This time of year, I start craving flavors like fresh basil.  In pasta. In pesto. In omlettes. In anything with tomatoes.  I love the bright pop of flavor it gives to any recipe.  You know, like in cookies.

(insert record scratch here)

For realsies!  In cookies!

Cinnamon Basil Cookies

In one of my recent wanderings at my beloved farmer’s market (are you tired of hearing about my weekly trips down there yet??), I was chatting with the folks at Ottmers Family Farms about their produce.  They always have a great, seasonal selection, evidenced by my foray into using their fresh and fabulous Garlic Scapes this Spring.  One herb they had available was Cinnamon Basil.  I’d never used it, so I had to try it!

As soon as I got home I started googling recipes.  This particular varietal has a spicier flavor than its’ more recognized and used cousin, but not spicy as in “hot”–spicy as in “warm and earthy”. So when I stumbled on these cookies, I knew I had something to play with.  To the kitchen!

While I am someone who famously never actually follows a recipe, when it comes to baking, I am less inclined to play mad scientist.  It’s so much more precise that I find it’s better to follow along to ensure I don’t wind up with burnt cakes or under-baked blobs.  One change up was that I left out the pistachios mentioned in the original recipe.  Since I intended to share these goodies, I didn’t want to take a chance that someone may have a nut allergy.

I think what I liked most about this ingredient, as well as the final product, was the confused look of intrigue on the face of everyone who tried them.  Folks were trying to figure out what that curious-yet-familiar flavor was (“Is that lime?  Is that pepper?  Is that cinnamon?”) and with each additional bite, many came down on the side of really liking these goodies.

I say give them a try yourself and experiment with this great variety of basil. Cinnamon Basil Cookies are a revelation, and a surprisingly yummy treat!

Cinnamon Basil Cookies
Cinnamon Basil Cookies
Print Recipe
The unique flavor of these simple cookies is perfect for pairing with a cup of tea, or even a cold lemonade. You'll have your friends guessing at the ingredients, and gobbling them up as they try to figure it out!
Servings Prep Time
24 cookies 20 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
8-10 minutes 1 hour
Servings Prep Time
24 cookies 20 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
8-10 minutes 1 hour
Cinnamon Basil Cookies
Cinnamon Basil Cookies
Print Recipe
The unique flavor of these simple cookies is perfect for pairing with a cup of tea, or even a cold lemonade. You'll have your friends guessing at the ingredients, and gobbling them up as they try to figure it out!
Servings Prep Time
24 cookies 20 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
8-10 minutes 1 hour
Servings Prep Time
24 cookies 20 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
8-10 minutes 1 hour
Ingredients
Servings: cookies
Instructions
  1. Wash and dry the basil leaves. Finely chop them and set them aside. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt, and also set them aside.
    Cinnamon Basil Cookies Ingredients
  2. Using a standing mixer, beat together the remaining ingredients (butter through basil) until a all of the ingredients are fully incorporated. Slowly beat in the flour mixture until a firm dough forms. Turn dough out onto plastic wrap and form into a log shape. Refrigerate at least 1 hour, or overnight.
    Cinnamon Basil Cookies
  3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove dough from refrigerator and slice into 1-inch rounds. Place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the cookies begin to lightly brown at the edges.
    Cinnamon Basil Cookies
  4. Remove cookies from oven and cook on a wire rack.
    Cinnamon Basil Cookies
  5. Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to a week.
    Cinnamon Basil Cookies
Recipe Notes

I did mention above that I had a note on the butter.  The original recipe calls for softened butter.  I think I would use slightly chilled butter instead, as having softened butter made the cookies a little flatter than I think was originally intended.  They have a shortbread texture, but not the fluffy consistency I expected from the ingredients.

What I love about this recipe is that such simple ingredients can produce such a unique flavor profile.  The lime zest gives the cookies a brightness that is hard to distinguish but clearly present.  And the Cinnamon Basil plays on your senses, making you think of pepper, spice and other warm elements.  It's refreshing and intriguing all at the same time!

Cinnamon Basil
Time to get some more of this great ingredient and play with some other new recipes!

 

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