(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)
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Description
This recipe for aromatic, lovely, delicious vegan lemon shortbread cookies with a touch of basil is simply divine! Lighter in sugar and fat, with a touch of whole wheat flour, these vegan shortbread cookies shine with flavor!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 fresh lemon
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons organic cane sugar, divided
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
- ½ cup vegan butter sticks (i.e., Miyoko’s or Earth Balance), cold
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons all purpose flour, divided
- ½ cup whole wheat flour
Instructions
- Zest one large lemon to make 1 tablespoon and set aside. Juice the lemon to make ¼ cup of juice and set aside.
- Place ½ cup sugar, lemon zest (reserving ½ teaspoon for garnish later), and chopped basil leaves into a mixing bowl (or container of a standing electric mixer).
- Mix with an electric mixer until sugar, lemon zest, and basil is very evenly combined.
- Cut in vegan butter with the electric mixer, until mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Stir in all 1 cup purpose and ½ cup whole wheat flour with the electric mixer, just until mixture is crumbly (do not overmix).
- Mix in ¼ cup lemon juice with electric mixer, until dough is just smooth (do not overmix).
- Remove dough from bowl, cover, and chill for about 1 hour until mixture is chilled and easier to work with.
- Preheat oven to 325 F.
- Roll dough with your hands into two long logs (about 9-inches long) with 2 tablespoons additional all purpose flour, as needed to avoid sticking to surface. Gently shape the logs into two long square logs with your hands.
- Slice with a sharp knife into slices (about ½-inch thick) of shortbread.
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper and arrange the shortbread evenly over the surface, allowing room to spread out slightly.
- Sprinkle the surface of each shortbread with the remaining (2 tablespoons) sugar and remaining (½ teaspoon) lemon zest.
- Place shortbread in oven and bake for about 15 minutes, until tender and lightly golden on surface.
- Remove and store in air-tight container before serving.
- Makes 28 servings (1 shortbread per serving).
Notes
Make this recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free flour instead of all-purpose and wheat flour.
Try using another type of herb instead of basil, such as rosemary or mint.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 69
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 3 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
Hi Sharon,
Good evening! Hope you’re doing well!
Could you please tell me if I can substitute the whole wheat flour with all purpose flour or almond flour and will the proportion change?
Thanks,
Raeesha
You can replace the whole wheat flour with all purpose flour and have a nice final product. You can try the same amount of almond flour to replace whole wheat flour—though I haven’t tested the recipe with that change. I suspect it should turn out just fine.