Healthy Lemon Lavender Cookies are perfect for warm weather! Packed with citrus, these Vegan, gluten free cookies are light, refreshing and subtly sweet. Gluten Free + Low Calorie + Vegan
I'm so glad it's Monday because I FINALLY get to share these vibrant Healthy Lemon Lavender Cookies with you! I am seriously in love with these cookies. I made my third batch yesterday, you know just to be sure they're good and all. 😉
After they came out of the oven, I realized there was something wrong though. Not with the cookies, they're completely decadent and perfect, but with me. There's something wrong when I don't want a cookie especially these yummy Lemon Lavender Cookies.
I've been in denial for two weeks that something's going on with me respiratory wise. I've been coughing, my glands are swollen and my throat has been hurting on and off.
We've been having odd weather in Phoenix, 95 one day, 70 the next which always does a number on my allergies so I didn't put much thought into it. Then Friday it hit me.
I started feeling feverish and noticed some redness in the back of my throat. This weekend I mostly slept, got no work done (ugh) and only ate breakfast on both days.
I fear one of the kiddos (many of them have been sick) at swim lessons passed me something.
So...a visit to the doctor may be in order this week. I haven't gone already because I know they will just give me an antibiotic and that is not something I want in my body as I'm still recovering from these hormone imbalances (by the I promise I'll give you an update on that soon).
But at this point, I may have no other option. Anyway...back to these gorgeous Healthy Lemon Lavender Cookies!
Last month I planted my herb garden and could not wait for my lavender to grow so I could put it in ALL THE BAKED THINGS. It's so pretty, how could you resist?
Don't worry, you won't taste it in the cookies. It's more like a mild herb flavor in the background.
If you don't have a lavender garden, you can buy dried lavender at health food stores or for under $5 on Amazon. A little goes a long way and it's worth the investment too because lavender has many health benefits.
- Bloat Buster - Lavender has antioxidants in it that reduce bad bacteria in the gut that cause bloating.
- Reduces Anxiety - Lavender has been shown to lower blood pressure & heart rate. That's why you often see it in spas. Lord knows I need to relax more!
- Anti-inflammatory - Lavender oil can reduce itching, redness & swelling.
- Phytonutrients - Lavender has phytonutrients which have been shown to prevent disease by fighting free radicals.
These Healthy Lemon Lavender Cookies are like a shortbread bursting with citrus. I bake them with sprinkles of lemon zest so they get nice and citrus-y. Baking them with fresh lemon zest really brightens the citrus flavor in them and these cookies are only subtly sweet.
I don't like overly sweet cookies. They're a turnoff for me, but these Healthy Lemon Lavender Cookies are spot on! Now if only my throat and lungs would heal up so I could eat all of them. In the meantime, you can eat them for me!
Lemon Lavender Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup Gluten Free 1 to 1 baking flour
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon dried lavender finely chopped
- 1/2 cup coconut oil melted
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Zest of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or use a nonstick baking sheet.
- Using a standing mixer or hand mixer, blend together coconut oil, coconut sugar, salt, baking soda, lemon juice and lavender. Slowly fold flour into the batter by hand to combine. Do not over combine.
- Scoop a heaping tablespoon of the batter onto the baking sheet. Pat the dough down to form the batter into the shape of a cookie as these will not flatten or rise when they bake. Sprinkle lemon zest over the cookies.
- Bake 8-10 minutes until they are slightly golden around the edges. Remove from the oven and immediately transfer cookies from the baking sheet using a spatula to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Eat or keep up to two weeks in the refrigerator!
Notes
- My Amazon shop has more products similar to those used for this recipe and that I recommend to my nutrition clients.
I'm assuming these would turn out just fine if I didn't use gf flour? Would you advise a specific type?
You can try oat flour or even whole wheat flour. I haven't tried them, but I'm thinking they should work.
I had to add a bit more flour because my mixture with the regular white flour seemed very wet/greasy. I also melted the coconut oil completely. Maybe I should have just softened it? The cookies spread quite a bit while baking and weren't a lovely shape like yours. Didn't impact the taste! They were crunchy right out of the oven but became very soft after being stored in a plastic bag. When I would eat one, there would be coconut oil residue on my hands. Not a bad thing, just something I haven't experienced with a cookie. The flavor was wonderful and refreshing. I had not put a 'taste' to the 'smell' of lavender before if that makes any sense. My point is you can use regular, white flour and still make these cookies if anyone is wondering.
Great taste! I did the same thing I would prob recommend just softening the coconut oil or adding more flour as mine flattened out and conjoined but I had melted the coconut oil since mine was solid.
Glad you liked them! The instructions actually do say the coconut oil should be melted. For baking purposes, it always should be melted or things won't combine properly.
Such great photos! And yes, lemon and lavender pair up so well together! Pinned, and can't wait to make these!
--G
http://gingerwroot.com
Oh thank you!
Hope you are feeling better Megan!! I have seriously been craving all things lemon lately, these look and sound amazing. And yes the kiddos will give you everything they have. I got so sick my first month of teaching kids, ugh. Hope you feel better soon!!
OMG...so glad it's not just me. The kids are always coughing and have crazy things coming out of their noses. I feel like I should wear gloves and a face mask, but that would probably scare them. HAHA!
These looks wonderful and thanks for the lavender link, I've never cooked with it before but am a huge fan of lemon. Hope you feel better soon!
It gives things a very mild herb hint in the background. I adore it!
I love having dried lavender around my apartment! I had no idea of those health benefits either.
I love incorporating them into things. They just give an extra hint of something people can't quite put their finger on.
Omg I hope you feel better! EVERYONE is sick or has allergies right now. Guess I got mine out of the way early haha.
Girl, I have strep. I swear you gave me it over the inter-webs!
Lemon and lavender are two of my favorites. Lavender always manages to calm me down too. Cookies + calm Caroline = needs to happen. And sorry about the sickness, it's the worst. I come from a big family with lots of younger siblings, so I'm convinced being around the sibs and all their little buddies has given me some killer immunity, and luckily I don't get sick that often anymore. Kiddos are great but they do manage to harbor and spread all sorts of nasty illnesses haha.
Maybe all the kiddos will give me their colds and I will build up my immune system so that when I'm 80 I'll never get sick. One can wish, right?
I have never baked with lavender before but These cookies sound amazing! These would go perfect with tea for an afternoon snack 🙂
You need to Rachel. Life changing!
these look incredible!! i agree, lavender is so delicious in baking. i once had lavender shortbreads and could have died and gone to heaven. I bet these taste just as good!
They are pretty amazing! Thanks Beverley!
These are beautiful and sound so delicious!
Thank you thank you!
I'm sorry you aren't feeling well! Hopefully it's just a little bug that passes soon.
For some reason I never think to bake with lavender but whenever I've had something that has it, I love it! I can imagine these cookies are amazing!
Same here! It wasn't until I planted some that I thought about. It's a good constant reminder!
Being sick is no fun, hope you get better ASAP! These look absolutely gorgeous and make the perfect healing comfort food 🙂
Thank you! I can't wait until I can eat them again. Hopefully now that I have meds it will turn around quickly.
I love lavender, but not in food (I wish I liked herbs d'provence). I do love lemon cookies, though.
I would definitely see a doc!
I did this morning. It's strep.
oh i understand the allergy dilemma. I wish we were neighbors so i could taste test! love lavender. <3 beauty
p.s. yay for adding in more rice to your diet. <3
I know! I found out today I have to go on antibiotics for this respiratory thing. Any gut suggestions so I don't revert?
YES!!!! You don't understand how much I love lavender! I finally found some a few weeks ago (and yes I made cookies with them....and will be remaking them for Mother's Day to give to my momma!) Such an amazing herb!
Good to know I'm not the only one obsessed with it! Your Mom will LOVE.