If you have ever wanted to turn your holiday baking into something truly memorable, this Earl Grey Shortbread Glaze is the secret. Made with our Appalachian Goddess Gray, it adds a delicate balance of black tea, lavender, and citrus that transforms simple cookies or loaf cakes into fragrant, bakery-worthy treats.
This glaze works beautifully on shortbread, pound cake, or even a classic bundt. It’s sweet, silky, and lightly floral — the kind of flavor that makes people ask, what’s in this?
Why Tea Makes the Perfect Glaze
Tea brings complexity and depth to sugar-based glazes without overpowering them. The black tea base adds warmth and structure, while lavender and orange peel add soft perfume and brightness. When you infuse tea into milk or cream instead of using plain liquid, you’re layering in real flavor rather than extracts or artificial oils.
Appalachian Goddess Gray is our signature twist on Earl Grey, featuring organic black tea, lavender, and orange. Its natural balance of rich and floral notes turns a basic glaze into something extraordinary — perfect for drizzling over holiday cookies, cinnamon loaves, or lemon bundt cakes.
Earl Grey Shortbread Glaze Recipe
Yields: About 1 cup (enough for 12–16 cookies or one loaf cake)
Prep time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- ½ cup whole milk or heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon Appalachian Goddess Gray Tea
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions:
-
Infuse the milk:
Warm the milk or cream in a small saucepan until just below simmering. Remove from heat and stir in Appalachian Goddess Gray tea. Cover and steep for 10 minutes, then strain and discard the leaves. -
Mix the glaze:
In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and 3 tablespoons of the infused milk. Add more as needed until the glaze reaches a pourable consistency. -
Use immediately:
Drizzle over cooled cookies, bundt cake, or loaf cakes. The glaze will set to a smooth, glossy finish within about 15 minutes.
Pairing Ideas
- For Shortbread: Use lavender or citrus shortbread as a base to echo the tea’s floral and zesty notes.
- For Cakes: Drizzle over a lemon or vanilla loaf for a refined dessert that pairs beautifully with a hot cup of Appalachian Goddess Gray.
- For Holiday Tables: Add dried lavender petals or a sprinkle of orange zest on top for an elegant finishing touch.
The Story Behind the Flavor
Earl Grey tea has long been associated with comfort and sophistication. Our Appalachian Goddess Gray builds on that heritage with a modern botanical twist, combining lavender’s softness with the rich strength of black tea and a spark of orange.
When used in baking, it captures everything we love about tea while creating a sensory bridge between the familiar and the unexpected.
Whether you are baking for holiday gatherings or gifting homemade treats, this glaze brings a little ceremony to every bite. It’s proof that tea belongs in the kitchen as much as in the teacup.
