London Fog Cookies with Lavender Frosting Recipe
Introduction
London Fog Cookies with Lavender Frosting combine the fragrant flavors of Earl Grey tea and delicate lavender into a soft, buttery treat. These elegant cookies are perfect for pairing with afternoon tea or a cozy coffee break.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp (12 g) Earl Grey tea
- 2 3/4 cups (344 g) all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated white sugar
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated white sugar
- 1/2 tbsp culinary lavender
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese
- 1/4 cup (56 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (130 g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- Purple food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Lavender Sugar: Add the lavender to a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Pass through a sieve to remove large bits and set aside half for the frosting. Mix the remaining ground lavender with 1/2 cup sugar in a bowl and set aside.
- Preheat Oven: Set the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Grind Earl Grey Tea: Pulse Earl Grey tea in a food processor until finely ground, then sift out any large bits.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and the ground Earl Grey tea.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat softened butter and 1 cup sugar with an electric mixer on high for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Mix in the egg and vanilla bean paste on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Add dry ingredients and mix on low speed just until combined.
- Form Cookie Balls: Scoop dough using a 2 tbsp cookie scoop, roll into balls, then coat each ball in lavender sugar.
- Arrange Cookies: Place dough balls at least 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Slightly flatten each ball and shape into a circle.
- Bake Cookies: Bake 6-8 cookies at a time for 9-10 minutes. Once baked, let sit on sheet for 5 minutes. Use a large circular cookie cutter to perfect the shape while cookies are warm.
- Cool Cookies: Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Lavender Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat together cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Add powdered sugar, reserved ground lavender, vanilla bean paste, and optional purple food coloring. Mix until very fluffy.
- Frost Cookies: When cookies have cooled, spread about 1 tbsp of frosting evenly on each using a mini offset spatula.
- Serve: Enjoy these elegant London Fog Cookies with tea or coffee.
Tips & Variations
- For a more intense tea flavor, increase the amount of Earl Grey tea slightly, but be sure to keep it finely ground for an even texture.
- If you don’t have vanilla bean paste, vanilla extract is a good substitute, though the flavor will be less intense.
- Use culinary lavender specifically to avoid any bitterness or impurities that non-culinary varieties might introduce.
- Add a drop of purple food coloring to the frosting for a pretty lavender hue, or leave it natural for a creamy finish.
- Store the cookies chilled if frosted, as cream cheese frosting is perishable.
Storage
Store frosted London Fog Cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To soften frosting before serving, let cookies sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes. Unfrosted cookies can be kept at room temperature in an airtight container for up to a week.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use tea bags instead of loose leaf Earl Grey?
Yes, you can use tea bags. Just remove the leaves from the bags and grind them finely before adding to the dough for the best flavor and texture.
Is it necessary to sift the ground tea and lavender?
Sifting helps remove larger pieces that can affect the cookie’s texture and appearance, giving you a smoother bite and more even flavor.
PrintLondon Fog Cookies with Lavender Frosting Recipe
These London Fog Cookies with Lavender Frosting combine fragrant Earl Grey tea and delicate culinary lavender into a soft, buttery cookie topped with a creamy, light purple cream cheese frosting. Perfect for afternoon tea or a fragrant treat paired with your favorite hot beverage.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British-inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies
- 3 tbsp (12 g) Earl Grey tea
- 2 3/4 cups (344 g) all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated white sugar
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated white sugar (for lavender sugar coating)
- 1/2 tbsp culinary lavender
Lavender Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese
- 1/4 cup (56 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (130 g) powdered sugar
- 1/2 tbsp reserved ground culinary lavender
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- Purple food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Lavender Sugar: Add the culinary lavender to a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Sift through a fine sieve to remove any large bits. Set aside half the ground lavender for the frosting and mix the remaining half with 1/2 cup granulated sugar for coating the cookies.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prepare for baking.
- Grind Earl Grey Tea: Pulse the Earl Grey tea in the food processor until finely ground. Sift to remove large pieces to ensure even distribution in the dough.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and the ground Earl Grey tea until well combined.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat the softened butter and 1 cup granulated sugar for 1-2 minutes until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Mix in the egg and vanilla bean paste on medium speed until the batter is pale and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Add the dry ingredient mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low speed just until fully combined without overmixing.
- Form Cookie Balls: Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to portion the dough, roll each scoop into a ball, then coat each ball evenly in the lavender sugar mixture.
- Arrange Cookies: Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheets at least 2 inches apart. Slightly flatten each ball and shape gently into a circle for even baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake 6 to 8 cookies at a time for 9-10 minutes. Once baked, allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. While warm, use a large circular cookie cutter to perfect their shape.
- Cool Cookies: Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let cool completely before frosting.
- Prepare Lavender Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat the cream cheese and softened butter with an electric mixer for 3-4 minutes until fluffy. Add powdered sugar, reserved ground lavender, vanilla bean paste, and optional purple food coloring. Mix until the frosting is very light and fluffy.
- Frost Cookies: Once cookies have cooled, spread approximately 1 tablespoon of frosting evenly on each cookie using a mini offset spatula.
- Serve: Enjoy these elegant London Fog Cookies alongside your favorite tea or coffee for a delightful treat.
Notes
- Grinding the Earl Grey tea finely ensures the flavor is infused well without gritty texture.
- Using vanilla bean paste instead of extract adds a richer vanilla flavor and visual appeal.
- Coating cookie dough in lavender sugar adds an extra layer of floral sweetness and texture.
- Shaping the cookies when warm helps achieve uniform circles for a professional look.
- Optional purple food coloring gives the frosting a pretty lavender hue but can be omitted for a natural look.
- Make sure cookies are completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
Keywords: London Fog Cookies, Earl Grey cookies, lavender frosting, tea cookies, cream cheese frosting
