Pansy Shortbread Cookies

Do you believe in magic? Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved reading stories of the fairy folk living in an enchanted forest, playing with the animals, and sipping tea from rosebud tea cups. If I were ever invited to join them, I'd bring these Pansy Shortbread Cookies to share.

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Inspired by the wonders of nature and the magic that can be found within it, these cookies are fit for fairyland. This recipe is simple to make and so pretty! Make it your own (or please the fairies in your own backyard) by changing up the ingredients to suite your favorite flavors. I chose to make a lavender lemon shortbread cookie using lavender-infused sugar and dried lavender harvested from my garden. You could also try these Lemon Thyme Shortbread Cookies.

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Some Tips On Choosing Edible Flowers:

I used a few varieties of pansies that I had growing in my garden but you can experiment with other edible flowers too. Some things to keep in mind...

  • Choose flowers that will fit the shape of the cookie.

  • Only use edible flowers that you can identify correctly

  • Only use edible flowers that are grown organically (pesticide-free).

  • Edible flower suggestions: Chamomile, Johnny-Jump-Ups, Borage, Lavender, Marigolds, Pansies, Rose Petals, Violas, Violets.

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Pansy Shortbread Cookies

Serves: 36 cookies

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 cup lavender infused sugar (or regular sugar)

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 2 tablespoons dried lavender

  • Zest of one lemon

  • Fresh, organic pansies

  • 1 egg white, beaten

  • Fine sugar (for finishing)

Instructions

 

Cream the butter with an electric mixer until fluffy. Stir in the flour, sugar and salt; beat on low speed for 1 minute. Crush the dried lavender using a mortar and pestle. Then add the vanilla, lavender and lemon zest to the mixer, beating until just incorporated.

Let the dough chill in the refrigerator for approx. 1 hour. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease baking sheet and set aside.

On a floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/4" thickness. Cut out with round or scalloped cookie cutters and place 1" apart onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 14-18 minutes, until the cookies begin to turn light golden around the edges and on the bottom. Remove from oven and transfer to wire racks to cool.

Once the cookies are all baked and cooled its time to decorate with flowers! Use a pastry brush to brush a cookie with egg white and place a pansy on top. Then brush the pansy all over with egg white and sprinkle with fine sugar.

Repeat with remaining cookies and return them to the baking sheet. Bake in the oven for another 5 minutes, then transfer to the wire racks to cool.