Earl Grey Lemon Sugar Cookies (Print Version)
Delicate sugar cookies infused with fragrant Earl Grey tea and fresh lemon zest, ready in 32 minutes.
# List of Ingredients:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tbsp finely ground Earl Grey tea leaves (from about 4 tea bags)
03 - 1/2 tsp baking powder
04 - 1/4 tsp salt
→ Wet Ingredients
05 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 cup granulated sugar
07 - 1 large egg
08 - 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
09 - 1 tbsp freshly grated lemon zest
10 - 2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
→ For Rolling
11 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
# Step-by-step Instructions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ground Earl Grey tea, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and 1 cup sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
04 - Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice until well combined.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Do not overmix.
06 - Scoop tablespoon-sized amounts of dough and roll into balls. Roll each ball in the extra granulated sugar and place on the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.
07 - Flatten each ball slightly with the bottom of a glass or your palm.
08 - Bake for 11–13 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden.
09 - Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The Earl Grey infusion gives these cookies a sophisticated floral note that makes people think you spent hours on them
- They strike that perfect balance between crisp edges and soft buttery centers
02 -
- Grinding the tea leaves finely is crucial because large pieces will create unpleasant gritty spots in your cookies
- The dough will seem slightly soft but that is exactly right, chilling it is not necessary and these cookies spread beautifully
03 -
- Use a coffee grinder dedicated to spices and tea to get the finest tea powder possible
- Room temperature ingredients make all the difference in achieving that perfectly smooth dough