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Unleash the Power of Lavender Extract! 4 Recipes to Calm Your Soul (and Wow Your Friends)

Nov 04, 2024

Laura Wright

Lavender might be the queen bee of the herb world. Yes, it’s usually associated with spa days, “calming” candles, and maybe even your grandma’s perfume—but it’s high time lavender got the culinary fame it deserves. Why stop at sniffing it when you can eat it? Today, we’re taking that bottle of fresh lavender extract that you just picked up from Groovy Gopher Lavender Farm and transforming it into four recipes that’ll have you feeling fancy and fragrant.

1. Lavender Lemonade
The OG Drink of Tranquility 🍋

There’s nothing like lavender lemonade to convince your friends you’re that person: effortlessly cool, sophisticated, and possibly French. This recipe is simple but gives you bragging rights for making something that sounds bougie.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 6 lemons)
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 cup sugar (or honey for a more wholesome touch)
  • 1 teaspoon lavender extract
  • A few lavender sprigs for garnish (optional, but if you’re committing, go all the way)

Instructions:

  1. Mix lemon juice, water, and sugar until the sugar dissolves (or our raw honey blends in).
  2. Add lavender extract and stir well.
  3. Serve over ice with a lavender sprig. (You’re practically Martha Stewart now.)

Pro tip: Add a splash of sparkling water or gin if you’re feeling zesty (or need to jazz up a PTA meeting).

2. Lavender Vanilla Shortbread Cookies
Butter, Sugar, and an Unexpected Kick of Floral Magic 🍪

Shortbread cookies are classic, but adding lavender makes them mystical. Picture a buttery, crumbly cookie that tastes like a garden party for your tastebuds.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter (room temperature)
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon lavender extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • A sprinkle of sugar for the tops (because sparkles are life)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add vanilla and lavender extracts.
  3. Slowly add flour and mix until it forms a dough.
  4. Roll dough out and cut into whatever shape you want (go fancy or go basic, we don’t judge).
  5. Place cookies on a baking sheet, sprinkle sugar on top, and bake for about 12-15 minutes until edges are lightly golden.

Warning: You might feel the uncontrollable urge to serve these on fine china while wearing lace gloves. Proceed at your own risk.

3. Lavender Latte
A Calming Hug in a Mug ☕

Here’s how you become the most interesting person in your friend group: lavender lattes. Yes, you could spend $8 on one at the local hipster café, but why not make it yourself for pennies and unending compliments?

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup milk (any kind—oat, almond, dairy, you do you)
  • 1 shot of espresso or 1/2 cup strong coffee
  • 1 teaspoon raw 92508 honey (optional but recommended)
  • 1/4 teaspoon lavender extract

Instructions:

  1. Warm up the milk and froth it (shake it in a jar if you don’t have a frother).
  2. Mix lavender extract and honey into the milk.
  3. Pour the coffee into a mug and add the lavender milk on top. Marvel at your homemade masterpiece.

Pro tip: Sprinkle some dried lavender or cinnamon on top for that Instagram-worthy touch. You’re welcome.

4. Lavender-Infused Pasta
Dare You Take Your Dinner Down an Unexpected Floral Path? 🍝

This one is for those looking to really flex on their cooking skills and shock their dinner guests (in the best possible way). Lavender adds an aromatic undertone to a pasta sauce that’s both unexpected and shockingly delicious. Go big or go home, right?

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound pasta (we’re partial to spaghetti or fettuccine)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1/4 teaspoon lavender extract (trust me, that’s enough)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions:

  1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
  2. In a pan, warm heavy cream over low heat, then add Parmesan and lavender extract, stirring until smooth.
  3. Toss cooked pasta in the sauce, add salt and pepper, and sprinkle with parsley.

Warning: You may never hear the end of, “Wow, did you make this?!” Get ready for family members who text you about it every time they see lavender anything.

Final Notes on Lavender Cooking
A little goes a long way with lavender extract—otherwise, you risk making your dish taste like a Yankee Candle. Keep it subtle, like a whisper in the breeze, and you’re on your way to culinary greatness (and lavender fame).

Let the cooking begin, and may the essence of lavender add a soothing, slightly sophisticated twist to your day!