Lavender Earl Grey Cookies (Chewy, Buttery & Floral)

Lavender Earl Grey Cookies are the kind of dessert that instantly feels elegant, calming, and just a little indulgent. With their chewy centers, buttery edges, and gentle floral aroma, these cookies strike the perfect balance between comfort baking and refined flavor. Infused with fragrant Earl Grey tea and culinary lavender, they’re not overly sweet, not perfumey, and absolutely not boring.

If you love tea-infused desserts, bakery-style cookies, or recipes that feel special without being complicated, this one deserves a permanent place in your baking rotation. These cookies are ideal for afternoon tea, brunch spreads, gift boxes, or cozy evenings when you want something homemade but elevated.

Unlike crisp shortbread or dry tea biscuits, these Lavender Earl Grey Cookies are soft, chewy, and rich, with butter doing most of the talking — supported quietly by citrusy bergamot from the tea and floral notes from lavender. Each bite feels intentional, warm, and deeply comforting.

Why Lavender and Earl Grey Work So Well Together

Earl Grey tea is traditionally flavored with oil of bergamot, a fragrant citrus fruit that already has floral undertones. Lavender naturally complements those notes, enhancing them instead of overpowering them — when used correctly.

The key to baking with lavender is restraint. Too much can taste soapy or medicinal. In this recipe, finely ground culinary lavender is used sparingly, just enough to perfume the dough without overwhelming it. Combined with Earl Grey tea leaves steeped directly into the butter or sugar, the flavor becomes rounded, soft, and bakery-worthy.

This pairing has roots in European tea culture and French patisserie, where lavender desserts are beloved for their calming, aromatic qualities. These cookies capture that spirit in a format that feels familiar and approachable.

Texture: What Makes These Cookies Special

These cookies are intentionally designed to be:

• Chewy in the center
• Lightly crisp at the edges
• Rich and buttery throughout

Brown sugar adds moisture and chewiness, while a careful balance of baking soda and baking powder creates just enough lift without making the cookies cakey. Creaming the butter properly ensures a tender crumb, and chilling the dough briefly allows the flavors to deepen while preventing excessive spread.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Unsalted butter, softened
• Brown sugar
• Granulated sugar
• Egg
• Vanilla extract
• Earl Grey tea leaves (from tea bags or loose-leaf)
• Culinary dried lavender buds (finely ground)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. Finely grind the Earl Grey tea leaves and lavender buds using a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
4. In a large bowl, cream softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
5. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
6. Mix in the ground Earl Grey and lavender until evenly distributed.
7. Gradually add dry ingredients, mixing just until a soft dough forms.
8. Chill dough for 30 minutes for best texture and flavor.
9. Scoop dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing cookies 2 inches apart.
10. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until edges are set and centers look slightly underbaked.
11. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips for Perfect Lavender Earl Grey Cookies

• Always use culinary lavender, never decorative or potpourri lavender
• Grind lavender very finely to avoid chewy bits
• Chill the dough for better flavor and thicker cookies
• Use high-quality Earl Grey tea for the best aroma
• Slightly underbake for maximum chewiness

Variations to Try

• Lemon Glaze Drizzle: Add powdered sugar and lemon juice glaze
• White Chocolate Chips: Fold in for extra sweetness
• Vegan Version: Use plant-based butter and flax egg
• Shortbread Style: Reduce egg and bake longer for crisp cookies

Serving Suggestions

Serve these cookies with:

• Hot Earl Grey or chamomile tea
• Lavender latte
• Vanilla ice cream
• As part of a dessert gift box

They also freeze beautifully and make elegant edible gifts.

Storage & Make-Ahead Tips

• Store in airtight container up to 4 days
• Freeze dough balls for up to 2 months
• Freeze baked cookies up to 3 months

Fun Fact: Why Floral Desserts Are Trending

Floral baking has surged in popularity thanks to global tea culture, European dessert trends, and social media aesthetics. Lavender desserts, in particular, are associated with calm, mindfulness, and elevated home baking — making these cookies not just delicious, but emotionally comforting too.

Lavender Earl Grey Cookies

Chewy, buttery cookies infused with Earl Grey tea and delicate culinary lavender for a soft floral finish.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 2 minutes mins

Servings: 18 cookies

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American, Autumn

Calories: 210

Ingredients

  

Cookie Dough

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.5 tsp baking powder
• 0.5 tsp baking soda
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.75 cup unsalted butter softened
• 0.5 cup brown sugar packed
• 0.25 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg large
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp Earl Grey tea leaves finely ground
• 1 tsp culinary lavender finely ground

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Baking sheet
• Wire rack
• Hand mixer or stand mixer

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
3. Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla.
4. Mix in finely ground Earl Grey tea and lavender.
5. Gradually add dry ingredients until a soft dough forms.
6. Chill dough for 30 minutes.
7. Scoop dough onto baking sheets and bake 10–12 minutes.
8. Cool on wire rack before serving.

Notes

Use culinary lavender only and avoid overbaking for best chewy texture.