Dreamy Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies Recipe
There is something utterly enchanting about these Dreamy Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies that captures both a soothing calm and a lively pop of flavor all at once. With their vibrant green hue from culinary-grade matcha and the delicate floral notes of lavender frosting, these cookies offer a sophisticated twist on the classic sugar cookie. Each bite is a dreamy combination of soft, buttery texture fused with the earthiness of matcha and the subtle floral sweetness of lavender, creating an irresistible treat you’ll find yourself making again and again.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These Dreamy Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies come together with simple but thoughtfully chosen ingredients. Each one plays a crucial role: the matcha powder provides a beautiful color and gentle bitterness, lavender buds lend a fragrant floral touch, and quality butter ensures a tender crumb and rich flavor. Here’s everything you’ll need to bring this dreamy recipe to life.
- All-purpose flour: The base that gives structure to the cookies, creating that perfect chewy yet tender bite.
- Cornstarch: A little secret to keep your cookies soft and delicate in texture.
- Baking powder and baking soda: The duo that helps the dough rise just right, keeping them light.
- Salt: A pinch that balances sweetness and boosts all the other flavors.
- Culinary-grade matcha powder: Provides that gorgeous green color and adds an earthy, slightly bitter complexity.
- Unsalted butter: Softened to perfection to create a rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetness that also helps with the perfect cookie crisp edges.
- Egg: Binds the dough and adds moisture for tenderness.
- Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt: Adds a slight tang and contributes to a soft crumb texture.
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the flavor with a warm, familiar sweetness.
- Powdered sugar: Essential for smooth, fluffy frosting with just the right amount of sweetness.
- Whole milk or heavy cream: Infused with lavender to create a floral-infused frosting texture.
- Culinary lavender buds: The fragrant star in the frosting that elevates these cookies to something truly special.
- Light purple gel food coloring (optional): Adds a lovely visual contrast that complements the matcha green beautifully.
How to Make Dreamy Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies
Step 1: Prepare the Dry Ingredients
Start by whisking together your flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and matcha powder in a medium bowl. This ensures the matcha is evenly distributed and the leavening agents are mixed well, setting the foundation for perfectly textured cookies with a lovely green tint.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This step is crucial because it creates air pockets that make your cookies tender and soft, so don’t rush it—give it a good 2 to 3 minutes with your mixer or by hand if you’re up for it!
Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients
Once your butter and sugar are fluffy, add the egg, sour cream (or Greek yogurt), and vanilla extract. Mix everything together until the batter is smooth and creamy, which helps keep your cookies moist with just the right amount of tang from the sour cream.
Step 4: Combine Dry and Wet
Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, combining gently until a thick dough forms. Be careful not to overmix here—you want everything just incorporated to keep your cookies tender rather than tough.
Step 5: Shape and Chill
Scoop the dough into balls roughly two tablespoons each. Slightly flatten the tops to help them bake evenly, then transfer them onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Chill the dough balls in the fridge for about 20 minutes; this step helps the cookies hold their shape and boosts flavor.
Step 6: Bake the Cookies
Bake your chilled cookies in a preheated oven at 350°F (177°C) for 9 to 11 minutes. You’re aiming for edges that are set but centers that remain soft and tender. Once baked, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Step 7: Make the Lavender Frosting
To prepare the frosting, gently heat your milk or cream and steep the culinary lavender buds for 4 to 5 minutes to infuse their delicate floral aroma. Strain out the buds, then beat the softened butter and sifted powdered sugar until fluffy. Slowly add the lavender-infused milk until you reach your desired frosting consistency. If you want to add a whimsical touch, mix in some light purple gel food coloring to complement the matcha’s green.
Step 8: Frost the Cookies
Once your cookies are completely cool, frost them with either a knife or a piping bag for a neat finish. The floral lavender frosting on vibrant green cookies creates a stunning and delicious visual and flavor pairing.
How to Serve Dreamy Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies
Garnishes
Adding a few sprinkles of dried lavender petals or a dusting of matcha powder on top of the frosting can elevate your presentation beautifully. These simple, natural garnishes enhance both the aroma and the elegance, making these cookies perfect for sharing with friends or for special occasions.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with a light cup of jasmine or green tea, amplifying the matcha’s earthiness while balancing the lavender’s sweetness. For a cozier treat, a small glass of milk or a mild honey-sweetened chamomile tea works beautifully and rounds out the whole dessert experience.
Creative Ways to Present
Why not arrange these Dreamy Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies on a rustic wooden board with sprigs of fresh lavender and small bowls of matcha powder for dipping? Gift-wrapping them in pastel-colored tissue with a lavender sprig tied on top makes for a charming homemade gift that’s both thoughtful and delicious.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. The cookies maintain their tender texture and lovely flavor when stored properly, making them a delightful treat to enjoy a day or two after baking.
Freezing
You can freeze both the unbaked dough balls and fully baked cookies if you want to prepare in advance. For dough, freeze the balls on a tray and then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. For baked cookies, freeze them flat in an airtight container. Just thaw completely before frosting or serving to retain their texture and taste.
Reheating
If you want to enjoy your frozen or stored cookies as if freshly baked, pop them in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 5 minutes. This gently warms them without drying out, reviving their soft centers and enhancing their aromatic flavors beautifully.
FAQs
Can I use regular green tea powder instead of matcha?
Regular green tea powder usually isn’t as finely ground or as vibrant in flavor as culinary-grade matcha, so your cookies may lose some of their signature color and taste. For the best Dreamy Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies experience, I recommend using high-quality matcha powder.
Is culinary lavender safe to eat?
Yes, culinary lavender is specifically grown and prepared for consumption. Just make sure you use food-grade lavender buds to avoid any bitterness or pesticides that can sometimes be found in garden lavender varieties.
Can I substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt?
Absolutely! Plain Greek yogurt works just as well in the dough, adding the same tangy moisture and helping achieve that soft, tender cookie texture. It’s a handy swap if you don’t have sour cream on hand.
How do I avoid overbaking these cookies?
Keep a close eye during baking and remove them once the edges are set but the centers still look slightly soft. They will continue to firm up as they cool, so pulling them out at this point ensures tender, dreamy cookies instead of hard, crumbly ones.
Can I make the frosting ahead of time?
Yes! You can make the lavender frosting a day ahead and store it covered in the fridge. Before frosting your cookies, bring it to room temperature and give it a quick whisk to restore its fluffy texture.
Final Thoughts
I promise, once you try making these Dreamy Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies, they’ll quickly become a cherished recipe in your collection. Their beautiful balance of flavors and stunning presentation make them perfect for any occasion—whether it’s a sweet afternoon pick-me-up or an elegant treat to share with friends. Go ahead and give them a try; your taste buds will thank you for this little slice of cookie heaven.
Print
Dreamy Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Dreamy Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies combine the earthy flavor of culinary-grade matcha with a delicate lavender-infused frosting. Perfectly soft and slightly chewy cookies enhanced by floral notes, making them ideal for a sophisticated tea time treat or a unique dessert option.
Ingredients
For the Matcha Sugar Cookies:
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons culinary-grade matcha powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Lavender Frosting:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1–2 tablespoons whole milk or heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon culinary lavender buds
- Light purple gel food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper to prevent sticking during baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and matcha powder until evenly combined to ensure consistent flavor throughout the dough.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, this usually takes about 2–3 minutes and creates a good texture for the cookies.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the egg, sour cream (or Greek yogurt), and vanilla extract. Beat until the mixture is smooth and well incorporated, which helps improve moisture and flavor in the dough.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing slowly until a thick, uniform dough forms. Be careful not to overmix to keep the texture tender.
- Shape and Chill: Scoop the dough into balls about 2 tablespoons in size, place them on your lined baking sheets, and gently flatten the tops slightly. Chill these dough balls in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to help the cookies maintain their shape during baking.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9–11 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers are still soft. This ensures a chewy center with a slight crisp around the edges. Once baked, remove the cookies and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Prepare Lavender Frosting: Warm the whole milk or heavy cream and steep the lavender buds in it for 4–5 minutes to extract the floral flavor. Strain out the buds to have a smooth liquid.
- Make Frosting: Beat the softened butter and sifted powdered sugar together until light and fluffy. Slowly add the lavender-infused milk, a bit at a time, until the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency. Optionally, add a few drops of light purple gel food coloring for a beautiful hue.
- Frost Cookies: Once the cookies are completely cooled, frost them using a knife or a piping bag to your desired style. Let the frosting set before serving to enjoy the perfect blend of matcha and lavender flavors.
Notes
- For best flavor, use culinary-grade matcha powder specifically intended for baking.
- You can substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt for a slightly tangier taste and added moisture.
- Adjust the lavender quantity based on your preference for floral intensity; start with less if unsure.
- Chilling the dough helps prevent cookie spreading and preserves shape during baking.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- Allow frosting to come to room temperature before spreading if refrigerated, to ensure smooth application.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: matcha cookies, lavender frosting, sugar cookies, floral cookies, green tea cookies, unique dessert, tea time treat, soft cookies, chewy cookies
