Description
Delicate lavender honey butter cookies from Provence showcase French pastry elegance with simple, refined ingredients. Subtle sweetness and buttery texture invite warm comfort and delightful memories of Southern France.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup (113 g / 4 oz) butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 1/8 cups (142 g / 5 oz) all-purpose flour or cake flour
- ¼ cup (30 g / 1 oz) powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
- 1 tbsp honey
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ cup (90 g / 3 oz) powdered sugar, sifted for glaze
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp honey
Instructions
- Creaming: Thoroughly blend butter and sugar with a spatula until achieving a light, pale, and fluffy texture.
- Wet Ingredients Integration: Mix egg yolk, vanilla extract, and honey into the butter mixture, ensuring complete incorporation.
- Dough Formation: Delicately sift flour and salt into the mixture, folding gently to create a smooth, cohesive dough.
- Chilling Preparation: Wrap the dough completely in plastic film and refrigerate for 20 minutes to enhance texture and firmness.
- Shaping: Divide the chilled dough into two equal portions, rolling each into a uniform cylinder approximately 4 inches long and 1 inch in diameter.
- Freezing: Individually wrap the dough cylinders and freeze for 25-30 minutes (or refrigerate for 45 minutes) to maintain structural integrity.
- Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 356°F (180°C, 160°C fan-forced) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat.
- Slicing and Arranging: Unwrap the dough and slice into 0.4-inch thick disks, carefully positioning them on the prepared baking sheet. If the dough softens, briefly return to the refrigerator for 10 minutes.
- Baking: Bake for 15-18 minutes until achieving a golden-brown color, allowing cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes after removal to develop a crisp texture.
- Glazing: Whisk powdered sugar, honey, and milk into a smooth, thick glaze. Once cookies are completely cooled, spread or pipe the glaze elegantly across the surface.
Notes
- Chill Dough Strategically: Cold dough prevents spreading and maintains perfect cookie shape, ensuring consistent thickness and professional-looking results.
- Master Butter Consistency: Room temperature butter blends smoothly, creating a light, airy texture that’s crucial for delicate French cookies.
- Slice with Precision: Use a sharp, clean knife and wipe between cuts to create uniform, clean-edged cookie disks that bake evenly.
- Glaze Carefully: Allow cookies to cool completely before glazing to prevent melting and ensure a smooth, elegant finish that sets perfectly.
- Prep Time: 50 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 137
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 45 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 37 mg