London Fog Cookies with Lavender Frosting Recipe

Introduction

Enjoy the delicate flavors of Earl Grey tea and fragrant lavender in these elegant London Fog Cookies with Lavender Frosting. Perfect for teatime or a special treat, these cookies combine floral notes with a creamy finish that’s sure to impress.

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 (for lavender sugar)
• 1/2 tbsp culinary lavender
• 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese
• 1/4 cup (56 g) unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
• 1 cup (130 g) powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste (for frosting)
• Purple food coloring (optional)

Instructions

1. Step 1: 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 granulated sugar in a bowl and set aside.
2. Step 2: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
3. Step 3: Grind Earl Grey Tea. Pulse Earl Grey tea in a food processor until finely ground, then sift out any large bits.
4. Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and the ground Earl Grey tea.
5. Step 5: 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.
6. Step 6: Add Egg and Vanilla. Mix in the egg and 2 tsp vanilla bean paste on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes.
7. Step 7: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients. Add dry ingredients and mix on low speed just until combined.
8. Step 8: Form Cookie Balls. Scoop dough using a 2 tbsp cookie scoop, roll into balls, then coat each ball in lavender sugar.
9. Step 9: Arrange Cookies. Place dough balls at least 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Slightly flatten each ball and shape into a circle.
10. Step 10: Bake Cookies. Bake 6-8 cookies at a time for 9-10 minutes. Once baked, let sit on the sheet for 5 minutes. Use a large circular cookie cutter to perfect the shape while cookies are warm.
11. Step 11: Cool Cookies. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
12. Step 12: Prepare Lavender Cream Cheese Frosting. Beat together cream cheese and softened butter with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Add powdered sugar, reserved ground lavender, 1 tsp vanilla bean paste, and optional purple food coloring. Mix until very fluffy.
13. Step 13: Frost Cookies. When cookies have cooled, spread about 1 tbsp of frosting evenly on each using a mini offset spatula.
14. Step 14: Serve. Enjoy these elegant London Fog Cookies with your favorite tea or coffee.

Tips & Variations

• For a stronger Earl Grey flavor, increase the tea to 4 tablespoons but be sure to grind it finely.
• If you don’t have vanilla bean paste, substitute with pure vanilla extract.
• Try adding a teaspoon of lemon zest to the frosting for a bright citrus twist.
• The purple food coloring is optional but adds a lovely visual touch to the frosting.
• Use culinary grade lavender to ensure the best flavor and food safety.

Storage

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. For longer storage, keep them in the refrigerator for up to a week. Allow refrigerated cookies to come to room temperature before serving. The frosting may soften slightly after refrigeration; a gentle re-spread can restore the appearance.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make the cookie dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. This can help enhance the flavors and make shaping easier.

Is it okay to use tea bags instead of loose Earl Grey tea?

Loose leaf tea is preferred for this recipe for better flavor and texture, but you can carefully remove the tea leaves from tea bags and grind them finely as a substitute.

London Fog Cookies with Lavender Frosting Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.5 from 103 reviews

These London Fog Cookies with Lavender Frosting combine the fragrant flavors of Earl Grey tea and culinary lavender into a tender, buttery cookie topped with a creamy, floral cream cheese frosting. Perfect for tea time or any elegant gathering, these cookies bring the classic taste of a London Fog latte into a delightful baked treat.

• Author: Lara
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: Approximately 24 cookies 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: British-inspired

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dry 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

Cookie Dough:

• 1 cup (200 g) granulated white sugar
• 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 egg, at room temperature
• 2 tsp vanilla bean paste

Lavender Sugar:

• 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated white sugar
• 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 culinary lavender (reserved ground lavender)
• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
• Purple food coloring (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare Lavender Sugar: Pulse the culinary lavender in a food processor until finely ground, then sift through a fine mesh 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 in a bowl; set this lavender sugar mixture aside for coating the cookies.
2. Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prepare for baking.
3. Grind Earl Grey Tea: Pulse 3 tablespoons of Earl Grey tea leaves in a food processor until finely ground and sift out large bits to ensure smooth incorporation into the dough.
4. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and the finely ground Earl Grey tea.
5. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter and 1 cup granulated sugar on high speed for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy.
6. Add Egg and Vanilla: Mix in the egg and 2 teaspoons of vanilla bean paste on medium speed until the mixture is pale and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes.
7. Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients in the large bowl, mixing on low speed just until combined to form a cookie dough.
8. Form Cookie Balls: Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the dough and roll each portion into balls. Then, kindly coat each dough ball in the prepared lavender sugar.
9. Arrange Cookies: Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them at least 2 inches apart. Slightly flatten each ball and shape it into a circle to help the cookies bake evenly.
10. Bake Cookies: Bake 6-8 cookies at a time for 9-10 minutes in the preheated oven. Once baked, leave them on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then use a large circular cookie cutter to perfect their shape while they are still warm.
11. Cool Cookies: Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely before frosting.
12. Prepare Lavender Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat together the cream cheese and softened butter with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Add the powdered sugar, reserved ground lavender, 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste, and optional purple food coloring, then mix again until the frosting is very fluffy and smooth.
13. Frost Cookies: Once the cookies have cooled completely, spread approximately 1 tablespoon of the lavender cream cheese frosting evenly on the top of each cookie using a mini offset spatula for a smooth finish.
14. Serve: Enjoy these elegant London Fog Cookies alongside your favorite tea or coffee for a delightful treat.

Notes

• Ground Earl Grey tea adds the signature bergamot flavor to the cookies; be sure to sift out any large bits for a smooth texture.
• Using vanilla bean paste enhances the depth of flavor with real vanilla specks.
• Coating the cookie dough balls in lavender sugar creates an aromatic, slightly crunchy exterior.
• Shaping the cookies with a cutter while warm ensures a uniform and neat presentation.
• Optional purple food coloring in frosting adds a pretty pastel hue, but can be omitted if desired.
• Make sure cookies are completely cool before frosting to prevent melting.

Keywords: London Fog Cookies,Earl Grey Cookies,Lavender Frosting,Tea Cookies,British Tea Time Cookies,Lavender Sugar Cookies