Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Delight in the delicate flavors of Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies, featuring fragrant Earl Grey tea leaves and extract blended into a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread. These classic cookies are perfect for pairing with tea or as a refined sweet treat any time of day.
- Author: Ella
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
- Diet: Vegetarian
Shortbread Dough
- 10 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup icing sugar
- 1 tsp Earl Grey extract (or vanilla extract as a substitute)
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 2 tsp finely ground Earl Grey tea leaves
- Combine Ingredients: Place the room temperature butter, icing sugar, all-purpose flour, fine sea salt, finely ground Earl Grey tea leaves, and Earl Grey extract (or vanilla extract) into a food processor cup.
- Form Dough: Pulse the mixture until a cohesive dough forms, ensuring all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Shape Logs: Divide the dough into two equal parts and roll each into a log measuring about 1 ½ to 2 inches in diameter.
- Chill Dough: Wrap each dough log tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up and develop flavor.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and allow it to reach temperature while the dough chills.
- Slice Cookies: Using a sharp knife, cut the chilled dough logs into slices about ¼ to ½ inch thick to form the cookies.
- Prepare for Baking: Arrange the cookie slices on a lined baking pan, spacing them at least one inch apart to allow even baking.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for approximately 10 minutes, or until the bottoms are just beginning to turn a light golden color.
- Cool Cookies: Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- For a creamier shortbread flavor, substitute Earl Grey extract with vanilla extract.
- Finely grinding the Earl Grey leaves releases more flavor and prevents a chewy texture from tea leaves.
- Ensure dough is well chilled before slicing to maintain the cookie shape during baking.
- Light golden color on the bottom indicates perfect baking without overcooking.
- Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
Keywords: Earl Grey cookies, shortbread, tea infused cookies, butter cookies, baked treats, British desserts