Lady Bird Lavender Cookies

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Bird_Johnson

A dedication to the former first lady, who passed on this day in 2011.  She once said "Where flowers bloom, so does hope."

Lady Bird Lavender Cookies

54 cookies

One should aspire to serve beautiful, delicious cookies.

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

10 drops blue food coloring

12 drops red food coloring

1 Tbsp. fresh chopped or dried crumbled lavender flowers

2-1/4 cups flour

1/4 tsp. salt

Heat oven to 375°F.

Beat butter and sugar until fluffy in large bowl.  Add egg, vanilla and food coloring; beat 1 minute or until well blended, scraping down sides of bowl with rubber spatula to evenly blend color halfway through beating.  Gradually beat in combined lavender, flour and salt on low speed until flour is completely incorporated, again, scraping down sides of bowl with spatula at halfway point to evenly blend color.

Spoon batter into cookie press fitted with decorative floral disk and press cookies onto ungreased baking sheet.  Sprinkle with white and purple sprinkles or sugar, if desired.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until just brown on edges. Transfer to wire cooling racks using metal spatula.  


Tip: 
Fresh lavender is the perfect garnish!