A simple recipe for shortbread using culinary dried lavender
Lavender in cooking is becoming increasingly popular. Shortbread is one of the staple recipes, and works so well because the fresh lavender flavour cuts through the butteriness of the biscuit.
Recipe – Makes 16 small rounds
Ingredients
- 150g plain flour
- pinch of salt
- 100g butter
- 50g caster sugar
- 2 tsp culinary dried lavender flowers
Preheat oven to 160degC. Slightly crush 1tsp lavender flowers in a pestle and mortar to release the natural oils. Sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl with the caster sugar, butter and crushed lavender, and rub in using fingertips to make a crumbly mixture which can then be kneaded together to make a dough. Roll out to 1cm thick and cut into individual rounds. Sprinkle with the remaining lavender flowers, pressing them down gently until they stick, then bake for 10-15 mins until the shortbread is just starting to brown. Leave for 10 mins before removing from baking tray, and sprinkle with caster sugar.
– Some people recommend leaving the lavender flowers for decoration until after the shortbread is baked.
– The amount of lavender flowers used is entirely personal, and lavender flavour can become overpowering very quickly so try it out, and exercise caution!
– Try substituting lavender flowers for a few drops of essence or try a little of both.
– If you enjoy this recipe, why not try steeping some culinary lavender in boiling water for a relaxing lavender infusion to drink before bed, or mixing a few drops of lavender essence into vanilla icecream for a sophisticated dessert?