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Delightful Honey Lavender Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Indulge in the enchanting aroma and exquisite taste of these homemade **Honey Lavender Cookies**, a perfect blend of delicate floral notes and comforting sweetness. This recipe combines a soft and chewy sugar cookie base, subtly infused with dried culinary lavender, and is beautifully crowned with a sweet, tangy honey cream cheese frosting. Each bite offers a harmonious balance, making these cookies an ideal spring treat or a unique addition to any dessert table. Experience a dessert that’s both elegant and utterly irresistible, leaving a delightful lingering flavor that truly captivates the senses.
Why You’ll Adore These Honey Lavender Cookies
- **Unique Flavor Profile:** The subtle essence of lavender perfectly complements the rich sweetness of honey, creating a sophisticated and refreshing taste experience unlike any other cookie.
- **Irresistibly Soft & Chewy:** Forget dry, crumbly cookies! Our recipe guarantees a tender, chewy texture that melts in your mouth with every bite.
- **Lush Cream Cheese Frosting:** The tangy honey cream cheese frosting adds a delightful creamy layer, balancing the sweetness and enhancing the overall flavor.
- **Visually Stunning:** Adorned with delicate lavender buds, these cookies are as beautiful to look at as they are delicious to eat, making them perfect for gifting or special occasions.
- **Perfect for Spring & Summer:** Their light, floral character makes them an ideal dessert for warmer months, garden parties, or simply to brighten your day.
The Art of Making Honey Lavender Cookies
Creating these exquisite **Lavender Sugar Cookies** is a joyous process. Follow these simple steps to bring a touch of floral elegance to your kitchen.
Crafting the Lavender Cookie Dough
The journey to perfect **lavender sugar cookies** begins with infusing the sugar itself. In a food processor, combine granulated sugar and dried culinary lavender buds. Pulsing these together is crucial as it helps break down the lavender, allowing its aromatic oils to fully permeate the sugar. This ensures an even and potent lavender flavor throughout the dough. Next, this fragrant lavender sugar is creamed with softened butter until light and fluffy. Eggs and a generous splash of vanilla extract are then incorporated, adding richness and moisture. Finally, the dry ingredients are gently folded in. The dough then benefits from a 30-minute chill in the refrigerator, which is essential for developing flavor and ensuring the cookies hold their shape beautifully during baking.
Portioning for Perfection
Once the **honey lavender cookie dough** has sufficiently chilled and firmed up, it’s ready for portioning. Using a 3-tablespoon size cookie scoop (approximately a #24 scoop) ensures uniform cookies that bake evenly. Each scoop is then gently rolled into a smooth ball. Place these dough balls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, allowing ample space between each one for spreading. Finally, lightly press down on each ball with your hand to slightly flatten it. This step helps achieve that signature soft, chewy cookie texture and ensures even baking.
Baking the Fragrant Cookies
Bake the **lavender cookies** in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 11-13 minutes. Keep a close eye on them; they are done when the centers appear set and the edges are just barely beginning to turn a light golden color. Overbaking can lead to a dry cookie, so err on the side of slightly underbaked for a chewier result. Once removed from the oven, allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring them. This crucial cooling time prevents breakage and ensures the cookies are firm enough to handle and frost without the topping melting.
Whipping Up Honey Cream Cheese Frosting
The star topping for these cookies is the luscious **honey cream cheese frosting**. Begin by combining softened cream cheese, unsalted butter, and pure vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Beat these ingredients together until the mixture is beautifully creamy and smooth, free of any lumps. This foundational step is key to a silky frosting. Next, gradually add sifted powdered sugar and golden honey. Continue to mix until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated, and the frosting reaches a thick, smooth, and spreadable consistency. If it appears too soft, a quick chill in the refrigerator can work wonders.
Frosting and Finishing Touches
Once your **lavender cookies** have cooled entirely, it’s time for the delightful task of frosting. Use a cookie scoop or a spoon to place a generous dollop of the rich honey cream cheese frosting onto the center of each cookie. With an offset spatula or the back of a spoon, gently spread the frosting outwards, creating a smooth layer that extends to the edges. For an extra touch of elegance and visual appeal, create a fun decorative swirl in the frosting. A final sprinkle of delicate dried lavender buds not only enhances the presentation but also reinforces the cookie’s signature floral essence. These finished cookies are truly a work of art and taste incredible.
Expert Tips for the Best Honey Lavender Cookies
Achieving bakery-quality **honey lavender cookies** at home is easier than you think with these expert tips:
- Embrace Room Temperature Ingredients: This tip is paramount for both the cookie dough and the frosting. Allow your butter, cream cheese, and eggs to come to full room temperature before you begin. Cold ingredients simply don’t emulsify or blend as smoothly, leading to a lumpy frosting and a dough that bakes inconsistently. Room temperature butter creams beautifully with sugar, incorporating air for a lighter texture, while cold butter can result in a dense cookie. Similarly, soft cream cheese and butter are essential for a silky-smooth, lump-free frosting that’s a joy to spread.
- The Patience of Cooling: As tempting as it is to frost warm cookies, resist the urge! Frosting a warm cookie will inevitably lead to a melted, runny mess that slides right off. Ensure your cookies are completely cool to the touch before even thinking about adding that creamy honey cream cheese frosting. To accelerate the cooling process, you can carefully place your baked cookies in a single layer on a cool baking sheet and pop them into the freezer for 5-10 minutes. This quick chill will set them up perfectly for frosting.
- Overnight Magic (Optional but Recommended): Believe it or not, these **honey lavender cookies** often taste even better the day after they’re baked and frosted! Storing them in an airtight container allows the flavors to meld and deepen. The cookie base becomes even softer around the edges, and the lavender and honey notes become more pronounced and harmonious. If you can wait, make them a day in advance for an enhanced flavor experience. This brief resting period transforms a delicious cookie into an unforgettable one.
- Don’t Overmix the Dough: Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet, mix only until just combined. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to tough, dry cookies instead of the desirable soft and chewy texture. A few streaks of flour are fine; they’ll disappear during the brief chilling process.
- Measure Your Flour Correctly: For baking, accuracy is key. The most common mistake is scooping flour directly from the bag, which compacts it and results in too much flour. Instead, lightly spoon flour into your measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge, or better yet, use a kitchen scale for precise measurements as recommended below.
- Mind the Lavender: While a delightful flavor, too much lavender can make your cookies taste soapy or overly floral. Stick to the recommended amount of dried culinary lavender buds to ensure a delicate and balanced flavor that complements the honey, rather than overpowering it.
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Honey Lavender Cookie FAQs
What is the best way to store these delicate cookies?
To maintain their freshness and delightful texture, the frosted **honey lavender cookies** should be stored in an airtight container. Because the frosting contains cream cheese, refrigeration is essential to prevent spoilage and ensure food safety. They will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For the best flavor and a softer texture, I highly recommend pulling the cookies out of the fridge about an hour or two before serving, allowing them to come to room temperature. However, they are also wonderfully refreshing served chilled, especially on a warm day.
Can these cookies be prepared in advance?
Absolutely! These **lavender sugar cookies** are excellent for making ahead of time, which is perfect for party planning or busy schedules. You can bake and cool the cookies (unfrosted) completely, then freeze them in a single layer in an airtight container or a zip-top freezer bag for up to 2-3 months. The honey cream cheese frosting can also be made up to a week in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to assemble, simply thaw the unfrosted cookies overnight at room temperature. Give the refrigerated frosting a quick, gentle re-whip with an electric mixer to restore its creamy texture before spreading it onto the thawed cookies.
What kind of lavender should I use for baking?
For this **honey lavender cookie recipe**, it is crucial to use dried culinary lavender buds. The key here is “culinary” or “food-grade” – this ensures that the lavender has been grown and processed without pesticides or chemicals, making it safe for consumption. Do not use lavender meant for potpourri or essential oils, as these are not intended for eating. I often find it most convenient to order culinary lavender online from reputable suppliers, but you might also discover high-quality lavender at local farmer’s markets, specialty spice shops, or health food stores. A little goes a long way, so use it sparingly to achieve a delicate flavor.
Is chilling the cookie dough truly necessary?
Yes, chilling the cookie dough for approximately 30 minutes is a recommended and beneficial step for these **lavender cookies**. This short chill period allows the butter in the dough to firm up, which in turn helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking. The result is a thicker, chewier cookie with a more desirable texture. Additionally, chilling the dough makes it significantly easier to handle, scoop, and roll into neat balls. Freshly mixed dough can often be quite sticky, and a little time in the fridge makes it much more manageable, ensuring uniform portions and a smoother baking experience.
What should I do if my frosting turns out too soft?
It’s common for **honey cream cheese frosting** to be on the softer side, especially if your kitchen is warm or if your cream cheese and butter were very soft to begin with. The good news is that this is easily remedied! My preferred method is to prepare the frosting while the cookies are baking, then pop it into the refrigerator while the cookies cool down completely. This chilling time allows the frosting to firm up to a more spreadable consistency, making it much easier to work with. Before you start frosting, give it another quick mix with an electric mixer to ensure it’s smooth and perfectly pliable. If it’s still too soft, add a tablespoon or two more of sifted powdered sugar until the desired consistency is reached.
Baking Tip: Weigh Your Ingredients for Consistent Results!
For truly consistent and professional-level baking results, I cannot stress enough the importance of using a kitchen scale to weigh your ingredients. This method is far more accurate than traditional measuring cups, which can vary wildly depending on how you scoop and level. Weighing ensures you’re using the exact amount of each ingredient every time, leading to a much higher success rate with your recipes – especially crucial for delicate recipes like these **honey lavender cookies**. An added bonus? Using a scale significantly reduces the number of dirty dishes, making cleanup a breeze! I provide gram measurements in all my recipes, and this is the scale I personally love and use in my kitchen.
More Delightful Spring Recipes You’ll Love
If you’re looking for more ways to celebrate the fresh flavors of spring or simply enjoy elegant desserts, explore these other delicious recipes:
- Bright and Zesty Lemon Mascarpone Tart
- Fluffy and Tropical Coconut Layer Cake
- Charming Mum Cupcakes (Perfect for Gifting!)
- Indulgent Lemon Brûlée Bars with Caramelized Top
- Exotic Yuzu Strawberry Pound Cake
We hope you enjoy baking and savoring these beautiful **Honey Lavender Cookies** as much as we do. Their unique blend of floral and sweet notes makes them a truly special treat for any occasion. If you make this recipe and absolutely love it, please be sure to leave a comment below and share your experience. Happy baking!
Honey Lavender Cookies
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Ingredients
For the Lavender Sugar Cookies
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried culinary lavender buds
- ½ cup (1 stick or 113g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3 Tablespoons (42g) vegetable or canola oil
- 1 large egg + 1 large yolk, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour
- 1 Tablespoon (10g) cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the Honey Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 (8-ounce) block (227g) cream cheese, at room temperature
- ½ cup (1 stick or 113g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup (60g) powdered sugar, sifted
- ⅓ cup (112g) honey
SHOP INGREDIENTS
Instructions
- Lavender Sugar Cookies: In a small food processor, add the sugar and lavender then pulse several times to break up the lavender buds into small pieces. This step is crucial for infusing the sugar with lavender flavor.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and lavender sugar until combined and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. With the mixer running on medium-low speed, slowly stream in the oil until fully incorporated.
- Once combined, scrape down the bowl again. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix, then scrape the sides of the bowl once more.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the mixing bowl with the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed just until the dry ingredients are incorporated and no streaks of flour remain.
- Cover the cookie dough tightly with plastic wrap and chill it in the fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes. This helps the flavors meld and the dough firm up for easier handling and better shape retention during baking.
- While the dough is chilling, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare 2 large baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- After the dough has chilled, use a #24 cookie scoop (which holds about 3 Tablespoons) to portion out uniform amounts of dough. Roll each scoop into a smooth ball. Place these dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, ensuring they are spaced at least 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Gently press each dough ball down with the palm of your hand to flatten it slightly.
- Bake the cookies for 11-13 minutes, or until the centers no longer appear wet and the edges have just begun to turn a delicate golden brown. For a softer cookie, remove them slightly earlier. Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheets before attempting to frost them.
- Honey Cream Cheese Frosting: In a clean stand mixer bowl fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together the softened cream cheese, unsalted butter, and vanilla extract on medium-low speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy, which should take about 2 minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to ensure everything is well combined.
- Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and the honey to the creamed mixture. Begin mixing on low speed until all the dry ingredients are incorporated and no powdered sugar flies out of the bowl. Scrape down the bowl again, then increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until the frosting is light, fluffy, and perfectly smooth. Chill the frosting in the refrigerator until the cookies have cooled completely; slightly cold frosting is much easier to spread and hold its shape.
- Decorating: Once your cookies are thoroughly cooled and your frosting is firm enough, use a cookie scoop or spoon to add a generous dollop of the honey cream cheese frosting onto the top center of each cookie. Employ an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to gently spread the frosting outwards to the edges of the cookie. Finish by creating an appealing swirl pattern in the center of the frosting. For an elegant final touch, sprinkle a few dried lavender buds over the frosted cookies. Serve and enjoy these exquisite treats!
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I’m Rachel
I’m the dessert lover, recipe developer, and content creator behind Sweet Kitchen Cravings. Here you’ll find classic yet special recipes that are sure to impress your loved ones!
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