Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies came into our kitchen on a quiet Tuesday afternoon when Lucia came home with a little tin of culinary matcha and a bag of dried lavender buds tucked under her arm. Maria looked at the lavender and raised both eyebrows. Teresa picked up the matcha tin, smelled it, and nodded slowly with that expression that means she already knows exactly what is about to happen. We had never combined these two ingredients before but something about the way they sat together on the counter told us they belonged together.
Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies are one of those recipes that surprises you completely. The earthy depth of the matcha and the soft floral warmth of the lavender frosting create a flavor combination that feels elegant and unexpected and completely unforgettable all at once. The vibrant green cookie topped with that pastel purple frosting is also one of the most beautiful things we have ever set on a table. We brought them to a friend’s afternoon gathering and the conversation stopped the moment the plate was set down. If you love beautiful and unique recipes like this one, come find us on Pinterest where we share something new from our kitchen every single week.
Table of Contents
Why You Will Love This Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies Recipe
This Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies recipe is the kind of bake that makes people ask for the recipe before they have even finished their first cookie. The combination of earthy matcha and floral lavender is genuinely unlike anything you have tasted in a cookie before, and it is one of those flavor pairings that once you experience it you cannot imagine why you waited so long.
The cookies themselves are soft and chewy with a tender crumb that comes from the sour cream in the dough. The lavender frosting is silky and delicately perfumed and the pastel purple color makes every single cookie look like it belongs in the window of a Parisian patisserie. They are also wonderfully make-ahead friendly. The dough can be prepared days in advance and the frosting keeps beautifully in the refrigerator. Our Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes make a stunning companion on any elegant spring dessert table alongside these cookies.
Ingredients Needed for This Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies Recipe
For the Cookie Dough:
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 2 tbsp Cornstarch
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- ½ tsp Baking Soda
- ½ tsp Salt
- 2 tbsp Culinary Grade Matcha Powder
- ½ cup Unsalted Butter, softened
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 large Egg
- ½ cup Sour Cream or Plain Greek Yogurt
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
For the Lavender Frosting:
- 2 cups Powdered Sugar
- ¼ cup Whole Milk or Heavy Cream
- 1 tbsp Culinary Lavender Buds
- Light Purple Gel Food Coloring (optional)
How to Make This Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies Recipe
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and matcha powder until evenly combined with no clumps of matcha remaining. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture is genuinely light and fluffy. Add the egg, sour cream, and vanilla extract and mix on low speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet mixture and mix on low until a thick soft dough forms. Do not overmix, cara mia. Stop the moment the dough comes together.
Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, form the dough into 2 tablespoon sized balls and place them on your prepared baking sheets. Flatten each ball slightly with the palm of your hand. Slide the trays into the refrigerator and chill the dough balls for 20 minutes. This step keeps the cookies from spreading too much and gives them that beautiful thick chewy center.
Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until the edges are set but the centers still look soft. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheets before touching the frosting. A warm cookie will melt the frosting and you will lose that gorgeous pastel finish.
For the lavender frosting, gently heat the milk in a small saucepan over low heat. Add the culinary lavender buds and let them steep for 4 to 5 minutes until the milk is fragrant and faintly floral. Strain out the buds and let the infused milk cool completely. Beat softened butter and powdered sugar together until fluffy, then gradually mix in the cooled lavender milk until the frosting is smooth and spreadable. Add a few drops of light purple gel food coloring if you like and mix until you reach that beautiful soft pastel shade. Frost the completely cooled cookies using a piping bag or a small knife and allow the frosting to set at room temperature before serving.
How to Serve This Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies Recipe
Arrange these cookies on a white marble board or a tiered stand and let that vibrant green and pastel purple combination do all the talking. They are spectacular alongside a pot of jasmine tea or a glass of cold lemonade. For a full elegant spring dessert table, pair them with our Dole Whip Cupcakes with Pineapple Filling for a colorful and festive spread that feels both refined and joyful at the same time.
How to Store This Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies Recipe
Store frosted cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The flavors actually deepen and meld beautifully overnight so these cookies taste even better the next day. If you plan to eat them within 2 to 3 days, they can be kept in a sealed container at room temperature away from direct heat. To freeze, store unfrosted baked cookies in a single layer in a freezer-safe bag for up to one month. Frost right before serving for the best presentation. The frosting itself can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days. Bring it to room temperature and rewhip briefly before using.
Tips to Make This Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies Recipe
Always use culinary grade matcha powder for baking. Ceremonial grade matcha is beautiful for tea but too delicate and expensive for cookies. Culinary grade gives you that vibrant green color and earthy flavor at a fraction of the cost. Make sure your butter is softened to room temperature before creaming, not melted. Melted butter produces flat cookies without that chewy center we are after. Do not skip the 20 minute chill. It is the difference between cookies that hold their shape and cookies that spread into flat rounds. And always use culinary grade lavender buds for the frosting. Garden lavender is not food safe and the flavor can be harsh and soapy.
Helpful Notes for This Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies Recipe
The cornstarch in the dough is a small detail that makes a noticeable difference. It softens the crumb and gives the cookies a more delicate and tender bite than flour alone would produce. The sour cream adds moisture and a subtle tang that balances the sweetness beautifully and keeps the cookies soft for days. If you do not have sour cream, plain full fat Greek yogurt is a perfect substitute with virtually identical results. For the most vibrant green color in your cookies, make sure your matcha is fresh and has been stored away from light and heat in a sealed container.
Variation of This Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies Recipe
Maria once made these with a lemon glaze instead of the lavender frosting and the bright citrus paired with the earthy matcha in a way that was completely unexpected and wonderful. Teresa tried adding a small handful of chopped pistachios to the dough and the extra crunch and nutty flavor elevated the whole cookie to something truly special. You can also swap the matcha for cocoa powder for a completely different but equally beautiful chocolate version with the same lavender frosting on top. For a fully floral spring dessert spread, our Vegan Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes bring a beautiful bright energy to the table alongside these elegant cookies.
FAQs About This Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies Recipe
What is the difference between culinary and ceremonial grade matcha? Ceremonial grade matcha is the highest quality, designed for whisking into tea and drinking straight. It has a delicate sweet flavor and very fine texture. Culinary grade matcha is slightly more robust in flavor and less expensive, making it perfect for baking where it is mixed with other ingredients. Always use culinary grade for these cookies.
Why did my cookies spread too much in the oven? The most likely reason is that the butter was too soft or melted before creaming, or that the dough was not chilled before baking. Make sure your butter is softened but still cool, and never skip the 20 minute refrigerator rest before the cookies go into the oven.
Can I make these cookies vegan? Yes absolutely. Substitute the butter with vegan butter, replace the egg with a flax egg made from 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed and 2.5 tablespoons of water rested for 5 minutes, and use dairy-free yogurt in place of the sour cream. Use plant-based milk for the frosting and the result is just as beautiful and delicious.
Conclusion
These Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies are one of those recipes that stays with you long after the last cookie is gone. They are elegant, they are unique, they are made with so much curiosity and love, and they taste like something truly special. We hope they bring as much joy and wonder to your kitchen as they brought to ours on that quiet Tuesday afternoon. Make them, share them, and come back to tell us everything. With all our love, Maria, Lucia, and Teresa.
Print
Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies The Most Elegant and Unique Cookie You Will Bake
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Soft, chewy, and topped with a silky lavender frosting, these Matcha Lavender Sugar Cookies are the most elegant and unique cookie you will ever bake. A beautiful fusion of earthy matcha and floral lavender in every single bite.
Ingredients
2 cups All-Purpose Flour
2 tbsp Cornstarch
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
2 tbsp Culinary Grade Matcha Powder
1/2 cup Unsalted Butter, softened
1 cup Granulated Sugar
1 large Egg
1/2 cup Sour Cream or Plain Greek Yogurt
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
2 cups Powdered Sugar
1/4 cup Whole Milk or Heavy Cream
1 tbsp Culinary Lavender Buds
Light Purple Gel Food Coloring optional
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and matcha powder.
3. Cream butter and sugar for 2 to 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
4. Add egg, sour cream, and vanilla and mix until smooth.
5. Gradually add dry mixture and mix until a thick dough forms.
6. Form into 2 tablespoon sized balls, flatten slightly, and place on baking sheets.
7. Chill dough balls in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
8. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until edges are set and centers are soft.
9. Cool completely on baking sheets.
10. Heat milk and steep lavender buds for 4 to 5 minutes. Strain and cool completely.
11. Beat butter and powdered sugar until fluffy. Mix in lavender milk gradually.
12. Add purple food coloring if desired. Frost cooled cookies and allow to set before serving.
Notes
Always use culinary grade matcha and culinary grade lavender buds.
Do not skip the 20 minute chill for cookies that hold their shape.
Cool cookies completely before frosting.
Flavors deepen overnight so these cookies are even better the next day.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 105mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: matcha lavender sugar cookies, matcha cookies, lavender frosting cookies, elegant spring cookies
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