Zesty Earl Grey Shortbread with Blood Orange Glaze Recipe

When the delicate aroma of earl grey tea meets buttery shortbread with a vibrant blood orange glaze, magic happens in your kitchen.

These elegant cookies blend sophisticated flavors that dance across your palate with unexpected grace.

Each delicate bite offers a subtle hint of bergamot from the earl grey, perfectly complemented by the bright citrus notes.

The shortbread crumbles softly, releasing complex layers of taste that surprise and delight.

A thin, glossy blood orange glaze adds a tangy finish that cuts through the rich butteriness of the cookie.

The result is a refined treat that feels both comforting and luxurious.

Bake these shortbread cookies and transform an ordinary afternoon into a memorable culinary experience.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 140 kcal

Servings: 13

Earl Grey Shortbread: Ingredient Guide

• Butter: Provides rich, creamy foundation that ensures tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Sugar: Adds delightful sweetness and helps create golden, crisp edges.
• Egg: Binds ingredients together and contributes to smooth, cohesive dough.
• Vanilla: Enhances overall flavor with warm, aromatic undertones.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies other ingredient flavors.

• Earl Grey Tea: Infuses distinctive citrusy bergamot notes, creating unique aromatic profile.
• Flour: Creates structural base and ensures perfect shortbread crumbly consistency.

• Powdered Sugar: Delivers smooth, glossy finish with perfect sweetness.
• Blood Orange Juice: Introduces vibrant, tangy citrus flavor and creates stunning glaze color.

Tool List for Earl Grey Shortbread

• Stand Mixer or Large Mixing Bowl: Essential for creaming butter and sugar, and mixing dough ingredients smoothly.
• 8-by-8-inch Baking Pan: Perfect for creating uniform shortbread with clean edges.
• Parchment Paper: Ensures easy removal and prevents sticking of shortbread.
• Wire Rack: Allows shortbread to cool evenly and quickly after baking.
• Whisk: Needed for creating smooth, consistent blood orange glaze.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient proportions.
• Spatula: Helps scrape and spread dough evenly in the pan.
• Sharp Knife: Required for cutting shortbread into triangle pieces after glazing.

Baking Instructions for Earl Grey Shortbread

• Baking Preparation

Warm your kitchen oven and set up a cozy baking environment with parchment paper nestled in an 8-by-8-inch pan.

• Butter Blend

Whip softened butter and sugar into a cloud-like mixture, creating a smooth base with gentle whispers of egg and vanilla, then sprinkle in a touch of salt.

• Flour Magic

Gently fold flour and finely ground Earl Grey tea leaves into the creamy mixture, blending until just combined with delicate strokes.

• Dough Settlement

Spread the fragrant dough evenly across the pan, using light touches to create a smooth landscape.

• Golden Transformation

Bake until the surface turns a soft, matte finish with golden edges hinting at deliciousness waiting to emerge.

• Zesty Glaze

Create a silky blood orange glaze by mixing powdered sugar with bright citrus juice until it flows like liquid sunshine.

• Finishing Touch

Drizzle the glaze over cooled shortbread and slice into elegant triangular pieces that whisper of cozy afternoons and tea time.

Tips for Zesty Blood Orange Glaze

• Crush Earl Grey tea leaves finely to release maximum flavor, ensuring an aromatic and robust shortbread experience without overwhelming bitterness.
• Adjust blood orange juice amount to control glaze thickness – less juice creates a thicker, more opaque coating, while more creates a translucent, delicate drizzle that highlights the shortbread's golden surface.
• Wrap unbaked dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze for 1 month, allowing spontaneous baking whenever craving strikes without compromising texture or taste.
• Sprinkle finely grated orange zest or crushed tea leaves over glaze for added visual appeal and complementary flavor layers that elevate the shortbread's sophisticated profile.
• Press dough gently but firmly into pan, using plastic wrap or floured hands to create an even, compact layer that ensures uniform baking and produces a consistently crisp, delicate shortbread texture.

How to Serve Earl Grey Shortbread

• Elegant Tea Time Showcase: Serve these delicate shortbread triangles on a vintage porcelain plate with delicate gold trim for a sophisticated afternoon tea presentation.
• Citrus Flavor Pairing: Complement the blood orange glaze by serving alongside fresh blood orange segments or a small glass of chilled blood orange sorbet to enhance the citrusy notes.
• Cozy Dessert Moment: Pair the shortbread with a steaming cup of Earl Grey tea, allowing the tea's bergamot flavors to harmonize with the buttery, aromatic cookie for a perfectly balanced sweet experience.
• Gift-Worthy Treat: Package the shortbread triangles in a clear cellophane bag tied with a silk ribbon, creating a beautiful homemade gift that showcases the delicate texture and elegant flavor combination.

Storing Shortbread with Glaze

• Smart Storage Solutions: Wrap cooled shortbread tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to maintain freshness for up to 5 days at room temperature.
• Chill Zone Strategy: Store glazed shortbread in an airtight container between layers of parchment paper in the refrigerator for extended enjoyment up to one week.
• Freezer Friendly Trick: Place unglazed shortbread in a freezer-safe container, separating layers with wax paper, for convenient storage up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before adding glaze.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare shortbread dough in advance and refrigerate for 2-3 days before baking. This technique allows flavors to develop and provides flexible baking scheduling.

Elegant Earl Grey Shortbread with Blood Orange Glaze

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4.8 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Delicate earl grey shortbread cookies merge classic British teatime elegance with zesty Mediterranean citrus notes. Buttery, crumbly layers infused with bergamot complement tangy blood orange glaze, creating a sophisticated sweet treat you’ll eagerly savor.

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Ingredients

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• ½ cup (1 stick/113 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 ½ cups (6.75 oz/192 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp finely ground Earl Grey tea (from 1 tea bag)
• ½ tsp pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 tbsp freshly squeezed blood orange juice

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Instructions

1. Cream Preparation: Whip butter and sugar into a light, ethereal mixture, achieving a pale, fluffy consistency with gentle, continuous whisking.
2. Flavor Foundation: Integrate egg and vanilla extract seamlessly, then sprinkle salt to amplify the depth of flavor, creating a smooth, unified base.
3. Dough Formation: Delicately fold ground Earl Grey tea leaves and flour into the mixture, stirring with minimal manipulation until a cohesive dough emerges, avoiding over-mixing.
4. Pan Arrangement: Spread the dough evenly into a parchment-lined square baking pan, using floured fingers or plastic wrap to create a uniform, leveled surface.
5. Baking Process: Roast in a preheated oven until the shortbread develops a matte finish and golden-kissed edges, typically requiring 25-30 minutes at the specified temperature.
6. Cooling and Glazing: Allow the shortbread to cool completely on a wire rack, then craft a luminous blood orange glaze by blending powdered sugar with fresh orange juice until achieving a silky, pourable consistency.
7. Finishing Touch: Drizzle the citrus glaze generously across the cooled shortbread, then slice into elegant triangular segments ready for serving.

Notes

• Steep Tea Carefully: Grind Earl Grey tea leaves finely to ensure even flavor distribution without creating bitter or chunky texture in the shortbread.
• Control Moisture Levels: Use room temperature butter and minimal liquid to maintain the delicate, crumbly shortbread consistency and prevent dense results.
• Prevent Overbaking: Watch shortbread closely during final minutes of baking; golden edges indicate perfect doneness while darker edges signal potential dryness.
• Glaze Application Technique: Allow shortbread to cool completely before adding blood orange glaze to ensure clean lines and prevent soggy texture.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: British

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 140
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 60 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 18 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 1.5 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg