Lavender & Chocolate Chip Cookies

Much as I love cupcakes – and in fact cakes in general – there are times when biscuits are called for; one such time was the other day. I had arranged to go to Miss O's for lunch and it wasn't until about an hour before I was due to leave that it hit me – I hadn't made anything sweet to take along. Never one to let an opportunity for baking pass me by I started searching for a recipe. What did I have in the cupboard? All of the usual basics: flour, butter, sugar etc. But what could give these biscuits a taste of the unexpected..? Chocolate – never wrong but hardly a shocking choice. And then it hit me: my old favourite, lavender. Perfect. I could make a sweet biscuit with lavender and chocolate chips.

So here is the recipe I came up with:

Lavender & Chocolate Chip Cookies (makes about 18)
100g butter (preferably at room temperature)
100g caster sugar
1 egg
175g plain flour
½ tsp baking powder
1-2 tbsps dried lavender flowers (check they are the kind that are suitable for eating!)
150g dark chocolate (I used 70% cocoa Green & Blacks)

• Preheat the oven to 200C/180 fan/350F/gas mark 6
• Begin by softening the butter. I use an electric whisk for all of the hard mixing
• Add the caster sugar and beat until light and fluffy
• Beat the egg lightly and gradually add to the mixture
• Sift the flour and baking powder into the bowl and mix well
• Stir in the lavender – I used 2 tbsps but if you're nervous perhaps just try 1 tbsp the first time
• Roughly chop the chocolate (don't make the chunks too small) and add to the mixture
• Lightly grease 2 baking trays and spoon the mixture on, flattening each dollop with a spoon dipped in cold water and leaving enough room for each cookie to spread
• Bake for between 12-15 mins then cool a little in the tins before turning them onto a cooling rack

Be warned. If you are tempted to try the cookies while they are still warm, the lavender may very well taste somewhat overwhelming. But once they are cooled the flavour is less intense and altogether nicer.I was really pleased with this recipe: it had all the loveliness of a chocolate chip cookie but with the added sophistication of the lavender. They seemed to go down pretty well – although I suspect they may not be loved by children – oh well, all the more for you I suppose!