Lavender Fleur de Sel Shortbread

When regular shortbread just won’t do, try this lavishly upgraded version. Lavender fleur de sel shortbread is very European and very, very tasty. Fantastic flavor combined with crisp, buttery biscuits. Does life get any better?

Adapted from Christie Matheson | Salty Sweets | Harvard Common Press, 2009

There’s a little market near my house in San Francisco that stocks an eclectic assortment of gourmet crackers, olive oils, prepared foods, and baked goods. One day, in dire need of a treat, I wandered in there, wondering if I would find anything to make me feel better. (It was one of those days.) And there on the counter near the door was a glass cookie jar filled with lavender fleur de sel shortbread. I had a feeling that would work as a mood elevator, and I was right. The flavor combination is fantastic, and lavender is very soothing. Aaah. I came up with this recipe so I could make the shortbread for myself whenever I need to de-stress. Look for culinary lavender at gourmet stores, or purchase one of my favorite kinds, from Matanzas Creek Winery in Santa Rosa, California, online at matanzascreek.com.–Christie Matheson

LC Simple Sophistication Note

We think you’ll agree that this shortbread, with its deceptively short list of ingredients, brings a certain Frenchie elegance to tea time. The lavender and fleur de sel add such a fancy-pants feeling that you may even feel compelled to serve the shortbread on your favorite china or to bring a touch of class to someone else’s day by wrapping the shortbread with pretty ribbons and dropping it off as a surprise—being certain to leave it where it won’t get stolen or, for that matter stepped on.

☞ Contents

1

Lavender Fleur de Sel Shortbread

Crisp and buttery, these lavender fleur de sel shortbread are delicately flavored and textured. Make them for a sweet pick-me-up or a very special gift.

Prep 20 minutes mins

Cook 1 hour hr

Total 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Dessert

American

20 cookies

77 kcal

5 / 3 votes

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Ingredients 

USMetric

• ▢ 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• ▢ 1/3 cup sugar
• ▢ 2 teaspoons chopped dried lavender blossoms
• ▢ 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ Fleur de sel

Directions

 

• Sift the flour and fine sea salt together in a small bowl.
• Combine the sugar and lavender in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix for 15 to 20 seconds to combine. Add the butter and mix until combined. Mix in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low speed until it forms a soft dough.
• Shape the dough into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic, and refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thick and cut it into 1 1/2- to 2 1/2-inch shapes (circles, squares, or hearts) using a cookie cutter or knife. Place the shapes on the baking sheet, sprinkle with some fleur de sel, and place the baking sheet in the freezer for 15 minutes, until the dough is stiff.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Bake the lavender shortbread cookies for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes on the sheet, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. The shortbread keeps for up to 5 days in an airtight container.

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Show Nutrition

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 77kcal (4%)Carbohydrates: 8g (3%)Protein: 1g (2%)Fat: 5g (8%)Saturated Fat: 3g (19%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 12mg (4%)Sodium: 59mg (3%)Potassium: 8mgFiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 3g (3%)Vitamin A: 143IU (3%)Vitamin C: 1mg (1%)Calcium: 3mgIron: 1mg (6%)

If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We’d love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Originally published December 14, 2009

If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We'd love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.