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Lilac Shortbread Cookies

  • Sarah
  • 1 day ago
  • 2 min read

Delicate, floral, and buttery Lilac Shortbread Cookies are a beautiful way to celebrate spring's bloom. Infused with the subtle scent and flavor of fresh lilac blossoms, these cookies offer a unique twist on a classic treat.


When we bought our acreage I was so excited to see massive lilac bushes all over. The smell when they bloom in the spring, their beautiful purple flowers, I love everything about lilacs!





Plate of scalloped cookies with purple flowers on a stone counter. Nearby are lilacs in a vase and a jar of reddish liquid. Cozy mood.
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I am always finding new ways to use the plants in our yard, and I thought baking lilac shortbread cookies would be the perfect way to spend a rainy day.


So what do lilac flowers taste like? They taste pretty much how it smells! floral and sweet, It's lovely on its own, but a bit of lemon zest in the dough really highlights the floral flavor.


This is my favorite base for shortbread cookies, its very customizable. Plain, lemon, lavender, dandelion, drizzled with chocolate. The possibilities are endless!



Cookie dough with lavender flowers is rolled out on a wooden board. A jar of red liquid and a vase of purple flowers are in the background.

Lilac Shortbread Cookies


Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

  • ½ cup sugar

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 tsp salt

  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

  • Zest of 1 lemon

  • 1 cup fresh lilac flowers (stems removed, blossoms only and washed)


Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F (163°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

    Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).

  2. Add lilac flowers and lemon zest, mix until just combined.

  3. Mix in flour and salt. until a soft dough forms.

  4. For bars: Press evenly into an 8x8-inch pan.

    For rounds: Roll into a log, chill, then slice.

    For cut-outs: Roll dough to ¼ inch thick and use cookie cutters.

  5. Cut-out or sliced cookies: bake for 12–15 minutes

    Pan shortbread: bake for 30–35 minutes

  6. Bake until edges are just beginning to turn golden. Don’t overbake.

Lilac flowers in a white bowl on a kitchen countertop. Butter in a dish and more lilacs in a basket are in the blurred background. Cozy mood.

Shortbread cookies make the perfect gift as they last a very long time. These Lilac shortbread cookies are perfect bridal showers, baby showers to serve along side tea.

You would be surprised at how many people dont know lilac petals are edible, so these would be a lovely gift and something super unique!


The Recipe:




Did you try making these Lilac Shortbread Cookies? We’d love to see your creations! Tag us on Instagram at Thesproutinghomestead or leave a comment below to let us know how they turned out. Happy snacking!

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