Mothers Day Floral Shortbread (Printable Version)

Buttery shortbread cookies delicately flavored and decorated with edible flowers for a festive touch.

# What You'll Need:

→ Shortbread Dough

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 2/3 cup powdered sugar
03 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
04 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
05 - 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

→ Decoration

06 - 1 egg white, lightly beaten
07 - 1/4 cup edible dried flowers such as rose petals, lavender, violets, or calendula
08 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla extract.
03 - Sift in flour and salt. Stir until just combined into a soft dough.
04 - Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness.
05 - Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place on prepared baking sheets.
06 - Lightly brush each cookie with egg white. Gently press edible flowers onto cookies. Sprinkle with granulated sugar.
07 - Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, until edges are pale golden. Do not overbake.
08 - Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Arrange cooled cookies in a decorative box for gifting.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • The dough comes together in minutes, making these deceptively simple for how elegant they look.
  • Edible flowers transform ordinary shortbread into something that feels like a gift before anyone even tastes it.
  • They keep for days, so you can bake ahead and actually enjoy Mother's Day instead of panicking in the kitchen.
02 -
  • Overmixing the dough is the quickest way to tough shortbread—fold gently and stop as soon as ingredients come together, even if the dough looks slightly shaggy at first.
  • Baking temperature matters; 325°F is cooler than most cookies, which prevents browning and lets these stay pale and delicate with golden edges only.
03 -
  • Keep all ingredients, especially butter, cool—warm dough is harder to handle and more likely to spread unevenly while baking.
  • If you want a subtle citrus note, add 1 teaspoon of finely grated lemon or orange zest when creaming the butter and sugar, which adds brightness without overpowering the delicate flowers.
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