Skip to Content
Menu

Easy Lemon Herb Shortbread Cookies

  • Jump to Recipe
  • Save
The Decorated Cookie
Updated Apr 19, 2017
  • Save
  • Share
  • Jump to Recipe
These flavorful, fragrant, lemon herb shortbread cookies welcome Spring beautifully.

More About This Recipe

  • Got coffee? Pour a cup to go with these buttery shortbread cookies. If you’re putting fresh herbs on your cookies, I think it’s safe to say you’re a grown-up. And if this is what being a grown-up tastes like, I have no problem with adulthood. I’m all about cookies (geez, look at the name of my blog). But sometimes I need a balance to all that sugar. These buttery cookies are not too sweet, so the hint of lemon and the delicate flavor of herbs shine just right. Rather than blending the herbs into the dough, the cookies are decorated with snippets so you can use a variety of herbs with one batch. Then you get the bonus of cookies dressed for a garden party! So next time you snip from your garden or stop by the farmer’s market, consider using fresh herbs for dessert. They're perfect for bridal or baby showers. Or backyard gatherings. Or any party. Or for your own indulgence. The cookies are adapted from my Basic Sugar Cookie recipe and are quite simple to make. To remove leaves from thyme, pinch a sprig and run your thumb and forefinger along the length of the sprig against the direction of the leaves’ growth. Use any shape or size cookie cutter you like, but you may have to adjust the oven time for smaller or larger cutters. Bake until the edges are gorgeously golden brown. Enjoy with a cold glass of iced tea. Or smooth, hot coffee. Or vodka. I won’t judge.

Easy Lemon Herb Shortbread Cookies

  • Prep Time 30 min
  • Total 3 hr 0 min
  • Servings 32
  • Ingredients 12
  • Save
  • Share
  • Print
  • Keep Screen On

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 sticks butter, softened
  • 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 6 to 9 sprigs assorted fresh herbs, such as rosemary, thyme and sage
  • 1 egg white
  • 1/2 teaspoon water
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar (optional)

Instructions

  • Step 
    1
    In a medium-size bowl, briefly mix the flour and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl with a hand mixer or in the bowl of a standing mixer, blend the butter and confectioner’s sugar well. Add the egg, vanilla extract and lemon zest and juice and mix well. Gradually blend in the flour mixture and stir until a dough forms. Scoop the dough from the bowl and wrap in a zip-top bag or in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
  • Step 
    2
    Preheat oven to 375° F. Prepare your herbs by either finely chopping the leaves or snipping more decorative, larger pieces. You can choose to keep the herbs separate and use only one kind of herb per cookie, or you can blend them into a mixture. Shown here, the herbs are kept separate. Set aside.
  • Step 
    3
    On a lightly-floured surface, roll out the chilled cookie dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Use a 2 1/2-inch circle, oval or square cookie cutter to cut out your cookies. Transfer cookies to a parchment paper-lined baking tray. Mix the egg white and water. Lightly brush the top surface of the cookies with the egg white mixture. Sprinkle or place the herbs on each cookie. Gently press the herbs to flatten against the cookies. If desired, sprinkle a pinch of sugar on each cookie.
  • Step 
    4
    Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown.

Nutrition

110 Calories
6g Total Fat
1g Protein
11g Total Carbohydrate
4g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
110
Calories from Fat
50
Total Fat
6g
9%
Saturated Fat
3 1/2g
19%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
20mg
7%
Sodium
125mg
5%
Potassium
15mg
0%
Total Carbohydrate
11g
4%
Dietary Fiber
0g
0%
Sugars
4g
Protein
1g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
4%
4%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
0%
0%
Iron
2%
2%
Exchanges:
1/2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
1
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Expert Tips

© 2025 ®/TM General Mills All Rights Reserved