Tuesday, August 14

Em's Lemon Lavender Shortbread Bars

I think its safe to say that I've been a little obsessed with cooking with lavender lately, (you've probably noticed between my cupcakes, lemonade, and various other mentions in the last month) and when you really get into an unusual ingredient and see all the yummy possibilities, its hard to put a lid on it sometimes:) So here's another lavender recipe for ya:
There's nothing quite like these babies fresh out of the oven, except maybe when they're covered in sweet lemon glaze! It ads almost a crispness to the outside, while helping the rich moisture inside keep it together. The lavender takes it from being just another simple shortbread (that's just buttery, flaky, and delicious.haha) to being posh and gourmet, and with just the right amount of lemon to dress up the freshness, everything really is pulled together gorgeously. 
Everyone that tried them gave wonderful feedback, and I'm certain I'll be making these for a fourth time here soon... and a fifth, and a... okay just make them:)
Em's Lemon Lavender Shortbread Bars

Ingredients:
Shortbread:
  • 3 cups flour
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 cups (4 sticks) melted butter 
  • 2 generous tablespoons of ground lavender powder
  • 2 generous tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
Glaze:
  • 3 cups confectioners sugar
  • 3 tablespoons lavender florets
  • 3/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla
Method:
Step #1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all dry ingredients for the shortbread in a bowl, and pour the melted butter over the top, mixing together with a wooden spoon till well combined. Press the dough down with your fingers evenly in the bottom of a 9x13 pan, and score with a fork from one end to the other creating shallow channels in the top of your shortbread.
Step #2. Poke the top of your shortbread with your fork about 6-8 times to keep it from bubbling in the oven. Let it cook for approx. 25 mins, or till the edges are golden brown. 
Step #3. While your shortbread is in the oven you'll want to mix up your icing ingredients and let them sit together in a bowl for at least the 25 minutes, remixing every now and then. This will give your dried florets the time they need to soak up some moisture and 're-hydrate' if you will. Slice up your shortbread as soon as it leaves the oven so it's still soft, and let it cool compleately on a wire rack before remixing your icing one last time and coating each square with a pastry brush. Your icing will dry firm, and not sticky at all. All done!
*Note: the second time I made these my brillient mom suggested (after watching me try and coat each square with icing) that it may be faster to just drop each square into the icing top down, then use the brush to get the icing on the sides. Worked much better, and faster too! 

Let me know if you decide  to give these a try! and thanks for reading!
xo, Emily

26 comments:

  1. They look really delicious :)
    xx
    www.clothesandcamera.blogspot.com

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  2. Lavender, my favourite flower ever <3 I bet these taste delicious!

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  3. Love your tutorials, thank for your comment on my blog and for making me discover your blog!!
    A kiss

    Rita of Uniartfashion

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  4. lavender is one of my favorite flavors, ever, and i am always searching for new, interesting ways to incorporate it! lemon and lavender is delicious.

    http://dallianceswithsuitsandskirts.blogspot.com/

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  5. Lavender and lemon in shortbread?! YUM. I would have never even imagined those two things working so well together, but they look delicious...

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  6. Looks very delicious!
    Great blog!
    Xoxo
    www.deliriofashionista.com

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  7. Hmmmm, so delicious!!!
    I love the blog and I'll follow you!
    Have a nice day!!!

    xoxo

    www.deliriofashionista.com
    @delirio_fashion

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  8. thanks for your comment! your blog is lovely! i'm following you.

    kisses

    El Rincón de Vega

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  9. Looks wonderful! Lavender is one of my favorite cooking ingredients, too. Here's a link to some lavender cookies I made, then dipped in chocolate. I sold them at a bake sale and they were a HUGE hit. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me when I made them so I got stuck using a camera phone - they were much prettier (and tastier-looking) in person. :-(

    http://www.lashesandbeard.com/2012/05/recipe-chocolate-dipped-lavender.html

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  10. What a unique recipe to share! They look delicious!

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  11. This looks too good - definitely gonna have to try this recipe out!! :-D Lavender is the best!!

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  12. That shortbread looks so yummy :) this is a really interesting recipe!

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  13. Oh my word these look delicious! I must try them this minute! Lovley photos!

    xo,
    Elyse
    shortandsweetelyse.blogspot.com

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  14. These sound so delicious! I have some unused lavender at home... this would be a great excuse to use it up! Pinning! ~Stephanie

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  15. They look amazing *-*
    Thank you for visiting my blog <3
    I'm following <3

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  16. Those look so yummy! You know, I have to admit, before I saw all your lavender recipes, I did not realize that lavender can be eaten. I was driving by a farm a while back and they were selling fresh lavender and I thought to myself, "What do I do with lavender other than make candles and soap or something?" Now I know better and am very curious to try this recipe! :)

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  17. thank you for stopping by my blog and following!Happy to follow back!:)Have a great week!

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  18. very good idea! it's something another, look very delicious and interesting ;)
    im a new follower

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  19. These look so delicious! Great photos :)


    xx

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  20. Thank u so much for your lovely comment. I am following you back via GFC!!!
    Best Regards
    Miss Margaret Cruzemark
    http://margaretcruzemark.blogspot.com/

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  21. This looks amazing and must taste amazing as well! Your blog is beautiful and has so much variety to offer - keep on being an inspiration!

    xx
    High-Stitched Voice

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  22. I love Lavender and these look gorgeous! Thanks for following my blog:)
    ~Anne

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  23. OMG!! they must be sooo yummy!! I'd love to try one!

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  24. These looks amazingly good! I think they would also be cute gift wrapped too. I want to thank you for visiting and following me and I'm happy to follow you as well. Take care!

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