Earl Grey Sandwich Cookies


Cookies No Seed Oils Eggless Gluten Free High Altitude | Published January 20, 2020 by Mimi Council

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Buttery, crisp, and sweet Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies are filled them with a creamy vanilla buttercream for delicious Earl Grey Sandwich Cookies. This simple cookie sandwich is easy but impressive! If you don't want them as sweet, feel free to skip the filling for the perfect tea cookie.

If you love sandwich cookies as much as I do, be sure to check out some of my other favorites like my Chocolate Lemon Poppy Seed Sandwich Cookies, Homemade Vanilla Oreo Cookies, or my Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Sandwich Cookies.

earl grey sandwich cookies

These Earl Grey Sandwich Cookies combine the timeless charm of buttery and sweet shortbread cookies with the fragrant allure of Earl Grey tea. These organic cookies are easy to make, as I just open up Earl Grey tea bags and add into the flour when mixing! Baking with tea is really simple and it yields big, bold flavor!

These organic cookies start with Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies. So, if you don't want a sandwich cookie, you can just not fill them and they are still incredibly delicious. And, they make the perfect companion to a cup of tea.

But, if you want to make them more indulgent, then I fill these Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies with a classic vanilla buttercream frosting. This light and creamy filling compliments the Earl Grey organic cookies, just like if you'd add a splash of milk into your Earl Grey tea!

earl grey shortbreads
earl grey shortbreads

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Light & Sweet: These sandwich cookies are light and sweet, with the addition of honey in the cookies it adds little different sweetness compared to just sugar.

Cozy: I love this recipe because they are a cozy companion to a cup of tea. Whether you decide to fill them or not, this flavor profile is light and sweet and it goes so well with a cozy cup of tea.

Easy: These sandwich cookies are so easy! No eggs and just a few simple ingredients that mix up quickly.

Naturally Eggless: These shortbread cookies are naturally eggless, making them a perfect choice when you run out of eggs!

Flexible: These organic cookies are incredibly flexible, you can make them into shortbread cookies or sandwich cookies.

earl grey sandwich cookies

Ingredients

  • Butter: I use Organic Valley Salted Butter, which is my favorite. You can use your favorite kind. Just be sure the butter is soft, it's crucial for shortbread cookies.
  • Powdered Sugar: I use organic powdered sugar in these shortbread cookies and in the filling.
  • Honey: I add a little organic raw honey into these shortbread cookies. This combined with the powdered sugar gives these cookies a delicate crumb and also a lightly sweet flavor that is reminiscent of a cup of tea.
  • Vanilla Extract: Be sure to use a high quality vanilla extract, not imitation.
  • All Purpose Flour: My favorite is Cairnspring Mills.
  • Earl Grey Tea: I use Earl Grey tea inside these organic cookies. This gives them beautiful speckles and lots of flavor!
  • Cane Sugar: I top these shortbread cookies with a dusting of organic cane sugar right when they come out of the oven. This makes them sparkle and gives them a delightful texture.
  • Milk: Use whole milk in the filling for the best flavor.
earl grey sandwich cookies

Tools Needed

  • Scale: Always use a digital food scale for the best results.
  • Stand Mixer: I use my stand mixer for ease, but you can also use a hand mixer if you prefer.
  • Baking Sheets: You'll need two half sheet pans to bake the cookies.
  • Parchment Paper: I always use nontoxic parchment paper for ease, cleanup, and I think it bakes the best cookies.
  • Piping Bag: You'll need a piping bag to pipe the filling.

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earl grey sandwich cookies

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2

To make the dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix on low until combined and you don’t see powdered sugar anymore, there will still be a few chunks of butter but that is okay because it’s very soft.

Add the flour and contents of the Earl Grey tea bags into the butter mixture and mix on low until combined and smooth. The dough should feel like play dough in your hands.

Step 3

Using your hands, form the dough into 36 balls and place them on the prepared cookie sheets. Flatten each one slightly so they are about 1 ¾-inch in diameter.

Step 4

Bake for 13 minutes until golden brown. Sprinkle the tops with cane sugar immediately after coming out of the oven. Allow to cool completely on the cookie sheets. (If you're baking at high altitude, be sure to check the Notes at the bottom of the recipe for high altitude baking instructions).

Step 5

To make the filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the powdered sugar, butter, and milk and mix on low until combined. Speed mixer up to high for 1 minute or until light and fluffy. Put in a piping bag with no tip.

Step 6

Turn over every other cookie so they are all paired. Pipe a dollop of filling onto each cookie and sandwich them together.

earl grey shortbreads
earl grey shortbreads

Baker's Tips

  • Make sure your butter is soft! This is so key for these shortbread cookies. While some shortbreads actually call for cold butter, this recipe requires it to be room temperature soft. The best way to achieve this naturally is to let your butter soften naturally at room temperature. This prevents pockets of butter getting melted in the microwave, resulting in a less than desirable texture in the finished cookies. Shortbread cookies should be crisp, buttery, and dense. So the butter is super important! Leave butter out on the counter overnight for the best success before starting this recipe.
  • The dough should feel like play dough in your hands. If it's not smooth and it's not cohesive, mix it a little longer. If you've been mixing it and it's not coming together, it's the butters fault – as it was not soft enough. That's why the butter is so key in this recipe. It should come together very quickly, only a minute or two at the most. So if you're having issues here, then look to the temperature of your butter.
  • Use a high quality organic Earl Grey tea that you like for the best flavor!
  • You can leave the cookies unfilled if you just want Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies, the filling is totally optional.
  • Make sure to allow the cookies to cool completely before filling them, otherwise the filling will melt if the cookies are still warm.
  • Shortbread cookies are supposed to be crisp – so these are best kept at out on a platter or in a cookie jar that is not completely sealed. Unlike a lot of baked goods, which should be stored in an airtight container, these should not be stored in an airtight container because they will soften.
earl grey sandwich cookies

FAQ's

Can I use unsalted butter?

Yes, just add ½ teaspoon of fine sea salt to the recipe.

Can I use another kind of tea?

Yes, this recipe would be delicious with any other kind of tea you like! Try it with green tea, chamomile, or even a peach tea.

How should I store these?

Store in a cool dry place. I like to leave them out on the counter on a platter for a few days while we eat them.

earl grey sandwich cookies

Craving More?

earl grey sandwich cookies

Earl Grey Sandwich Cookies

Mimi Council
Earl Grey tea makes a wonderful addition to a buttery and crisp shortbread cookie. These are filled with a creamy milky center for the perfect pairing!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 13 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Makes 18 sandwich cookies
Calories 270 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Dough

Filling

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  • To make the dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix on low until combined and you don’t see powdered sugar anymore, there will still be a few chunks of butter but that is okay because it’s very soft.
  • Add the flour and contents of the Earl Grey tea bags into the butter mixture and mix on low until combined and smooth. The dough should feel like play dough in your hands.
  • Using your hands, form the dough into 36 balls and place them on the prepared cookie sheets. Flatten each one slightly so they are about 1 ¾-inch in diameter.
  • Bake for 13 minutes until golden brown. Sprinkle the tops with cane sugar immediately after coming out of the oven. Allow to cool completely on the cookie sheets.
  • To make the filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the powdered sugar, butter, and milk and mix on low until combined. Speed mixer up to high for 1 minute or until light and fluffy. Put in a piping bag with no tip.
  • Turn over every other cookie so they are all paired. Pipe a dollop of filling onto each cookie and sandwich them together.
  • Store in a cool dry place, or in an airtight container for up to 7 days.

Notes

Gluten Free — Replace the flour with 226 grams (scant 1 ½ cups) gluten free flour blend and 57 grams (½ cup plus 1 tablespoons) coconut flour.
High Altitude — Bake at 350°F for 12 minutes or until golden brown.

Nutrition

Calories: 270kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 2gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 122mgPotassium: 22mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 471IUVitamin C: 0.004mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 1mg
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