Lemon Basil Shortbread Cookies
Classic shortbread cookies infused with homemade lemon basil sugar for a summer twist!
Classic shortbread cookies and I go way back. Growing up, my grandfather, Nonno, used to bring us massive boxes of Walker’s classic shortbread, most likely purchased in bulk, whenever he came to visit us.
Not only was this tradition amusing considering my grandfather was 100% Italian (born and raised), but because, in his mind, shortbread cookies had a infinite shelf life. Who doesn’t need ten boxes of Walker’s shortbread in their pantry? Two year old shortbread cookies for an afternoon snack? Sure. Perfectly acceptable.
He would lump these boxes of shortbread with huge chunks of fresh parmigiano-reggiano cheese brought back (most likely without customs knowledge) from Italy, along with tins of olive oil and homemade pesto. It was eccentric, yet totally normal for us. As a result, shortbread quickly lost all of its’ novelty, but still holds nostalgia to me for obvious reasons.
Classic shortbread might be old news, but I love a recipe makeover and that is exactly what today’s shortbread cookie recipe is to me. A summer makeover and twist on a classic buttery cookie!
To achieve this, I took my favorite shortbread recipe (from Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery cookbook) and infused it with homemade lemon basil sugar. While I love adding basil to savory dishes, I might love basil in sweet and dessert applications even more. As evidenced by this basil ice cream recipe, this strawberry buttermilk panna cotta, and this pineapple cocktail.
Homemade infused sugar is one of my favorite tricks for elevating a classic dessert, and it could not be easier.
If you’ve ever rubbed granulated sugar together with the zest of a lemon, you’ve made one version of infused, flavored sugar. In this case, regular granulated sugar is combined with fresh basil leaves and lemon zest, and processed together until fragrant.
Lemon basil sugar. Voila! In this case, the sugar is used for a cookie recipe, but this sugar could be just as delicious in your favorite cake recipe or used for rimming a cocktail.
The lemon basil sugar adds a noticeable twist on these cookies. The lemon zest brightens them up, and the basil flavor adds a subtle flavor that makes you pause and want to take another bite. The final dusting of lemon basil sugar just before baking, as suggested by Sebastien Rouxel, adds great texture and crunch!
While this shortbread dough comes together extremely quickly, it is important to allow enough time for the dough to refrigerate and firm up in the fridge, about 2 hours or longer.
These cookies would make a great dessert to bring to any summer get-together, or as a pairing with a lemon sorbet or this basil ice cream.
Lemon Basil Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons (125 g) granulated sugar
- zest of 1 lemon
- 4-5 large fresh basil leaves
- 1½ sticks (6 oz; 175 g) unsalted butter room temperature
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1¾ cups + 3 tablespoons (270 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
Instructions
- In a small food processor, combine the granulated sugar, lemon zest, and basil leaves. Pulse and process until the sugar is very fragrant and resembles wet sand, and the basil pieces are very, very small. The sugar will be lime green in color. Resereve 2 tablespoons of the lemon basil sugar in a small bowl for dusting the cookies during baking – cover with plastic wrap to prevent the sugar from clumping.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with paddle attachment, cream the butter and salt over medium speed for until smooth and creamy. Add the remaining lemon basil sugar to the bowl with the butter, and beat over medium-low speed for 2 minutes, or until fluffy. Scrape down the bowl once or twice with a spatula to ensure that all of the ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- On low speed, add the flour in two additions, mixing over low speed until the flour is just absorbed, scraping down the bowl once or twice. The dough will be shaggy and loose.
- Scrape the dough onto a clean work surface. Using the “fraisage” technique, use the heel of your hand to press down and ‘smear’ the dough onto the countertop. Push back together and repeat until smooth and the dough comes together. Using a bench scraper (preferably one with a ruler for measuring), press the block of dough into a 5-inch square block. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours, or until firm.
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C), with one rack in the lower third and one rack in the upper third position in your oven. Line two sheet pans with parchment paper or silicone mats. Remove the dough from the refrigerator, remove the plastic wrap, and place the block between two sheets of parchment paper. Using a rolling pin, hit the dough evenly with a rolling pin, until it begins to flatten. Turn and repeat. By hitting the dough, you are warming and flattening it slowly, and preventing the dough from cracking. Roll the dough into a 9-inch square. If the dough gets too soft during this process, slide the parchment onto the back of a sheet pan and refrigerate until firm.
- Using a large, sharp knife and ruler, score the dough along both edges of the dough to form 2¼-inch-long x 1½-inch-wide rectangles. Cut along the scores and transfer 12 rectangles to each sheet pan, setting the dough apart by at least one inch.
- Sprinkle the tops of the dough lightly with the set aside lemon basil sugar. If the remaining sugar has started to clump, loosen it with your fingertips or re-process it in the food processor. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, rotating and turning the pans halfway through, or until the edges of the shortbread are a pale golden brown. Allow the cookies to rest on the sheet pans for 5 minutes, than transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Cookies can be stored in a covered container for up to 3 days.
37 Comments on “Lemon Basil Shortbread Cookies”
Question – pt.5 says one rack on lower 1/3 & one rack on upper 1/3 of oven? Do we bake the cookies on both racks? Rotating and turning the pan means swopping their respective position?
Yes! If you’re baking two sheet pans at once, you’d want to swap and rotate their rack position during baking. If you’re baking just one pan at a time, bake in the center rack position.
Hello! I just found the sweetest shortbread pan at an estate sale and looked up “lemon basil shortbread recipe” in Google and found your site! I wanted a summery, fresh shortbread recipe and I think this will do perfectly. Do you think I should press it into the mold before putting the whole thing in the fridge to rest, or refrigerate the dough first and then press it into the mold? I’d love your thoughts!
I would press it into the mold first (as long as it hasn’t softened or gotten way too warm, which hopefully it won’t have!). Hope this helps!
Hello! I see that the dough can be frozen up to a month ahead. Can the cookies be baked and then frozen? What happens to the color of the basil once it is frozen? Thank you!
Hi Maria, shortbread dough does freeze really well! I think you could also bake and freeze them, but I wouldn’t personally roll them in the sugar blend if you were doing this, the basil would most likely oxidize (not as worried about the basil in the dough, but I might need to test these again to know for sure!).
Very easy recipe to follow
Typical shortbread dough
Key point
Make sure the dough is chilled?
Very jummy
I made this today. I followed the recipe exactly. I was a little worried because my dough was crumbly and needed a lot of kneading, but I kept at it. The results were great! The cookies look just like your pictures. Very tasty. Will definitely make again. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!!! Appreciate it!
Would this work with a vegan butter substitute such as Earth Balance?
I think it *should* but I have never tested it, so I’m not positive. Just make sure it is in stick form and to be used as a substitute, not a “butter” spread.
Is there a gluten free version of this?
Sorry, I don’t have a gluten free version on this blog! My best solution for you would be to use a 1:1 GF flour substitute, such as Bob’s Red Mill, however I’ve never tasted this recipe with one, and can’t say how it would turn out. Hope this helps!
Thanks for writing such a professional recipe instructions!
Love shortbread cookies 🙂
My dad loves shortbread and I always get him the Walker’s tartan box for Christmas but this version looks so much better! Pinning for December (it’s never too early to start planning, right? :)).
Thank you so much! 🙂
Good question about when to use the salt? Assuming 1/2 teaspoon in flour mix and the 1/8 in the sugar mixture?
Actually, all of the salt should be added with the butter (it’s not divided for various parts). Sorry for the typo on my part – I really appreciate you pointing that out. I just fixed the recipe now!
I think I am the first one who tried this recipe. It didn’t work for me – too much butter probably, because my cookies spread a lot and became one huge cookie. 🙁
Hi Elena. The butter quantities (and basic shortbread dry ingredients) are from Thomas Keller’s cookbook. Shortbread is known for its high butter quantities, if the cookies spread, it’s most likely because the dough wasn’t sufficiently chilled before it went into the oven. This would cause spreading in even any cookie recipe. Did you follow the chilling instructions?
Yes, I did. I will try it again today and post here again. thanks
When do you use the salt?
Thank you!
It looks delicious! I always have fresh basil leaves in my kitchen. Basil is my can’t-live-without-it herb and I planted it among the tomatoes in my garden. It is really easy to grow.
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My dad loves shortbread and I always get him the Walker’s tartan box for Christmas but this version looks so much better! Pinning for December (it’s never too early to start planning, right? :)).
Yum! I’ve been wanting to make a lemon thyme shortbread cookie–think I’ll experiment with this recipe!
I just returned from a few weeks away to find my basil plants growing out of control in the garden – and these cookies are a perfect way to use it! Thanks Laura!
I grew up with tins of shortbread too! They make me think of my sweet Grandma. What a lovely twist—they are homey but elevated too. Can we please split a plate over some (iced) coffee?
So funny!! YESS!!! We need to do that and figure out a date!
Shortbread is one of my favorite cookies. I love this summery twist and I know I would want to use that infused sugar with just about everything!
Basil in desserts is becoming a fast favorite, these look amazing! Just thinking about the lemon basil combo is having me crave these cookies!
Thanks so much Abby!!
So fun! I love basil anything, so these are my kind of cookie!
I love the specks of basil in these shortbreads. So gorgeous! Sounds like the perfect summer treat!
Hmmm, lets see, basil my favorite herb hands down, shortbread (grew up with shortbread as well, Mom born in Edinburgh) one of my favorite cookies especially if I have not had it in awhile, lemon again one of my all-time favorite flavors, what could not be amazing, can’t wait to give this recipe a try!