CHEWY LAVENDER-SPICE SUGAR COOKIES

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups [319 gm] All purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp [3 gm] Salt
• 1/2 tsp [2.5 gm] Baking soda
• 1 tsp [4 gm] Baking powder
• 6 Tbsp [85 gm] Butter, unsalted, melted and warm
• [4-6 gm] Lavender-spice mix (see note), to taste
• 1 1/2 cup [290 gm] Sugar, granulated
• 2 oz [57 gm] Cream cheese, in small chunks
• 1/3 cup [70 gm] Avocado oil (or other vegetable oil)
• 1 Egg, large
• 1 tsp [4.5 gm] Vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp [15 gm] Half & half
• Extra sugar for rolling

Instructions

Oven: 350ºF, conventional bake

1. Sift together the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder; set aside.
2. Melt the butter and while warm, add the spice mixture.  Mix well.
3. Place the sugar and cream cheese in a large bowl.  Pour the butter mixture over the sugar and cream cheese.  Begin whisking these together.  The cream cheese will not distribute completely at this point.
4. Add the avocado oil and blend it in.
5. Add the egg, half & half, and vanilla extract.  Combine well until uniform.
6. Line sheet pans with parchment paper, and make sure the oven is preheated.
7. With a stiff mixing spatula, mix in the dry ingredients in 3 portions, just until combined.
8. Weigh out 36-37 gram portions, and gently roll into balls, then roll in the extra dusting sugar and place on the parchment paper (well spaced; only 12 cookies per tray).
9. Use a greased flat-bottom glass to flatten each ball to about 2 inches.  Dust the tops with a bit more sugar.
10. Bake in center of oven, one tray at a time.  Rotate the trays after 6 minutes, and bake another 5-6 minutes until the edges show just a hint of browning.
11. Remove from oven and allow to rest on the tray for 5 minutes.  Then, transfer carefully to wire cooling rack.
12. Yield: 24 cookies.  Store in an air-tight container, and freeze if desired.

Note: This recipe features a proprietary blend of lavender and warm spices.  If you wish to use the original mixture, inquire when visiting Barn Owl Nursery in Wilsonville, OR.  You can substitute your own combination of favorite spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, etc.) with ground culinary lavender bud.