This time of year feels optimistic. The days get longer and we get to appreciate what is fresh and new in the world. It’s around this time that flowers and herbs have a showy growth spurt, so there’s no better opportunity to start using them in the kitchen!
Herbs and edible flowers have many virtues, and these cookies take full advantage of both their beauty and flavor. Marigold, coreopsis and leafy herbs make a beautiful presentation on this slightly sweet shortbread, but use any edible plant you wish! The best variety to use will have natural affinity for sweet things, like basil or lemon balm. Below is a list of edible garden pickings to use for this project.

Flowers:
Alyssum
Chamomile
Coreopsis
Marigold/calendula
Pansies
Rose
Violas
Zinnia
Herbs:
Basil
Lemon Balm
Mint
Rosemary
Thyme
Verbena
Using plants and flowers in food is fun, but there are precautions to take before using them as an ingredient. Choose pesticide-free, organic flowers that you can positively identify as non-toxic. Don’t guess! If you’re not completely sure, then don’t use them.
Re-hydrated meringue powder is the edible varnish that holds the blooms onto the cookies. It has a light vanilla scent that gives the cookies an extra hit of sweet flavor. You can find it at most craft stores and online.
Bake the Cookies

You will need:
Yield: 24-36 cookies
1 pound unsalted butter, softened
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
Seeds of 1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
4 cups all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In the bowl of a standing mixer, beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla bean seeds or extract and mix again.

Add two cups of flour and the pinch of salt and mix on low speed until a dough forms. Add the last two cups of flour and mix again on low until a very stiff dough forms. Gather dough together with your hands and place on a sheet of wax paper.

Using a floured rolling pin, lightly roll the dough until flattened, top with another sheet of wax paper and roll to about 1” thickness. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. This dough will firm up in quickly because of the high butter content. If your dough is difficult to roll, let it stand at room temperature for a few minutes until it is pliable. While still cold, roll out dough to ¼” thickness. For perfectly even shortbread, use two ¼” flat dowels on either side of the dough as a guide. (Note: Rolling pin guide bands are also available in graduated sizes at kitchen specialty stores)

Cut dough into desired shapes. Bake on parchment-lined cookie sheets until lightly golden around the edges: 7-10 minutes for small cookies; 12-15 minutes for medium cookies; 17-20 minutes for large cookies. Allow cookies to cool completely before decorating.
Apply Embellishments

You will need:
1 tablespoon meringue powder
2 teaspoons water
2 small, soft hair artists’ brushes
Small edible blooms and herb leaves, rinsed and patted dry
1/2 cup granulated sugar

In a small bowl, combine the meringue powder and water. Stir until well incorporated. Place the sugar in a shallow dish and set aside. Use an artists’ brush to apply a thin coat of the re-hydrated meringue to the surface of the cookie.

Arrange the leaves and blooms on the cookie and smooth them flat with a finger. Use the artists’ brush to apply a thin coat of meringue on top of the leaves and blooms.
If you are working with flowers:

The underside of some flowers (called the receptacle) are more prominent that others. This is the green leafy part at the base of the flower. The flowers need to lay perfectly flat before lacquering them to the cookie so they’ll retain their color and shape.

For this type of flower, make a small indention on the cookie’s surface with the end of an artists’ brush.

The flower base will become recessed and the petals will lay perfectly flat against the cookie’s surface.

Next, dip the meringue-coated cookie surface in the sugar.

Brush away just enough of the sugar from the leaf or bloom to make it clearly visible. Allow the cookie to dry on a piece of wax paper. Repeat process with the remaining cookies.

Store cookies in an air-tight container or a zip-top bag with the air removed.
All photographs by Heather Baird.
89 comments
VelvetRevived from VelvetRevived said 6 years ago
What a completely lovely idea! And I just love how the sugar sprinkled on the top would look glittery! A fun springtime cooking project!
Leda Design from LedaDesign said 6 years ago
Wonderful idea! Love it!
Ali from MarquisePaper said 6 years ago
Very creative!
Melanie from ATreasureInTime said 6 years ago
What a fantastic idea!! Your cookies look beautiful and delicious! You are very talented, best of luck with your shop! Melanie
Cristy Ramos from ArtisanBathandBody said 6 years ago
This is a delicious and beautiful project!!! Can't wait to try it! Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial!
Dorothy from JewelrybyDorothy said 6 years ago
Beautiful cookies! Thank you for sharing!
GoddessOfJewelry from GoddessOfJewelry said 6 years ago
Oh my gosh, so pretty!!!
Caroline from ArtbyHeroux said 6 years ago
Love this ~
Yolanda from Cierzojewelry said 6 years ago
Lovely, didn't know it could be so easy to add flowers and tasty herbs to cookies. I might try it <3
Megan from MegansMenagerie said 6 years ago
This is so neat! They look beautiful and probably taste delicious!
Patrick from EdelweissPost said 6 years ago
My brunch and garden party guests really enjoy my 'pansy-petal ice cubes' -- just sprinkle some petals into ice cube trays, add water, freeze and plop the colorful cubes into your mimosas, juleps, or mojitos! They add such an enchanting touch~
Kelly from LucyRoseDesigns said 6 years ago
Such pretty cookies, thank you for sharing this recipe!!
Andrea from BodaDesignMarbella said 6 years ago
Im trying this now it looks delicious and so elegant...
Wood Iphone Cases from WoodiPhoneCases said 6 years ago
Cool Deisgns... edible leaves and flowers!
accentonvintage from accentonvintage said 6 years ago
Beautiful cookie idea! Thanks!
Jazmin Marquez from CuteMuseStationery said 6 years ago
That's more than awesome!
Lowe Jewelry from lowelowejewelry said 6 years ago
Wonderful!
kim rhodes-thomas from pinksnakejewelry said 6 years ago
Delicious!!! Will definitely bake these with my kids!!!
Natalia from KMalinkaVintage said 6 years ago
Very good looking cookie!
Gail Oliver from AttentionGetting said 6 years ago
These would be so great as wedding favors!
Susan Jizba from TheWeaverOfWords said 6 years ago
So Incredibly Gorgeous, as always Heather!!! Looks Very Delicious too! : )
junquegypsy from junquegypsy said 6 years ago
So perfectly old-fashioned and lovely! Tea time!
Quality Handmade Items from WhisperingOak said 6 years ago
Looks delicious and beautiful
Maria B. from TheNorthWayStudio said 6 years ago
Oh my gosh! These will be absolutely perfect for my garden-themed bridal shower in July--they're so delicate and lovely! Thank you for the inspiration and yummy recipe!
GentleRomance from GentleRomance said 6 years ago
So fresh for spring!
Fields Of Vintage from FieldsOfVintage said 6 years ago
Wow! Looks so yummy. Thanks for the tutorial.
Jadon Miller from JadonsCardShop said 6 years ago
Looks Tasty
Jackie from kookubug said 6 years ago
I love shortbread cookies, this looks so yummy...
aSma from TealAndMagenta said 6 years ago
Looks very yummy! Will try soon!! Thank you for sharing!
Ellen from EngravableCharm said 6 years ago
Wonderful cookies!
junko from NickiNickiGallery said 6 years ago
beautiful and delish!
AGORAA from AGORAA said 6 years ago
Wow! Fantastic!
Laura Cai from HappyLaurajewelry said 6 years ago
lovely
Jess from JessieLilac said 6 years ago
How very lovely! A great idea and so unusual. :)
Sung-jin, SEO from MyElevenEleven said 6 years ago
Wow... really lovely... Fantastic!!
J.K. Ramirez from HudsonBlueArtisans said 6 years ago
Beautiful, got to try it.
ClassicMemories from ClassicMemories said 6 years ago
Looks wonderful, delicious idea.
Valerie from valeriestitchery said 6 years ago
What a great idea. I've made lavender cardamom cookies, but I hadn't thought of embellishing them with edible flowers! What a great gift idea too!
Ann Cosgrove from acbcDesign said 6 years ago
So beautiful - what a beautiful mother's day gift!
MyChouchou from MyChouChou said 6 years ago
so pretty and a super nice idea for a very personal and beautiful gift! thanks for sharing : )
Yulia Tsidylo from yuliatko said 6 years ago
A very interesting idea. Thank you!
Aretha Kou from TheEpistolaryNucleus said 6 years ago
Thank you for this post. Now that spring is here I'm excited to try new recipes and share them with family and friends, while wearing my new apron!
Darlene Jones from RomanceCatsAndWhimsy said 6 years ago
So pretty and you make it look so easy. Great gift idea!!
Rebeca from SecretDiamonds said 6 years ago
thanks so easy!
Jeanne B from PruAtelier said 6 years ago
Oh, how beautiful! I LOVE the elegant presentation of flowers on cakes, cookies, drinks. A great idea and wonderful, easy instructions!
Margo from ThriftatHome said 6 years ago
so pretty, and doesn't look too hard. I just tried my hand at baking violets into the top of sugar cookies. It was easy and pretty, but I like your way of applying the flowers/leaves afterwards.
Aga from AgasJourney said 6 years ago
Looks beautiful and yummy. Fantastic and inspiring idea. Thank you for sharing
BarDulce from BarDulce said 6 years ago
Very nice - thank you for this!
Kerime Sevilen Mustafaoglu from ASHYL said 6 years ago
Creative idea! Love it :)
Sue Sparks from MunchkinMunchies said 6 years ago
Stunningly beautiful!
Hey Chica from HeyChica said 6 years ago
They almost look too pretty to eat!
Britt Willis from hellosoap said 6 years ago
Gorgeous! Thanks for the recipe!
Lilia Vanini from liliavaniniboutique said 6 years ago
Love this idea!!!!
shahin Manavi from knitknotfashion said 6 years ago
I love it. I will make it for the kids.
brillega from Brillega said 6 years ago
one of the most beautiful cookies!! love the floral combination!! totally love everything that's decorated with flowers^^
Narwhal Needlework from NarwhalNeedlework said 6 years ago
This is such a great spring idea! I can't wait to try it.
Marjorie from BlingNaturally said 6 years ago
This looks and sounds amazing. Although i'm probably more the buy it type than bake it.
ManInTheMoonHerbs from ManInTheMoonHerbs said 6 years ago
There's something magical about eating a flower, taking in its beautiful essence to nourish your spirit. Thanks for sharing this.
Iknitoo said 6 years ago
WONDERFUL! I am making these for myself for Mother's Day! I may try some wild violets that are blooming right now!
Nicole from KarmaCodeOne said 6 years ago
oooo pretty cookies ~ love shortbread !
glitterandstones from glitterandstones said 6 years ago
Very creative idea. Thank you for sharing:)
Lindsay from NaturallyHip said 6 years ago
These are beautiful - thanks for the great idea!
Cathy from msbijouxbeads said 6 years ago
Lovely, will try making them! Thank you
Renate from 2Crafty4You said 6 years ago
thanks for sharing ,what a lovely spring baking Idea. Love the flowers on the cookies!
Charlotte Renata from HenrietteRenee said 6 years ago
Great Ideas, thank you!!!
Heather Rodak from HeatherAnnRodak said 6 years ago
These are gorgeous! I definitely want to try this out! Thanks for sharing. :)
Samantha from Emariecreations said 6 years ago
How pretty!
Susan Malakooti from DalCuoreCreations said 6 years ago
O my goodness, these are beautiful and unlike most short bread cookies, calorie free, since they are too cute to eat. You'll just want to frame them.
Marlene Christophers from MarleneCDesigns said 6 years ago
Very pretty!
Tara from CrowdCapture said 6 years ago
That looks so nice. Very special
C and A accessories from CatsAndSheeps said 6 years ago
Incredible designs.. :)) Lovely and yummyy... Love love love everything from your shop.. Keep up your great works... :) Congratulations..
Jennifer from PoshBinky said 6 years ago
Wow, this is such a great idea!!! I am going to try it out with my little girl who loves baking and picking flowers! Yummmmm!
marjolaine liu from horizonfly said 6 years ago
amazing! I would like to collect this creative spirit in my daily use!
Ikhlas and Kawthar from INKhandcrafted said 6 years ago
So beautiful yet yummy!
Tania Chernova from PobryakushkiNet said 6 years ago
yummy cookies!
Valerie from chichigemmes said 6 years ago
Oh my! brilliant project!
Just Peshtemal from JustPeshtemal said 6 years ago
Brillant idea and great designs.. I think I will tryto make this with my best:)
ECO GAL from KnitableArt said 6 years ago
Have not had good luck with edible flowers. Have lots of herbs and newbspearmint plant. Thanks for the great idea and just in time for a birthday!
Adela Sivewright from sagebespoke said 6 years ago
I have always wondered how to deal with the lumpy bit underneath the flowers! A lovely project.
Vintage Minnow from VintageMinnow said 6 years ago
To shorten the process, can we use already made sugar cookie dough?
Kristen yi from silkribbonstudio said 6 years ago
These are beautiful - thanks for the great idea!
Amy zhang from michaeloveamy said 6 years ago
Looks wonderful, delicious idea. I want to try it now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Diana Duenas from DuenasUpcycleDesigns said 6 years ago
I didn't realize how many edible flowers there are. Your cookies are so pretty! I would love to try making these for my family.
Veronica Escudero from VeezArt said 6 years ago
These cookies are exquisite. I'm looking forward to trying them. :)
Katrina Dzerkale from Dominna said 6 years ago
such amazing idea !!!
Macheanimal animal from Macheanimal said 6 years ago
Very inspiring! THANKS!
Setlla Cai from RainbowSilk said 6 years ago
Creative idea! Love it :)
Koren Kwan from GarasuWonderland said 6 years ago
lovely cookies~
Flair Nouri from FlairPaintings said 4 years ago
wonderful idea!!