Description
Flora Cookies are delicate, buttery shortbread cookies beautifully adorned with edible dried flowers. Perfect for springtime celebrations or elegant tea parties, these European-inspired treats combine a subtle sweetness with a floral touch, creating a visually stunning and delicious dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Decoration
- Edible dried flowers (such as lavender, rose petals, calendula, or pansies)
- 1–2 tablespoons granulated sugar (for sprinkling, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking and to ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar together until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, creating a light base for the cookie dough.
- Add Egg Yolk and Vanilla: Incorporate the egg yolk and vanilla extract into the creamed butter mixture, mixing thoroughly until fully combined to enrich the dough’s flavor and texture.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and salt to ensure even distribution of the dry ingredients.
- Form Dough: Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms, being careful not to overwork it to keep the cookies tender.
- Roll and Chill Dough: Divide the dough in half, rolling each portion out between two sheets of parchment paper to about ¼-inch thickness. Chill the rolled dough in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes to make cutting easier and preserve the dough’s shape.
- Cut Shapes and Decorate: Remove the top parchment layer and use cookie cutters to cut out your desired shapes. Gently press edible dried flowers onto the tops of each cookie. Optionally, sprinkle a little granulated sugar over the flowers for added sparkle and texture.
- Bake Cookies: Transfer the decorated cookies onto the prepared baking sheets and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges just start to turn golden, indicating they are perfectly baked.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, ensuring they firm up and maintain their delicate texture.
Notes
- Ensure that the edible flowers used are food-safe and have not been sprayed with any chemicals.
- These cookies are delicate and buttery, making them ideal for tea parties or spring-themed celebrations.
- Chilling the dough is crucial for clean cookie cuts and to prevent spreading during baking.
- Use a light hand when pressing flowers into the dough to avoid damaging the delicate petals.
- For vibrant color, use a variety of edible flowers such as lavender, rose petals, calendula, and pansies.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: European-Inspired
