These London Fog Cookies are inspired by the classic tea latte, combining fragrant Earl Grey tea, delicate lavender sugar, and a creamy lavender cream cheese frosting. Soft, elegant, and bakery-worthy, they’re perfect for afternoon tea, special occasions, or whenever you want a refined homemade cookie.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Delicate Earl Grey flavor with floral lavender notes
- Soft, tender cookies with a creamy frosting
- Unique and elegant twist on classic sugar cookies
- Perfect for tea parties, showers, and gifting
- Beautifully balanced London Fog cookie recipe
Ingredients
For the Earl Grey Cookies
- 3 tablespoons Earl Grey tea
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
For the Lavender Sugar
- ½ cup granulated white sugar
- ½ tablespoon culinary lavender
For the Lavender Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ tablespoon culinary lavender (reserved)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- Purple food coloring (optional)
Instructions
Lavender Sugar
- Pulse lavender in a food processor until finely ground. Sift to remove large pieces.
- Reserve half of the lavender for the frosting.
- Mix remaining lavender with granulated sugar and set aside.
Earl Grey Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Grind Earl Grey tea finely and sift out large bits.
- In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground tea.
- Cream butter and sugar on high speed for 1–2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add egg and vanilla; mix until pale and airy.
- Mix in dry ingredients just until combined.
- Scoop dough (2 tablespoons each), roll into balls, and coat in lavender sugar.
- Place dough balls 2 inches apart and gently flatten.
- Bake 6–8 cookies at a time for 9–10 minutes.
- Cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
Lavender Cream Cheese Frosting
- Beat butter and cream cheese until fluffy, about 3–4 minutes.
- Add powdered sugar, reserved lavender, and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
- Add food coloring if desired.
Assemble
- Frost completely cooled cookies with about 1 tablespoon frosting each.
Tips & Tricks
- Use culinary-grade lavender only
- Sift ground tea and lavender for smooth texture
- Chill dough briefly if cookies spread too much
- Use vanilla bean paste for deeper flavor
Details
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes per batch
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 18–22 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American / Tea-inspired
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Dietary Notes: Vegetarian, halal-friendly
Notes
- Cookies can be served unfrosted for a lighter tea cookie
- Store frosting separately if making ahead
- Perfect paired with tea or coffee
Nutrition (Approximate per cookie)
- Calories: 210
- Protein: 2g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fat: 11g
FAQ
What do London Fog cookies taste like?
They taste floral, lightly citrusy, and creamy, similar to an Earl Grey latte.
Can I skip the lavender?
Yes, but lavender gives the signature London Fog aroma.
Can I make these ahead?
Yes, bake cookies 1 day ahead and frost before serving.
Can I freeze them?
Freeze unfrosted cookies for up to 2 months.
Storage
- Room Temperature: Frosted cookies up to 2 days
- Refrigerator: Up to 5 days
- Freezer: Unfrosted cookies up to 2 months
Similar Recipes
London Fog Cookies
London Fog cookies are soft Earl Grey tea cookies rolled in lavender sugar and topped with lavender cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
For the Earl Grey Cookies
- 3 tablespoons Earl Grey tea
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 egg at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
For the Lavender Sugar
- ½ cup granulated white sugar
- ½ tablespoon culinary lavender
For the Lavender Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ tablespoon culinary lavender reserved
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- Purple food coloring optional
Instructions
Lavender Sugar
- Pulse lavender in a food processor until finely ground. Sift to remove large pieces.
- Reserve half of the lavender for the frosting.
- Mix remaining lavender with granulated sugar and set aside.
Earl Grey Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Grind Earl Grey tea finely and sift out large bits.
- In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground tea.
- Cream butter and sugar on high speed for 1–2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add egg and vanilla; mix until pale and airy.
- Mix in dry ingredients just until combined.
- Scoop dough (2 tablespoons each), roll into balls, and coat in lavender sugar.
- Place dough balls 2 inches apart and gently flatten.
- Bake 6–8 cookies at a time for 9–10 minutes.
- Cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
Lavender Cream Cheese Frosting
- Beat butter and cream cheese until fluffy, about 3–4 minutes.
- Add powdered sugar, reserved lavender, and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
- Add food coloring if desired.
Assemble
- Frost completely cooled cookies with about 1 tablespoon frosting each.
Notes
- Cookies can be served unfrosted for a lighter tea cookie
Conclusion
These London Fog Cookies are soft, elegant, and unforgettable, with a refined blend of Earl Grey and lavender that feels both cozy and luxurious. Whether for entertaining or everyday indulgence, this recipe brings tea-time charm straight to your kitchen.