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Flower Shortbread Cookies

These “melt-in-your-mouth” soft and delicious Flower Shaped Shortbread Cookies are easier to make than you think. With just a few simple ingredients you can have an impressive and beautiful cookie perfect for tea parties, Mother’s Day or gift giving. You can make them as plain shortbread cookies or add any flavor to the dough to enhance the flavor.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 3/4 cup plant butter softened (I used Country Crock Plant Butter with Olive Oil)
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp plant milk (I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1 1/2 tsp Suncore Pink Pitaya Supercolor Powder
  • 1/4 tsp Nature’s Flavors Organic Strawberry Flavor Concentrate Optional, and keep in mind that flavor concentrates are stronger, so if you use a flavor extract instead, increase amount to one teaspoon
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp plant milk I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1/2 tsp Suncore Pink Pitaya Supercolor Powder
  • 1/8 tsp Nature’s Flavors Organic Strawberry Flavor Concentrate or flavor of choice. (Note that flavor concentrates are stronger so if using a flavor extract increase amount to 1/2 teaspoon.
  • Optional garnish: freeze-dried strawberries

Disclaimer:

Nutritional Information is provided as a courtesy only and should be viewed as an estimate. Ingredients can vary with brands and size and Inspiration Apron makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 325℉ / 162℃ and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Next, combine the softened butter and powdered sugar in a medium mixing bowl until well mixed and smooth.
  • Add the flour, plant milk, and flavor concentrate, then mix until a soft dough is formed.
  • Divide dough in half and wrap up one half in plastic wrap.
  • To the other half, press down middle of dough, then add colorfood powder and incorporate in by kneading and folding until evenly distributed.
  • Wrap pink dough in plastic wrap and place both dough balls into the freezer for 5 minutes.
  • Working with one color at a time, on a lightly floured surface roll out dough to about 1/4-inch thickness, then cut into a rectangle shape, roughly 6x8. (TIP: You will probably have to refresh your other color dough in the freezer for 5 minutes while working on the first color dough.)
  • Using a large knife or pizza cutter, cut 1-inch sized squares but using long cuts in each direction. (See photo)
  • Roll each one-inch square into a ball and place on wax or parchment paper.
  • On the prepared baking sheet, form a circle with one color of five balls, then put one ball of the opposite color in the middle of circle. (Repeat, spacing them at least 2 1/2 inches apart.)
  • Using a small square of parchment paper, lay down on flower formation, then gently press down slightly with a cup or glass. I used a measuring cup. You want to make sure whatever you use has a completely flat surface on the bottom.
  • To add a little extra detail to the flowers, use a toothpick to create three small indentions on each flower pedal.
  • Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes or until just a hint of browning appears on bottom of edges. Remove from oven, let cool on baking sheet for one minute, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
  • To make the glaze, add all ingredients to a medium bowl and stir vigorously with a fork until smooth. (Hint: for a thicker glaze, use less plant milk, or for a thinner glaze add a little more at a time until desired thickness is achieved.)
  • Place a sheet of waxed paper under a cooling rack, then dip or use spoon to glaze cookies. Add chopped freeze-dried strawberries for a garnish, if desired.
  • Let glaze set for at least 20-30 minutes before transferring to a serving platter.
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