How To Make Shortbread Dandelion Cookies Recipe

Looking to try a new cookie recipe? I have one you have to try. It is a recipe for shortbread dandelion cookies!

Yes, you can use those weeds that most try and get rid of are edible flowers and make some amazing cookies! And I don’t know about you but sometimes my yard has plenty of dandelions to use.

The biggest thing to keep in mind when making these dandelion shortbread cookies is the flowers need to be sourced from a yard that does not use weed killers or pesticides. Because you will be eating the flower petals, they can not be sprayed with anything harmful.

If you like this unique recipe, here are a few others to try.

• Dandelion Jelly – Canning Recipe
• Honeysuckle Jelly – Canning Recipe

Makes: 18 Cookies
Prep Time: 10 minutes (does not count time to remove and wash petals)
Chill Time: 3 or more hours (best if left overnight)
Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients Needed:

• 2/3 Cup Sugar
• 1 1/4 Cups Flour
• 1 Stick Butter, room temp (used salted)
• 3/4 Cup Loosely Packed Dandelion Petals (washed)
• 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract

How To Pick & Preparing Dandelions:

As said above, only pick flowers from areas that do not have any type of pesticides.

Simply use your fingers to pinch off the flower head from the green flower base right where the flower and stem come together.

When you have a small to medium size bowl full of dandelion flowers, you need to hand wash.

Simply fill the bowl with cold water and swish them around with your hand. Then strain the flowers in a colander and run cold water over them again in the colander to make sure they are washed well.  Do not use soapy water.

Because we will only be using the yellow petals from the flower we need to remove the green base of the flower. You can do this by pinching the tip of the green parts off with your fingers or you can use scissors if you want.

By pinching that green area off it will make it easy to peel the rest of the green off to expose the dandelion petals. As you separate the parts put the petals in a small dish.

Then when you are done separating the petals from the green bits, I like to give them one more cold rinse. This time you will need to strain in a mesh sieve as the petals will fall through a colander.

How To Make Dandelion Cookies:

First thing is to prepare petals as explained above.

In a large bowl or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix sugar, butter, and vanilla together until fully mixed.

Then slowly add the flour a little at a time to the mix and mix well. The mixture should look crumbly.

When it is mixed and looks crumbly, dump in the flower petals. Mix these in by hand using a fork.

Lay a large piece of plastic wrap on the counter. Then by hand add the cookie dough mixture on top of the plastic wrap. The dough will be crumbly at first but will pack together when in your hand.

Make it into the shape of a log that is about 1-2 inches in diameter. Wrap tight in the plastic and then roll dough slightly to give it a nice cookie dough roll look.

Place the wrapped dough in the fridge for at least 3 hours. This allows it to harden. I have found it works best to leave it overnight.

Preheat the oven to 325 F.

Remove hardened from the fridge and unwrap the plastic. Try not to handle too much as you don’t want to warm the dough. Place roll on a cutting board and cut slices that are about 1/4 inch thick. This dandelion flower recipe
works best if cut with a sharp knife and not to use cookie cutters.

Now put the cookie slices on a nonstick cookie sheet (baking tray) or one with a silicone mat or even parchment paper. Allow enough space so cookies do not touch when they are baking.

Bake cookies for 30 minutes in the middle of the oven. When done they will be slightly golden. Remove from oven and sprinkle with sugar or sugar sprinkles before they start to cool. Sprinkles are optional.

Place cookies on a cooling rack and allow them to cool then store in an airtight container.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. What happens if you do not get all of the green removed from the yellow parts?
A. While the entire plant is edible and is considered nutritious weeds, the cookies will have a more bitter taste if you leave the green.

Q. What do dandelion flower cookies taste like?
A. They mostly are a sweet vanilla-tasting shortbread cookie with just a hint of an earthy flavor from the dandelion flower petals. The flowers do not have a strong flavor in these cookies.

Q. Do you have to only use the yellow flowers or can you also use the white puffy ones?
A. Yes, by only using the yellow petals you will have the best results and flavor.