I am a sucker for tea biscuits, and if there's anything that goes well with a cup of tea, it's these.
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I know, I know.
Where the hell were these when Imbolc was coming around?
Frankly, I just don't get into the baking mood for Imbolc and Candlemas, but if you do, definitely keep these on the roster for 2024. What I'm making these cookies for today, though, is simply to welcome the idea of spring.
Here in Rhode Island, it's been warm! There's an interesting Greek folktale about why February has a smack of warm weather, which involves a lady's husband being drowned at sea and the gods turning her into a bird because they feel bad, then giving her a week of warm weather to lay eggs during this short month. Odd way to show sympathy, but it is what it is, I guess. And I've been very much thinking of spring with weather like this.
You can literally smell it, just like you can smell the crispness of winter. It smells earthy, the ground defrosting, the water running in creeks and brooks. And I'm mad, because it means my rosemary will try to wake up early and likely wilt again. Ugh.
But to keep the stress of the rest of winter at bay, and to really purify, protect, and infuse oneself with a spirit of light and gentle love, these cookies are the perfect thing, all because of those three ingredients in the title (and a touch of vanilla, too).
Magic in Honey, Lavender, and Lemon Shortbread Cookies
We all know that lavender has long been used to help reduce stress and promote sleep, and magically, it does much of the same, with an extra purifying and protective touch. Match that up with vanilla and lemon, two flavors that promote love, friendship, protection, and purification, and you've got perfect shortbread..
But add a little honey, and now you're talking the beauty of the sun itself. Love! Abundance! Fertility! Sweetness! It literally drips gold, and it'll imbue that bright power into your cookies, too.
It's time to get deeply rooted into your heart and mind as winter comes to a close. There's so much to do, so much to see, and so much to prepare for! Let these cookies, full of the power of water, fire, and air, with Venus, Mercury, and the Sun ad Moon at the helm, help you communicate what you need to fully bloom with the coming spring and release the last of the cold winter. January may be our New Year's celebration, but the world is only just starting to wake up—and this cookie will help remind you of it, especially as the Lenten season starts.
Honey, Lavender, and Lemon Shortbread Cookies for Welcoming Spring
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Makes 50 cookies
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp sugar
1/4 cup honey
3 tsp. lavender
2 tsp. lemon zest
1 cup butter softened
2 tsp. vanilla extract
Directions:
Sift flour and salt together in one bowl, then put aside.
Using a mortar & pestle, place 1 Tbsp. of the granulated sugar, lavender, and lemon zest in and grind.
Use a hand or stand mixer to mix softened butter with the rest of the sugar, and this aromatic mixture until fluffy.
Add dry ingredients until it makes a dough, then wrap it up and chill in the fridge for 30min.
Roll out the dough into 1 inch balls, then flatten with your hands on the baking sheet (or cut into shapes).
Chill the cookies again for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bake cookies for 12-14 minutes until lightly browned around the edges. Cool on sheet for 5 minutes, then put on the wire rack.
It's time to start planning a tea party or two again, and to get your favorite sundresses back out, because the warm weather is on its way back. These cookies are the perfect thing to give as gifts or share with friends over a hot cup of your favorite tea, so be sure to get together with those you love and welcome in the new season. Enjoy! ♥
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