By Laura Cipullo, RD, CDE, Mom and Laura Cipullo Whole Nutrition Services Team
As summer comes to a close, that doesn’t mean extra family time has to come to an end! Last week, my boys and I made these fun and tasty lavender shortbread cookies! A great way to get us all in the kitchen and to learn about and try a new food. An added bonus, your kitchen will smell wonderful!
We used the recipe from Joy The Baker, here.
Ingredients:
1 tbsp dried lavender blossoms
1/2 cup + 1 tbsp raw or granulated sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
extra sugar for sprinkling on top
Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, whisk flour and salt together. Set aside.
2. In a small spice grinder or mortar and pestle, grind 1 tbsp lavender and 1 tbsp sugar.
3. In another bowl, that can be used with electric mixer with paddle attachment, add butter, ground lavender mixture, and remaining 1/2 cup sugar. Cream ingredients on medium speed until slightly more pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. It’s okay if there are still some sugar bits at this point. Add the flour and mix on low speed until the dough comes together. The dough will have a crumbly texture, but will come together as you continue mixing.
4. Dump dough mixture out onto a clean surface and form into a ball with your hands. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
5. Line cookies sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
6. Divide refrigerated dough into quarters. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Use a 1 1/2-inch round cookie cutter to cut cookies, or a pizza cutter to slice into squares. Use a fork to prick the cookies.
7. Brush the cookies very lightly with the egg wash and sprinkle with sugar. Make sure your oven is preheated to 350 degrees F and refrigerate cookies while oven preheats.
8. Place racks in the center and upper third of the oven. When oven is preheated, bake cookies for 8-11 minutes, until just browned on the edges. Remove from oven and allow to cool on cookie sheet for about 10 minutes then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Enjoy!