Recipe: Lavender Valentine Sandwich Cookies
A family favourite, this dreamy cookie recipe is not for the faint of heart, as you will need to prepare and chill the dough ahead of time, roll and cut the dough, and then frost and sandwich the cookies. But trust us - it is worth every minute of the effort!
The cookie base is a delectable oatmeal cookie that is crunchy on the outside, melty on the inside. Freshly ground lavender buds and almond extract are the luxe flavours that take this cookie to glorious heights. Add a soft, buttery frosting and a sprinkle of coconut, and we think you’ll agree that a gift of these cookies is the best way to say, ‘I love you.’
Lavender Valentine Sandwich Cookies
Makes approximately 30
Dough ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons dried lavender buds, ground finely (using herb grinder or mortar & pestle)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups rolled oats
Frosting ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Small amount of milk
Food colouring, if desired
Unsweetened shredded coconut, for topping
Directions:
Prepare the dough:
Cream butter and brown sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, and almond extract and blend well.
In separate bowl, mix flour, lavender buds, salt, and baking powder. Mix flour mixture into wet ingredients. Stir in oats.
Chill dough overnight.
Bake the cookies:
Preheat oven to 350º F (set to convection, if you have that available for your oven).
After the dough has chilled overnight, roll to 3-4 mm thickness.
Cut into desired shape using a cookie cutter. Hearts and stars are our favourites!
Arrange on cookie sheet with 2 cm between each cookie.
Bake for 6-9 minutes. The cookies should be blonde but with a light golden tinge around the bottom edge of each cookie.
Allow to cool completely on wire rack.
Prepare the frosting:
Beat butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and food colouring with hand or stand mixer until fluffy. Add 1-2 tablespoons of milk, just until the frosting is spreadable, but not runny.
Assemble the sandwiches:
Apply a 3-4 mm thick layer of icing to the top of each cookie. Place one cookie on top of another to create a cookie sandwich. Sprinkle coconut on top of each sandwich.
