Bergamot Tea Cookies

There’s nothing quite like slowing down and taking a break over a warm cup of your favorite tea. This is a quiet pastime that you can enjoy on your own, or gather together with choice friends or loved ones to sip and chat. Whatever the occasion, nothing pairs better with tea than petite, lightly sweetened biscuits. This recipe for tea cookies uses Bergamot essential oil, making them the perfect companion for a rich cup of earl grey. 

SUPPLIES

• 2 sticks unsalted butter
• ½ cup and 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1–2 tablespoons raw or turbinado sugar
• 5–7 drops Bergamot essential oil

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 163°C.
2. Bring butter to room temperature in a bowl and cream until light and fluffy. Add Bergamot essential oil and mix together. Add powdered sugar and beat until the mixture is again light and fluffy.
3. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Slowly add to the butter mixture on low speed and continue to mix until a stiff ball of dough forms.
4. Remove the dough from the mixture and gently shape the dough into a ball, if needed. Cover the dough ball with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge at least 30 minutes. 
5. Take dough out of the fridge and place between two pieces of slightly floured parchment paper. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough to about ¼ inch thick before removing the top layer of parchment.
6. Using a round cookie cutter (or other shape of choice), cut out cookies.
7. Place cookies on a greased baking sheet (or a sheet lined with parchment paper). Top cookies with a sprinkle of turbinado sugar.
8. Bake for 20 minutes until light golden brown.

Tip: To make bars or wedges instead of round-cut cookies, skip the fridge. Press the dough into a greased 8-inch round cake pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes until a light golden brown. Remove from heat and immediately remove from the pan. Use a pizza cutter to cut into wedges and then allow to cool (it won’t cut as easily if you let it cool first).

Whether your tea of choice is black, green, or herbal, these cookies add the perfect finishing touch to a relaxing tea break. Make them yourself, post it on Instagram or Facebook, and tag us (@doterraca)! We want to see what you do with this recipe!