Mothers Day Floral Shortbread (Print Version)

Buttery shortbread cookies topped with edible flowers, ideal for a festive Mothers Day treat.

# 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 It:

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 dough 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 cookies in a decorative box for gifting.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The dough comes together in minutes, so you can spend your energy on the beautiful decoration part that people actually notice.
  • Each cookie tastes buttery and refined without being fussy or requiring any special skills.
  • There's something genuinely magical about pressing real flowers onto shortbread—it transforms a simple cookie into a gift that feels thoughtful.
02 -
  • Overbaking shortbread by even 2 minutes turns it from tender and buttery into hard and sandy—the colors won't look much different, but your teeth will know the difference.
  • Always use edible flowers that are specifically grown and sold for consumption; ornamental flowers from a florist or garden center have likely been treated with pesticides.
  • If your dough cracks when you roll it out, it's too cold—let it sit on the counter for a few minutes and it'll become workable again.
03 -
  • Use a bench scraper or old credit card to help lift and flip rolled dough without tearing it—much easier than fumbling with a spatula.
  • Keep your edible flowers in an airtight container away from moisture; they'll stay vibrant and won't absorb humidity from the air.
Go Back