Mothers Day Floral Shortbread (Print Version)

Buttery shortbread cookies embellished with edible flowers for a charming Mothers Day gift.

# What You Need:

→ Shortbread Dough

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 2/3 cup powdered sugar
03 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
04 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
05 - 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

→ Decoration

06 - 1 egg white, lightly beaten
07 - 1/4 cup edible dried flowers
08 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla extract.
03 - Sift in flour and salt. Stir until just combined into a soft dough.
04 - Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness.
05 - Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place on prepared baking sheets.
06 - Lightly brush each cookie with egg white. Gently press edible flowers onto cookies. Sprinkle with granulated sugar.
07 - Bake 16-18 minutes, until edges are pale golden. Do not overbake.
08 - Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Arrange cookies in a decorative box for presentation.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • They look like you spent hours at a fancy bakery, but you'll actually have them ready in under an hour.
  • The shortbread melts on your tongue in that way that makes people close their eyes and smile without thinking.
  • Edible flowers turn something familiar into a conversation starter and genuine keepsake gift.
02 -
  • Do not overbake these cookies, even if they look a tiny bit underdone when you pull them out of the oven, because they'll continue cooking on the hot pan and firm up as they cool.
  • Edible flowers are not just decoration—they're the whole point—so source them carefully from trusted suppliers and never use flowers from a florist or garden center that might have been treated with pesticides.
03 -
  • Don't skip sifting the powdered sugar and flour—lumps create an uneven texture that ruins the delicate bite you're going for.
  • Brush the egg white on generously enough that the flowers stick but sparingly enough that it doesn't create pools that bake into shiny spots.
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