Beautiful and delicious floral shortbread with subtle flavours of orange and thyme. This basic shortbread recipe can easily be adjusted to add seasonal edible flowers and herbs from the garden. I created this recipe when I was home (New Zealand) in my mum’s garden. Although she has very limited baking equipment….she made up for it with her inspiring gardens and the perfect eclectic set of vintage floral tea cups and saucers. I hope you also find some inspiration. The perfect treat to spoil your friends and celebrate spring with a tea or coffee in the garden.

Orange and Thyme Botanical Shortbread

Fresh, subtle flavours infused in soft melting biscuits. These botanical shortbread biscuits can be made using seasonal edible flowers and herbs.

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 20

Additional Time 1

Total Time 1 40

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

250 gram butter
1 cup icing sugar
3 cups flour
2 tbsp orange juice
2 tbsp 1 orange zest
1 tsp chopped fresh thyme
1 /2 cup edible flowers

Method

Beat sugar and butter until very pale yellow/white and creamy.
Grate the zest of one large orange and add to the mix along with 2 TBSP of juice.
Mix through the flour to make a soft dough.
Wrap or cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 140 degrees. Lightly dust a baking tray with flour.
Remove the dough and lightly knead to bring it together.
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to approximately 1 cm thick (easier to manage using 1/2 the dough at a time)
Sprinkle over edible flower petals and fresh thyme leaves (removed from the stalk).
Gently roll over the flowers. Some may not stick, so just lightly press them into place. Cut out shapes using a cookie cutter and place them onto the baking tray.
Merge the leftover edges and re-roll out, and continue to cut shapes. The second roll will incorporate the flowers into the dough, so you may want to add extras on top.
Bake for 15-20mins or until very slightly starting to go golden. You want to keep them pale so they don't become too dry and crumbly. Remove and allow to cool on a wire rack.