Lilac Sugar Cookies (Printable)
Buttery sugar cookies infused with fragrant fresh lilac blossoms for a delicate floral spring treat.
# What You'll Need:
→ Floral Sugar
01 - 1 cup granulated sugar
02 - 1/4 cup fresh pesticide-free lilac blossoms, stems and green parts removed
→ Cookie Dough
03 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
04 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
05 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
06 - 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (2 sticks)
07 - Prepared lilac sugar mixture
08 - 1 large egg
09 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
# Directions:
01 - Pulse the granulated sugar and fresh lilac blossoms in a food processor until flowers are finely chopped and sugar becomes fragrant with a pale purple tint. Set aside for later use.
02 - Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until evenly blended.
03 - Beat the softened butter and prepared lilac sugar in a large bowl using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
04 - Add the large egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Beat until fully incorporated and smooth.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until the flour disappears. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough cookies.
06 - Divide dough in half and shape each portion into a flat disc. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour until firm.
07 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
08 - Roll chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters and transfer to prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
09 - Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are just barely golden. Centers should remain soft for perfectly tender cookies.
10 - Let cookies rest on baking sheets for 5 minutes to set, then carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- They taste like a spring garden in buttery cookie form, the kind of thing that makes people pause and ask what's in them
- The floral sugar trick works with any edible flower, so you'll use this technique forever
02 -
- The floral sugar needs to sit for at least an hour to really infuse, but you can make it days ahead and store it in an airtight container
- Overbaking kills the delicate lilac flavor, so pull them out even if they look slightly underdone in the center
03 -
- Harvest lilac blossoms in the morning after dew has evaporated but before the sun gets too hot, which is when their essential oils are strongest
- If you don't have lilacs, violets and roses work wonderfully with the same method