Lavender Shortbread with Fruits, Flowers, and Herbs

By GadgetGirl

Candied herbs, edible dried flowers, and freeze-dried berries are beautiful decorations for these iced cookie wreaths. Learn how to make the shortbread in this video.

Ingredients

• Glaze
• 3 large egg whites*
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• Shortbread and Assembly
• 1/3 cup rice flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more
• 1 cup(2 sticks)plus 6 Tbsp unsalted butter,cut into pieces,room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon coarsely ground dried lavender Freeze-dried and/or dried fruits, dried edible flowers, fresh and/or dried herbs (for decorating)
• Raw egg is not recommended for the elderly, pregnant women, children under 4, and people with weakened immune systems.
• Special Equipment
• One 3 1/8”-diameter and one 1 1/4”-diameter fluted cutter

Details

Servings 20
Adapted from bonappetit.com

Preparation

Step 1

Glaze

Using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, stir egg whites, powdered sugar, and cream of tartar in a medium bowl until a thick paste forms with no dry spots. Ideally, glaze should sit at least 12 hours for sugar to fully hydrate, but it can be used as soon as cookies have cooled. Or, you can cover and chill up to 1 week. Bring to room temperature before using.

Shortbread and assembly

Whisk rice flour, salt, and 2½ cups all-purpose flour in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer on medium-high, beat butter, sugar, and lavender in a medium bowl until very pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Mix in dry ingredients on low until fully combined. Wrap in plastic and chill at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.

Preheat oven to 350°. Roll out dough between 2 sheets of lightly floured parchment to ⅛” thick. Using large cutter, cut out 16 rounds, rerolling scraps. Using small cutter, punch out centers. Bake on parchment-lined baking sheets until edges are golden, 12–14 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.

Working quickly, dip tops of cookies into glaze, letting excess drip off. Transfer to wire rack and decorate.

Do Ahead: Store shortbread airtight at room temperature up to 1 week.