Prep Time

50 min

Cook Time

15 min

Yield

24 biscuits

Level

easy

Crumbly, plant-based shortbread perfumed with green cardamom and rose water, finished with crushed pistachio and edible pearls.

A fragrant, melt-in-the-mouth shortbread that proves vegan baking needn’t compromise on texture. The cardamom and rose lean into a Middle Eastern flavor profile, while a firm vegan block butter keeps the crumb tender and short rather than greasy.

Cookies - easy

Vegan Cardamom Rose Shortbread

Ingredients

250g

vegan block butter, cold and cubed

100g

Tate & Lyle Icing Sugar

300g

Steinmetz Flour T-45

30g

cornstarch

1/2 tsp

fine sea salt

1 tsp

freshly ground green cardamom

1 tbsp

rose water (adjust to taste)

40g

pistachios, finely crushed (for garnish

1 tbsp

dried edible rose petals (for garnish)

Barbara Décor Silver Tiny Pearls 1mm (for garnish)

Method

Cream the Base

Beat the cold vegan butter with the icing sugar until just combined and pale — don't over-aerate, as shortbread should stay dense rather than fluffy.

Add Aromatics and Flour

Mix in the rose water and ground cardamom. Sift in the flour, cornstarch, and salt, then bring together into a smooth dough without over-working.

Chill and Shape

Roll the dough to 6mm thick between two sheets of parchment and chill for 30 minutes. Cut into rounds and place on a lined tray.

Bake and Garnish

Bake at 160°C for 14-15 minutes until the edges are just set and barely colored — they should stay pale. While warm, scatter with crushed pistachio, rose petals, and silver pearls. Cool completely on the tray to firm up.

Chef's note

Use a good-quality vegan block butter (not a soft spread) chilled firm — soft tub margarines carry too much water and the dough will spread and toughen. Grind the cardamom fresh from pods for the brightest aroma; pre-ground loses its top notes quickly. Add rose water sparingly and taste as you go — brands vary wildly in strength, and too much turns the cookie soapy. Chill the dough before baking to keep the edges crisp and the shape clean.

Build the order