Lilac Sugar Cookies With Lilac Glaze

If you’re looking for a beautiful cookie that is perfect for a brunch, bridal shower, or spring gathering, these lilac sugar cookies fit that bill. They are pretty, buttery, and have just a hint of lilac flavor.

This recipe started as my Great Grandma Rice’s sugar cookie recipe, and I simply modified it to turn it into a lilac sugar cookie. It worked beautifully, and I think they are one of the prettiest cookies to make during lilac season.

The lilac flavor in these cookies is light and delicate, but they more than make up for it in how pretty they look. If you want a spring cookie that feels a little special, this is a good one.

Here in North Dakota, lilac season does not last long, so I try to make the most of it while the bushes are blooming. These cookies are one of my favorite ways to bring that soft floral flavor into the kitchen.

Foraging for Lilacs

When you are out foraging for fresh lilac petals to use in this recipe, there are a few things to keep in mind so you are picking the right variety and gathering flowers that are safe to use.

• Always identify the plant or flower
• Only pick what you need
• Always get permission from the landowner to forage
• Forage in an area that has not been sprayed with pesticides or other chemicals
• Never leave anything behind, including trash or debris
• Harvest flowers that are in full bloom, not just buds

Baking With Lilacs

Lilacs are edible, and they can be baked into many different recipes. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that lilacs have a delicate floral flavor. Because of that, you do not want to pair them with ingredients that will completely overpower them.

That is why I like using lilac petals in a simple sugar cookie recipe. The cookie has a buttery flavor, but it still lets the lilac come through.

Ingredients Needed to Make These Cookies

Here is what you need to make these lilac sugar cookies with lilac glaze:

• Sugar or lilac sugar
• All-purpose flour
• Fresh lilac petals, flowers only
• Baking powder
• Vanilla
• Butter
• Eggs
• Milk
• Powdered sugar or lilac powdered sugar
• Natural food dye

The Best Way to Add Lilac Flavor to Cookies

There are a few ways to add lilac flavor to these cookies, but I recommend using a combination of lilac sugar and fresh lilac petals in the dough. Then, if you have lilac simple syrup on hand, use that in the glaze.

I have found that using both lilac sugar and fresh lilac blossoms gives the cookies the best flavor. The lilac simple syrup in the glaze adds another layer of floral flavor and helps tie the whole recipe together.

How to Make Lilac Sugar Cookies

Step 1: Prep the Lilacs

Pick lilacs that are in full bloom and remove them from the stems and greenery. You want just the blossoms and petals.

Step 2: Mix the Dough

Using a handheld mixer or stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until combined and creamy. Add the eggs and mix again. Then add the vanilla, almond extract, lilac petals, and milk.

Slowly add the flour and baking powder. Mix until the dough is soft and uniform. Be careful not to overmix.

Step 3: Shape or Scoop the Cookies

I use a 1-ounce cookie scoop to portion the dough. Scoop the dough, roll it into balls, then roll each one in lilac sugar. After that, gently press each dough ball into a disc on the sheet pan.

Step 4: Bake Until Lightly Golden

Do not overbake these cookies. They should be lightly golden around the edges and bottom. The centers should look set, but not hard or too dark.

Step 5: Cool and Glaze

Let the cookies cool completely before adding the glaze. Then drizzle or dip them in the lilac glaze.

Step 6: Garnish With Lilac Sugar or Candied Lilac Petals

If you want to make them extra pretty, garnish the cookies with lilac sugar or candied lilac petals while the glaze is still wet. Let the glaze set before serving or storing the cookies.

Should You Add a Lilac Glaze or Lemon Glaze?

This really depends on the flavor you want.

If you want more lilac flavor, go with the lilac glaze. If you like the combination of lemon and lilac, a lemon glaze is also delicious. Lilac and lemon pair very well together, and the yellow and purple colors make a beautiful spring combination.

So really, it comes down to personal preference. I usually choose lilac glaze when I want the floral flavor to stand out more.

Tips for the Best Lilac Sugar Cookies

When making these cookies, use soft butter, not cold butter. Cream the butter and sugar well before adding the eggs, milk, and vanilla.

Once the flour is added, stop mixing as soon as everything is combined. This is a delicate dough, and overmixing can make the cookies tougher than they should be.

Also, use fresh lilac petals for the best flavor and scent.

How to Store Lilac Sugar Cookies

Once the glaze has set, store the cookies in an airtight container. They will stay fresh for 3 to 4 days.

If you want to freeze them for longer storage, do that before adding the glaze. Then thaw and glaze them before serving.

These are also a perfect cookie for gifting because they are so pretty.

Ways to Serve Lilac Sugar Cookies

These lilac sugar cookies are perfect for brunches, afternoon tea, bridal showers, baby showers, spring dessert tables, or just as a sweet snack on the patio.

They also look beautiful tucked into a cookie box or served with homemade lilac lemonade.

Lilac Sugar Cookies With Lilac Glaze

Lilac sugar cookies with lilac glaze are soft, buttery cookies with a delicate floral flavor. They are a beautiful spring dessert for brunches, bridal showers, tea parties, and gifting.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:15 minutes mins

Cook Time:13 minutes mins

Equipment

• Medium bowl
• Stand mixer or handheld mixer
• 2 Sheet pans
• Parchment paper

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups All-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons Baking powder
• 1/2 cup Butter room temperature, soft
• 1 cup Lilac sugar or granulated white sugar
• 2 each Large eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1 Tablespoon Milk or lilac simple syrup
• 1/2 cup Lilac petals washed, removed from greenery

Sugar for rolling cookies in

• 1/2-1 cup Lilac sugar or granulated white sugar

Lilac Glaze Recipe

• 1 1/2 cups Lilac powdered sugar or powder sugar
• 1-2 Tablespoons milk or lilac simple syrup

Candied Lilac petals to garnish

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 °F
• Line two sheet pans with parchment paper.
• Pour 1/2 cup lilac sugar or granulated sugar onto a plate or bowl. this is for rolling the cookie balls in. Set aside.

Sugar cookie dough

• In a medium bowl mix all-purpose flour with salt and baking powder. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter with lilac sugar. Until creamy.

  Add eggs, vanilla, milk. Beat until creamy and combined.
• Slowly add in flour and lilac petals. Mix until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix. Stop once all the flour has mixed in.
• Using a 1-ounce cookie scoop, scoop dough into balls, handroll, and roll in lilac sugar to coat.

  Place on sheet pan and gently press down into a disc, not super flat.
• Bake at 350 °F 12-13 minutes until cookies are set and slightly golden, do not allow to brown. I remove once the tops look set.
• Allow to cool.

Lilac glaze

• In a medium bowl mix milk (or lilac simple syrup) with powdered sugar until you have a glaze. You may need to add more or less of each ingredient to get the consitency you want for drizzling or dipping.
• Drizzle glaze over the cooled sugar cookies before the glaze sets, and garnish with candied lilac petals.

  Allow the glaze to set. Serve or store in a airtight container and use within 4-5 days.

Notes

Recipe for Candied Lilac Petals

Recipe for Lilac sugar. For the lilac powdered sugar, take the granulated lilac sugar and pulse in a food processor or coffee grinder until powedered.

• Use fresh lilac petals from a lilac variety you know is edible, and make sure they were picked from an area that has not been sprayed.
• Remove all green bits and stems before adding the petals to the dough.
• For the best flavor, use fresh lilac petals and lilac sugar in the cookie dough.
• Do not overmix the dough once the flour is added, or the cookies may turn tough.
• Bake just until the cookies are set and lightly golden around the edges.
• Let the cookies cool completely before adding the glaze.
• For a lemon glaze, replace the lilac syrup in the glaze with fresh lemon juice.
• Garnish with candied lilac petals or a sprinkle of lilac sugar while the glaze is still wet.
• Store glazed cookies in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days.

Servings: 16 Cookies

Lilac Sugar Cookies Recipe FAQs

What kind of lilacs can you bake with?

I would stick with the common lilac. There are some hybrid lilac varieties out there that have not been approved as edible. I go over how to identify those in my other lilac posts.

Do lilac sugar cookies taste like perfume?

No, the lilac flavor is very subtle. It is soft and floral, not overpowering.

Is lilac sugar or lilac syrup better for cookies?

I would use lilac sugar in the cookie dough and lilac syrup in the glaze. That gives you the best balance of flavor.

Can I use fresh lilac blossoms in the dough?

Yes, and I recommend it. Fresh lilacs have the best scent and flavor.

Can I make lilac sugar cookies ahead of time?

Yes, you can bake and freeze them ahead of time. Just leave the glaze off until you are ready to serve them.

Do these cookies need glaze?

No, they do not have to have glaze. You can serve them plain if you prefer. I just think they look prettier with glaze, and it adds a little more flavor.

How do I store lilac sugar cookies?

Store them in an airtight container away from heat and direct sunlight.

Can I freeze lilac sugar cookie dough?

Yes. After rolling the dough into balls, freeze them. Then thaw, roll in sugar, and bake when ready.