19 Best Recipes Using Lavender Extract

Discover the best recipes using lavender extract here, along with suggestions for ideal ingredient pairings and useful tips for using this flavoring in your recipes. 

Lavender extract, like vanilla or almond extract, is a concentrated flavoring derived from the blossoms of the lavender plant. This extract captures the essence of this beloved herb, allowing chefs and home cooks alike to infuse their dishes with the floral notes of lavender. 

Think about tasting a cookie or having a drink with a splash of lavender—it’s a sensory experience like no other! 
Here, we’ve gathered some of the best recipes using lavender extract around the web, featuring the irresistible lemon lavender cookie bars, lavender panna cotta, and more.

Ingredients That Pair Well With Lavender Extract

Lavender extract has a distinct floral flavor that can elevate a dish when paired with the right ingredients. Here are some ingredients that pair well with lavender extract:

• Honey. Sweet honey balances lavender’s floral notes, ideal for desserts and drinks.
• Lemon. Lemon’s acidity contrasts lavender, ideal for cookies and lemonades.
• Blueberries. Sweet-tart blueberries complement lavender, perfect for pastries and jams.
• Chocolate. Chocolate and lavender offer unique dessert flavors, like truffles.
• Vanilla. Creamy vanilla harmonizes with lavender, best in ice creams and cakes.
• Rose. Distinct floral flavors; rose and lavender pair beautifully in desserts and drinks.
• Earl Grey Tea. Its bergamot oil pairs wonderfully with lavender; great in drinks.
• Almond. Almond’s nuttiness grounds lavender’s intensity, ideal for biscuits and cakes.
• Mint. Mint’s coolness contrasts with lavender, suitable for summer drinks or desserts.
• Thyme. Aromatic herbs that elevate dishes, especially in Mediterranean cuisines.

Best Recipes Using Lavender Extract

1. Lemon Lavender Cookie Bars

Lemon Lavender Cookie Bars mix lemon’s tang with lavender’s floral hint. Made from cookie dough with lemon zest, lavender extract, and lemon juice, they’re finished with a lemon lavender glaze, making them highly tempting.

2. Golden Empress Lavender French 75

Golden Empress Lavender French 75 is a special cocktail made with Indigo Gin, lemon juice, champagne, and lavender syrup. It’s finished with gold glitter and fresh lavender for a touch of elegance.

3. Lemon Lavender Scones

This dessert infuses a touch of elegance into these scones with the addition of lavender. The recipe highlights using cold butter and dairy for moist and flaky scones.

4. Laven Lemon Mini Loaves

These Lavender Lemon Mini Loaves are light and fluffy with a refreshing lemon-lavender taste. They’re not too sweet, ideal for breakfast or a snack. 

5. Gin Gimlet With Lavender

This recipe uses lavender extract or bitters to add a delicate floral flavor to the classic gimlet. The lavender complements the tart taste of the lime juice and the sweet note of the simple syrup.

6. Lavender Bundt Cake

This Lavender Bundt Cake recipe accommodates both fresh and dried lavender. You can top the cake with lavender sugar glaze, whipped cream, preserves, or chocolate sauce.

7. Lemon & Lavender Loaf Cake

This cake blends basic ingredients like flour, butter, lemon zest, and lavender, then bakes in a loaf pan until a toothpick comes out clean. It can be eaten plain or with powdered sugar or lemon glaze.

8. Lavender Shortbread Cookies

These cookies use just six ingredients and are simple to make. They have a unique lavender twist to the traditional shortbread taste, offering a balanced, buttery flavor with a hint of lavender.

9. Sparkling Lavender Lemonade

This recipe combines simple syrup, lemon juice, lavender extract, and sparkling water for a refreshing drink. The lavender gives a subtle floral touch, which pairs well with the lemon.

10. Lavender Cake

This lavender-flavored cake is moist and buttery, ideal for spring and summer during the lavender blooming season. The dessert is drizzled with lavender syrup and crowned with lavender cream cheese frosting.

11. Lavender Cookies

These cookies put a unique spin on classic shortbread by adding a hint of lavender. The buttery treats have a light floral aroma and are coated in sparkling sugar. 

12. Lavender/Lemon Drop Cocktail

This cocktail mixes sweet Lavender Rich Syrup with tangy lemon juice. Optional triple sec can add a slightly bitter taste, while vodka gives a crisp foundation.

13. Lemon Cupcakes With Lavender Buttercream Frosting

These Lemon Cupcakes capture the sweet flavors of the season. The lemon zest gives the cupcakes a bright, citrusy flavor, while the lavender extract offers a subtle floral note. 

14. Lemon Lavender Cake With Swiss Meringue Buttercream

This cake, made with lemon zest and lavender extract and topped with Swiss meringue buttercream, is ideal for spring or summer events. It can be prepared in advance and kept in the fridge.

15. Lavender Honey Ice Cream

This dessert blends cream and honey with a touch of lavender. By infusing culinary lavender in a cream, milk, and honey mix and then freezing it, you get a smooth, egg-free ice cream that lasts a week in the freezer.

16. Blueberry Brownies With Lavender Icing

This decadent dessert has a perfect combo of rich, fudgy texture and juicy, plump blueberries. The icing uses blueberries for color and offers a creamy, light texture.

17. Lavender Chocolate Truffles

These truffles mix dark chocolate with a hint of lavender. The process includes creating a lavender chocolate ganache, layering it with melted chocolate in small cases, and then chilling it until set.

18. Lemon Lavender Icebox Cake

This cake features a creamy pudding filling with a hint of lavender and a gluten-free graham cracker crust. Every bite offers a light and refreshing flavor, with a tart note of lemon. 

19. Lavender Panna Cotta

This dessert recipe blends lavender and lemon in a creamy panna cotta, accompanied by a blueberry lavender coulis. It’s not only a feast for the eyes but also delicious.

The bottom line

Using lavender extract is like adding a special twist to our favorite recipes. We’ve seen how it can change simple recipes into something unique and tasty. From sweet treats to refreshing drinks, lavender adds a fun flavor to everything it’s in.

When using lavender, remember that a little goes a long way. It’s easy to overdo it, which can lead to dishes tasting too perfumed or soapy. It’s always best to start with a small amount and add more as needed.

Tips For Using Lavender Extract

Lavender extract adds a lovely floral flavor to many recipes. Here are some helpful tips for using it in your recipes:

• Start small. Begin with a few drops of lavender extract, adding more as needed.
• Choose quality. Invest in high-quality lavender extract without artificial additives.
• Balance flavors. Pair lavender with lemon, vanilla, or berries for balance.
• Desserts delight. Add to desserts like ice cream, cupcakes, or cookies.
• Beverage twist. Enhance cocktails, lemonade, or teas with a drop or two.
• Savory options. Use in dishes like roasted meats and salad dressings.
• Infuse syrups. Make lavender-infused syrups for sweetening and drizzling.
• Marinade boost. Enhance meat and vegetable marinades with a few drops.
• Garnish with flowers. Use fresh or dried lavender flowers for visual appeal and aroma.
• Experiment freely. Get creative and try lavender in various recipes, but use it sparingly.

More About Lavender

• Lavender Cocktails 
• Lavender Cookie Recipes