• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Frolic and Fare logo
  • Home
  • Categories
  • About me
  • Shop
  • services
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Categories
  • About me
  • Shop
  • services
  • let's stay connected

    • Amazon
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Chamomile Tea Shortbread Cookies

    May 18, 2023 This post may contain affiliate links.

    Tea time is so much more beautiful with these chamomile tea shortbread cookies. They have a light, delicate chamomile flavor and are buttery with a crisp crumb and zesty lemon bite. They are perfect for dunking into your chamomile tea or lattes, the ultimate afternoon treat.

    chamomile tea shortbread cookies 12

    Why you'll love this recipe:

    • Our shortbread recipe is tried and true, perfect for rolling out and cutting shapes. The tea bag cookie cutters are so cute!
    • The flavor is light, bright and sweet, impress your loved ones with something new and special.
    • It's perfect for someone who loves the fresh earthy flavor of chamomile.
    • It's elegant enough for your special moments, such as bridal showers, birthday parties, baby showers, spring holidays such as Easter or Mother's Day, or a garden or tea party.
    • They have a nice, simple, optional lemon glaze, perfect for pressing on edible flowers, like pressed pansies from the garden.
    chamomile tea shortbread cookies 11

    chamomile tea shortbread cookies 8

    Ingredients:

    • butter, softened
    • icing / powdered sugar
    • granulated sugar
    • corn starch 
    • all-purpose flour 
    • dried organic chamomile flowers
    • 2 large lemons, zest and juice
    • vanilla extract or our delicious homemade floral vanilla extract, why not try chamomile?

    HOW TO MAKE THEM:

    COOKIES:

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F or 176 C.
    • Start by making your chamomile lemon sugar where all of your flavor will come from. Do this by grinding up your granulated sugar, the juice and zest of one of your lemons, and lavender. I use a mortar and pestle, but a food processor or blender works great too. Add your powdered sugar and mix.
    • Cream butter with your lavender lemon sugar until well incorporated and fluffy. 
    • Sift in the flour and cornstarch and gradually mix. 
    • You will need to get your hands dirty and really mix well to incorporate all of the butter into the flour. Work it with your hands until the dough becomes a ball. At this point, you can chill the dough if you're not ready to bake, but it's usually not necessary with this dough. If it's easy to handle, go ahead and continue to next step. If it's too soft, refrigerate for 20 minutes.
    • On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough about ? inch thick. Cut into desired shapes. I used an embossed rolling pin for the texture and tea bag cookie cutter for the shape.
    • Bake for 12 minutes. Longer if you want them golden brown and more crisp (my personal preference) But they should be done and have a nice crumb, and still be pale at 12 minutes if your oven temperature is correct. Let cookies cool on cookie sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.
    • Let them cool completely and make your icing.
    • To make your icing, combine your icing sugar, lemon juice and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until it has a smooth and runny consistency. If it needs to be thinned more, add a few drops of water or more lemon juice.
    • Dip your cookies into the icing when they're completely cooled so they're hard and cool enough to handle.
    • Let them dry for up to one hour and enjoy!

    chamomile tea shortbread cookies 4

    My best TIPS FOR PERFECT SHORTBREAD:

    We really love our shortbread here. You might have noticed our large collection of botanical shortbreads, like Rose Petal Cardamom Shortbread, Lemon Thyme Shortbread, or Orange Rosemary Herbal Shortbread. Here are our top tips for a prefect result.

    1. Choose high quality butter: with so few ingredients, choosing quality butter is important. 
    2. Measure ingredients properly:  I know not every home baker is going to want to weigh their ingredients. I blogged for years before even considering it! But, now that I weigh my ingredients, I never make a recipe without grams because just a little too much or too little of any one ingredient can really throw off a recipe. And if I'm going through all the trouble to bake, I want to make sure it comes out just as I expected. Here is a great kitchen scale I recommend.If you don't use a kitchen scale, spoon and level your flour for increased likelihood of accuracy.
    3. Chill before baking...sometimes: This recipe has very specific ratios with less butter so that it doesn't bubble and spread, in my experience the dough usually doesn't have to be chilled before baking. However, if I've over handled it or kept it out too long, it still will become very soft and difficult to manage while rolling or cutting shapes. If your shortbread feels too soft, no need to worry. Just pop in the fridge for 20 minutes or so, or until you're ready to bake. If the dough feels sticky or difficult to manage, pop it in the fridge to get cold again before baking or cutting shapes.
    4. Bake until golden: Despite the recommended baking time, it's best to let the shortbread get slightly golden before removing it from the oven. Each oven is different. This ensures they are fully crisp and will continue to harden as they chill for easy handling.

    You'll be an expert in no time!

    chamomile tea shortbread cookies 6
    image of tea shaped shortbread cookies in a basket with chamomile flowers

    Chamomile Tea Shortbread Cookies

    Tea time just got so much more beautiful with these chamomile tea shortbread cookies. They have a light delicate chamomile flavor, and are buttery with a crisp crumb and zesty lemon bite. They are perfect for dunking into your chamomile tea or lattes, the ultimate afternoon treat.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 12 mins
    Servings 12

    Ingredients
      

    • 1  cup (225 grams) butter softened, salted
    • ½ cup icing | powdered sugar 
    • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
    • ½ cup (68 grams) cornstarch
    • 2 cups (260 grams) all purpose flour
    • 1 tablespoon dried organic chamomile flowers
    • 1 large lemon, zest and juice

    optional lemon zest icing

    • 1 cup (125 grams) icing sugar 
    • 1 large lemon, zest and juice
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F or 176 C.
      Start by making your chamomile lemon sugar where all of your flavor will come from. Do this by grinding up your granulated sugar, the juice and zest of one of your lemons, and chamomile. I use a mortar and pestle, but a food processor or blender works great too.
      Add your powdered sugar into your mixture and mix until well combined.
      Cream butter with a stand mixer, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer with your chamomile lemon sugar until well incorporated and fluffy. 
      Sift in the flour and cornstarch and gradually mix. You will need to get your hands dirty and mix well to incorporate the butter into the flour. Work it with your hands until the dough becomes a ball. At this point, you can chill the dough if you're not ready to bake, but it's not necessary with this dough.
      On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough about ½ inch thick. Cut into desired shapes. I used an embossed rolling pin for the texture and a shortbread cookie cutter for the shape.
      Bake for 12 minutes. Longer if you want them golden brown and crisper (my personal preference) But they should be done and have a nice crumb, and still be pale at 12 minutes if your oven temperature is correct. Let cookies cool on cookie sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.
      Let them cool completely and make your icing.
      To make your icing, combine your icing sugar, lemon zest, juice and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until it has a smooth and runny consistency. If it needs to be thinned more, add a few drops of water or more lemon juice.Dip your cookies into the icing when they're entirely cooled so they're hard and cool enough to handle.Let them dry for up to one hour and enjoy!
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    If you've enjoyed this post, I hope you will spread some some joy and help me by sharing it. Thanks friend, til next time.

    More Cookies

    • overhead image of 3 vintage tea saucer plates with rectangular shortbread cookies placed diagonally with dainty purple and yellow pansy flowers garnished on top
      Lavender Lemon Shortbread
    • white chocolate covered oreo roses on vibrant pink surface surrounded by pink roses and stems
      Chocolate Covered Oreo Roses
    • edible nettle moss
      Lilac Shortbread Cookies
    • overhead shot of heart shaped cookies with embossed shapes and pink glaze next to a bouquet of pink roses and garden scissors
      Rose Cardamom Shortbread Cookies

    About sarah

    Sarah Buckley is the go-to expert for anyone looking to add some botanical flair and creativity in their kitchen. She is a master gardener, herbalist, edible flower expert, professional food photographer and recipe developer. She teaches people how to use botanicals creatively with their culinary work from the garden to table to or apothecary, ensuring they're using safe practices throughout all aspects of plant handling.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a comment ! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    stay connected

    • Amazon
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    floriography flower prints on a wall in multiple sizes

    Footer

    All Content Created by Sarah Buckley For Frolic + Fare