dough Formation: Gently introduce dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until a cohesive dough emerges, avoiding excessive manipulation.
- Shaping and Sugaring: Scoop uniform dough balls onto prepared sheets, leaving ample space between each. Lavishly dust cookie tops with sugar, creating a glistening surface.
- Baking Ritual: Slide tray into the oven and bake for 12 minutes, targeting slightly set edges while maintaining a tender, soft center. Optional: Sprinkle blue cornflower petals for an artistic flourish.
- Cooling and Settling: Remove from oven and let cookies rest on the baking sheet, naturally flattening and developing characteristic surface cracks. After 20 minutes, transfer to a cooling rack for complete firming.
- Serving and Storage: Present at room temperature and preserve remaining cookies in an airtight container, ensuring peak freshness for up to three days.
Notes
- Preserve Tea Flavor: Grind Earl Grey leaves and lavender buds finely to ensure maximum flavor infusion without creating chunky texture in cookies.
- Control Moisture Balance: Watch cookie edges during baking to achieve perfect golden-brown color without over-drying, maintaining soft, tender interior.
- Sugar Dusting Technique: Sprinkle sugar generously before baking to create a delicate, sparkling surface that adds subtle crunch and sweet glaze.
- Storage Secret: Use airtight container at room temperature and consume within three days to maintain optimal texture and prevent flavor degradation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 22
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg