Blueberry & Candied Thyme Sugar Cookies Recipe

Blueberry & Candied Thyme Sugar Cookies Recipe

Blueberry and candied thyme sugar cookies offer a delightful twist on traditional sweet treats that will surprise your taste buds.

These elegant cookies blend unexpected flavor combinations with classic baking techniques.

Delicate herbs and bright fruit create a sophisticated culinary experience that elevates the humble sugar cookie.

Soft, buttery textures merge with complex aromatic notes that dance across your palate.

The carefully balanced ingredients redefine an ordinary dessert into something truly extraordinary.

Each bite promises a harmonious blend of sweetness and herbal complexity that feels both comforting and adventurous.

You’ll fall in love with this unique recipe that challenges conventional cookie expectations.

Flavorful Alternatives for Blueberry & Thyme Cookies

  • Lavender Lemon Burst: Replace blueberry jam with homemade lemon curd and infuse sugar with dried lavender instead of thyme, creating a bright, floral cookie experience.
  • Rosemary Raspberry Remix: Swap blueberry jam for raspberry preserves and use finely chopped rosemary in the sugar mixture, adding an earthy herbal note to the sweet cookies.
  • Ginger Peach Sensation: Substitute blueberry jam with smooth peach preserves and incorporate ground crystallized ginger into the sugar coating for a warm, spicy undertone.
  • Cardamom Orange Zest: Replace thyme with ground cardamom and blend orange zest into the sugar, introducing a sophisticated Middle Eastern-inspired flavor profile to the classic sugar cookie.

Blueberry & Candied Thyme Sugar Cookies: Here’s Why They Shine

  • Burst with Surprising Flavor Combinations: Blueberry jam and candied thyme create an unexpected culinary adventure that transforms traditional sugar cookies into a gourmet experience, blending sweet, herbal, and fruity notes in every delightful bite.
  • Master Elegant Baking Techniques: This recipe teaches sophisticated methods like making homemade blueberry jam, candying fresh thyme, and achieving perfectly textured cookies with slightly underbaked centers that guarantee irresistible chewiness.
  • Quick Impressive Dessert: These cookies come together surprisingly fast, taking around 30-40 minutes total, making them perfect for last-minute gatherings, afternoon tea, or when you want to wow friends with minimal effort and maximum deliciousness.
  • Create Instagram-Worthy Presentation: The candied thyme garnish and perfectly round cookies elevate this dessert from ordinary to extraordinary, ensuring your baked treat looks as stunning as it tastes, guaranteed to impress both eyes and palate.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Blueberry Thyme Cookies

Fruit Base:
  • Frozen Blueberries: Sweet and juicy berries that create a rich, homemade jam with deep flavor.
  • Granulated Sugar: Essential for sweetening and thickening the blueberry jam.
  • Water: Helps cook and break down the blueberries for smooth jam consistency.
Cookie Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and tender texture to the cookies.
  • Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and achieve soft, light consistency.
  • Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.
  • Unsalted Butter: Creates rich, creamy base with smooth cookie texture.
  • Vanilla Bean Paste: Adds complex, aromatic vanilla flavor to the dough.
Binding and Flavor Enhancers:
  • Whole Egg, Egg Yolk: Provide moisture, richness, and help bind the cookie dough.
  • Fresh Thyme Leaves: Introduces herbaceous, aromatic notes throughout the cookie.
  • Pasteurized Egg White: Used for coating thyme sprigs during candying process.
  • Candied Thyme Sprigs: Decorative garnish with delicate sweet and herbal profile.

Easy Guide to Making These Cookies

Step 1: Prepare Blueberry Jam

  • Combine in a saucepan
  • Frozen blueberries
  • Sugar
  • Water

Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently for 8-10 minutes. The jam is ready when a spatula reveals the pan’s base briefly. Remove from heat and cool completely.

Step 2: Create Candied Thyme

  • Gather
  • Pasteurized egg white
  • Granulated sugar
  • Fresh thyme sprigs

Dip each thyme sprig into egg white, removing excess. Roll in sugar, shaking off extra. Let dry on parchment paper for 20-30 minutes until crystallized.

Step 3: Mix Cookie Dough

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking trays with parchment paper.

In a separate bowl, whisk together:
  • Flour
  • Baking soda
  • Salt

Pulse sugar and thyme leaves in food processor until fragrant.

In stand mixer, beat butter until light and fluffy. Add thyme-sugar mixture and continue beating until pale and creamy.

Step 4: Combine Wet Ingredients

Add to butter mixture:
  • Vanilla bean paste
  • Whole egg
  • Egg yolk
  • Cooled blueberry jam

Beat for 2-3 minutes until well combined.

Step 5: Incorporate Dry Ingredients

Slowly add flour mixture in batches, mixing on low speed. Scrape bowl sides to ensure full incorporation.

Step 6: Shape Cookie Dough

Use cookie scoop to portion dough (about 2 tablespoons) onto lined baking trays.

Step 7: Roll in Thyme Sugar

Create thyme sugar by rubbing thyme leaves into granulated sugar with fingers.

Roll each dough ball in thyme sugar before placing on tray.

Step 8: Bake Cookies

Arrange dough balls with 2 inches spacing. Bake 8-9 minutes until edges set but centers remain slightly soft.

While warm, use round cookie cutter to shape cookies perfectly.

Step 9: Cool and Serve

Allow cookies to cool completely on tray. Garnish with candied thyme sprigs.

Serve and enjoy the soft, chewy cookies with delightful herbal notes!

Notes:
  • Store in airtight container
  • Best consumed within 3-4 days
  • Makes approximately 18-24 cookies
  • Maximize Flavor Depth: Gently crush thyme leaves between your fingers before adding to sugar to release more intense herbal oils and enhance the aromatic profile.
  • Control Jam Consistency: Use a frozen spoon to test blueberry jam thickness by running it through the mixture- if it leaves a clear path, the jam is perfectly reduced.
  • Perfect Cookie Shape: Use a warm metal cookie cutter immediately after baking to reshape cookies while they're still soft, ensuring uniform circular edges.
  • Sugar Rolling Technique: Press thyme-infused sugar gently onto cookie dough balls, creating a delicate, even coating that caramelizes beautifully during baking.
  • Storage Wisdom: Store cookies in an airtight container with a small piece of bread to maintain moisture and softness for up to 5 days.

Keeping and Warming Up Leftover Cookies

  • Refrigerate: Seal cookies in an airtight container between parchment paper layers for up to 5 days. Keep away from direct sunlight and moisture.
  • Freeze: Wrap cookies individually in plastic wrap, then store in a freezer-safe container for maximum 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
  • Reheat: Warm cookies gently in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or place in a preheated 300°F oven for 2-3 minutes to restore softness and revive original texture.

What to Pair with Blueberry Thyme Cookies

  • Brew Herbal Tea Companion: Pair these blueberry thyme cookies with a delicate chamomile or lavender tea to complement the herbal notes and enhance the subtle thyme flavor.
  • Craft Creamy Beverage Match: Serve alongside a cold glass of vanilla almond milk or a light cream liqueur to balance the cookie's sweetness and provide a smooth, rich contrast.
  • Create Cheese Plate Accent: Plate these cookies next to a mild goat cheese or creamy brie, allowing the tangy cheese to harmonize with the blueberry jam and thyme's earthy undertones.
  • Spark Dessert Wine Pairing: Enjoy with a glass of moscato or late-harvest riesling, which will highlight the cookie's fruity sweetness and provide a delightful after-dinner treat.
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Blueberry & Candied Thyme Sugar Cookies Recipe

Blueberry & Candied Thyme Sugar Cookies Recipe


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4.5 from 37 reviews

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x

Description

Sweet blueberry and candied thyme sugar cookies offer delightful Mediterranean-inspired flavors in each delicate bite. Homemade cookies blend herbal undertones with juicy berries, creating a sophisticated treat you’ll crave again and again.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

Blueberries and Flour

  • 2.5 cups all-purpose flour (364 grams)
  • ½ cup frozen wild blueberries (70 grams)
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature (226 grams)

Sweeteners and Sugars:

  • 1.75 cups white sugar (350 grams)
  • ¼ cup white sugar (60 grams)
  • 23 tablespoons granulated white sugar (2538 grams)
  • ¼ cup white sugar (50 grams)

Herbs, Eggs, and Additional Ingredients:

  • 45 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 pasteurized egg white (32 grams)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 cup water
  • 23 drops red/purple gel food coloring (optional)
  • Leaves from 45 thyme sprigs
  • Leaves from 23 fresh thyme sprigs

Instructions

  1. Create a vibrant blueberry jam by simmering frozen blueberries with sugar and water in a saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring consistently until the mixture thickens and reveals the pan’s bottom when a spatula passes through.
  2. Remove the jam from heat and let it cool completely, setting it aside for later use.
  3. Craft candied thyme by preparing two separate bowls: one with pasteurized egg white and another with granulated sugar.
  4. Delicately dip each thyme sprig into the egg white, gently removing excess liquid, then coat with sugar, shaking off any surplus.
  5. Allow the thyme sprigs to dry on parchment paper for 20-30 minutes until crystallized, which can be prepared up to 4 hours in advance.
  6. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking trays with parchment paper.
  7. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl, then set aside.
  8. Pulse sugar and thyme leaves in a food processor until well combined and fragrant.
  9. In a stand mixer, cream butter until light and fluffy, then incorporate the thyme-sugar mixture, beating until pale and creamy.
  10. Add vanilla bean paste, whole egg, egg yolk, and cooled blueberry jam to the butter mixture, mixing thoroughly.
  11. Gradually incorporate the flour mixture on low speed, ensuring all ingredients are fully combined and scraping down the bowl’s sides.
  12. Create a thyme sugar coating by rubbing thyme leaves into granulated sugar to release aromatic oils.
  13. Portion cookie dough using a scoop, rolling each ball in the thyme sugar before placing on prepared baking trays.
  14. Space cookie dough balls approximately 2 inches apart and bake for 8-9 minutes, achieving set edges with slightly underbaked centers.
  15. While cookies are still warm, use a round cookie cutter to reshape them into perfect circles.
  16. Allow cookies to cool completely on the baking tray.
  17. Serve the cookies adorned with crystallized thyme sprigs, showcasing the delicate balance of sweet and herbal flavors.

Notes

  • Prepare blueberry jam ahead of time, allowing it to cool completely for optimal flavor integration into the cookie dough.
  • Candied thyme can be made up to 4 hours in advance, creating a beautiful garnish that adds delicate herbal elegance to the cookies.
  • Use a light touch when incorporating flour to maintain the cookies’ soft, tender texture and prevent overmixing.
  • Roll cookie dough balls in thyme-infused sugar to enhance the aromatic herb flavor and create a delightful crispy exterior.
  • Slightly underbake the cookies by removing them from the oven when edges are set but centers remain soft, ensuring a chewy and moist final result.
  • Use a round cookie cutter while cookies are still warm to shape them perfectly, creating a professional and polished presentation.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 252
  • Sugar: 22g
  • Sodium: 150mg
  • Fat: 10g
  • Saturated Fat: 6g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 38g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 3g
  • Cholesterol: 45mg
David Bennett

David Bennett

Founder & Head Recipe Developer

Expertise

Culinary Nutrition​, Recipe Development​, Nutritional Counseling​, Food Science​

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Nutrition
  • Focus: Blending culinary arts with nutritional science to create health-focused cuisine.

Certified Nutrition Specialist® (CNS®)

  • Credential: Advanced certification in personalized nutrition therapy. ​

David Bennett is the lead recipe creator and nutrition expert at HealthyChoices.org, your friendly space for tasty meals that nourish body and mind. 

With a Culinary Nutrition degree from Johnson & Wales University and a Certified Nutrition Specialist® credential, David pairs practical nutrition with delicious cooking, creating recipes you’ll crave daily. 

At Healthy Choices, David shares easy, nutritious dishes and smart cooking tips to make healthy eating something everyone can enjoy, with no complicated diets needed.

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