Description
A simple recipe for tender, buttery thumbprint cookies flavored with fresh lemon and culinary lavender, perfect for beginners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon dried culinary lavender, finely crushed
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup lemon curd or raspberry jam (for filling)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar (for glaze, optional)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (for glaze, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg yolk, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and crushed lavender until just combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix.
- Roll the dough into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter. Place them on the prepared baking sheets.
- Use your thumb or the back of a small measuring spoon to gently press an indentation into the center of each dough ball.
- Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon of lemon curd or jam into each indentation.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers should remain pale.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- If using a glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cookies.
Notes
- Use only culinary-grade lavender; other types may taste soapy or bitter.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend.
- If you do not have lemon curd, use seedless raspberry jam or apricot preserves for the filling.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 9
- Sodium: 45
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 3
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 13
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 2
- Cholesterol: 30