Description
Delicate flora cookies bring Mediterranean charm to your dessert table, blending delicate lavender and rose petals with buttery shortbread. Crisp edges and elegant floral notes promise a sophisticated treat that whisks you to sunny coastal landscapes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
Sweeteners:
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- Granulated sugar (for sprinkling)
Flavor Enhancers and Decoration:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon rose water or lavender extract (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup egg white, lightly beaten
- Edible flowers (e.g., pansies, violas, or marigolds), rinsed and dried
Instructions
- Craft a velvety dough by whipping butter with granulated and powdered sugars until airy and voluminous. Incorporate egg, vanilla, and rose or lavender essence, blending thoroughly.
- Gently fold flour and salt into the mixture, creating a supple, cohesive dough. Segment the dough into two portions, encase each in plastic film, and chill for a minimum of 60 minutes.
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Arrange parchment paper across baking trays.
- Dust a clean surface with flour and roll out one dough segment to a slender 1/4 inch thickness. Employ a cookie cutter to shape delicate morsels, transferring each to prepared trays.
- Delicately brush cookie surfaces with egg white. Position an edible flower atop each cookie, then reapply egg white to secure the bloom. Dust lightly with granulated sugar for an ethereal glimmer.
- Slide trays into the oven, baking until cookie edges transform to a pale golden hue, approximately 8-10 minutes. Allow cookies to rest on the tray for 5 minutes before relocating to a cooling rack.
- Display your botanical confections on an elegant platter, presenting a visually stunning and delectable treat perfect for afternoon tea or sophisticated gatherings.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened at room temperature for smooth, even mixing without lumps.
- Chill dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain intricate flower shapes during baking.
- Select fresh, pesticide-free edible flowers like lavender, chamomile, or rose petals for safe and beautiful decoration.
- Experiment with alternative flours like almond or gluten-free blends for dietary modifications without compromising delicate texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg