Love Letter Butter Cookies with Citrus Herb Infusion
Love Letter Butter Cookies are delicate, embossed cookies made from a rich butter and flour dough, characterized by their tender texture and embossed messages. In this version, infused herbs and citrus zest add a fresh aromatic twist to the classic treat, resulting in a slightly fragrant and buttery bite with a crisp exterior and soft interior.
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Rolling Pin
- Cookie stamps or embossing tools
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon finely grated citrus zest lemon or orange
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs such as thyme or rosemary
Instructions
- Cream the softened butter and sifted powdered sugar together in a mixing bowl until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color, with the sound of gentle whisks.
- Mix in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until fully incorporated, and the mixture becomes smooth and glossy.
- Stir in the finely grated citrus zest and chopped fresh herbs, which will add a fragrant and slightly textured element to the dough.
- Gradually fold in the sifted flour with a spatula, just until the dough comes together and is soft but manageable.
- Gather the dough into a ball, wrap it with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to relax the gluten and firm up the butter.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly flour a clean surface and rolling pin.
- Unwrap the chilled dough and roll it out to about 1/8-inch thickness, ensuring an even surface for embossing.
- Use cookie stamps or embossing tools to press your favorite messages or designs into the surface of the dough gently but firmly.
- Cut out the cookies with floured cookie cutters, transferring them carefully to the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack. The cookies will be crisp on the outside but tender inside, with decorative embossings.
Notes
For extra flavor, brush the embossed cookies with a light citrus glaze once cooled. Store in an airtight container to preserve their crispness.