Hibiscus cookies are the perfect dessert for a tropical-themed party, and their vibrant red color makes them especially pretty for Christmas. The sour-sweet hibiscus flower paste balances the cookie’s flavor profile with a subtle tartness.
Start by blending flour, unsalted butter, hibiscus powder, sugar, baking soda, vanilla extract, and egg yolk until combined; wrap it with a cling wrap and refrigerate it. Then, bake until golden brown. Decorate with hibiscus powder and orange zest.
To top things off, add some flaked almonds, giving crunchiness to each bite! You can also add some chopped pistachios towards the end so that you can indulge yourself even more than before.
Let’s dive into the recipe for flavourful cookies. Below are the instructions, equipment, and ingredients needed to make these cookies.
What Equipment Will You Need To Make Hibiscus Cookies?
- Mixing Bowl – Mix the ingredients in a bowl and place dried hibiscus flowers in a bowl with cold water to soak for 10 minutes.
- Measuring Cups – Measure the ingredients with the measuring cups to avoid over or underweighting the ingredients.
- Spatula – Scrape the mixing bowl and mix the ingredients well with a flat-surfaced spatula.
- Knife – Use a knife to remove the remaining bits of the stem from each hibiscus flower and discard those pieces.
- Baking Sheet – Since cookies need room to spread out as they bake. A baking sheet will help prevent the cookies from connecting as they bake.
- Parchment Paper – Line the baking sheet with parchment paper to keep it from burning or sticking.
- Plastic Wrap – Wrap the cookie dough with the plastic cling wrap to allow it to sit.
How Much Time Will You Need To Make Hibiscus Cookies?
Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Freezing Time | Total Time |
---|---|---|---|
25 Minutes | 20 Minutes | 30 Minutes | 1 Hour 15 Minutes |
What Ingredients Will You Need To Make Hibiscus Cookies?
- All-Purpose Flour – You will need flour to make dough for the cookies.
- Dried Hibiscus Flowers – Hibiscus flowers will give a tart, almost-cranberry-like flavor and a deep red-violet color that looks more like cabernet than chamomile.
- Butter – Use unsalted butter to make these delicious cookies. For these cookies, the butter should be soft but not melted.
- Egg Yolk – You will need egg yolks to give the cookies extra-rich flavor and a velvety texture.
- Orange Zest – Grate the orange peel with a grater or zester on the cookies.
- White Sugar – White sugar will result in a flatter, crispier, lighter-colored cookie.
- Baking Soda – Baking soda will act as a leavening agent, which makes the dough rise.
- Salt – Salt will enhance the flavor, balance the sweetness of the cookies, and raise the dough.

Steps To Make Hibiscus Cookies
1. Process The Dried Hibiscus Flowers
Place dried hibiscus flowers in a bowl with cold water to soak for 10 minutes.
Lift out your hibiscus flowers and then use a knife to remove any remaining bits of the stem from each flower and discard those pieces. Crush your dried flowers using a food processor.
2. Combine Them All
Add the softened butter, sugar, baking soda, and vanilla extract; mix until combined thoroughly (you may need to use your hands).
Add egg yolk, three tablespoons of hibiscus flower powder, and salt to the mixture. Mix until well combined. Scrape the bowl as needed.
3. Shape A Disk
Now slowly add the flour. Combine until the dough starts to form. Remove the cookie dough from the bowl and form a disk shape. Wrap plastic wrap around the dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
4. Bake The Disk
Preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Once the dough is cooled down, drop the cookies onto the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart (you can also use silicone molds if you have them).
Bake the hibiscus cookies for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown on top but still soft inside. Let cool before serving. Glaze and decorate with hibiscus flower powder and orange zest.
Nutritional Information
Calories | 80kcal |
Total Fat | 5g |
Saturated Fat | 3g |
Trans Fat | 0g |
Cholesterol | 5mg |
Sodium | 30.1mg |
Carbohydrates | 8g |
Fiber | 1g |
Sugar | 5g |
Protein | 1g |
Iron | 0.4mg |
Calcium | 20mg |
How Will Hibiscus Cookies Look And Taste Like?
Floral hibiscus and coarse sugar make a delightful swirl in a buttery shortbread dough. The dough has contrasting textures from the caramelized raw sugar. Every bite of this cookie is diffused with delicately sweet flavors, which complement a slight fruity tang.
Recipe Card

Hibiscus Cookies Recipe
Hibiscus cookies are a perfect treat to enjoy with your morning coffee or tea. They’re easy to make and taste great with beautiful hibiscus swirls!
- 3 tablespoons Dried Hibiscus Flowers (stems removed and flowers crushed)
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- ⅔ cup Butter (softened)
- 1 Egg Yolk
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup White Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- 1 tablespoon Orange Zest (grated)
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Place dried hibiscus flowers in a bowl with cold water for 10 minutes.
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Lift out your hibiscus flowers and then use a knife to remove any remaining bits of the stem from each flower and discard those pieces. Crush your dried flowers using a food processor.
-
Add the softened butter, sugar, baking soda, and vanilla extract; mix until combined thoroughly.
-
Add egg yolk, three tablespoons of hibiscus flower powder, and salt to the mixture. Mix until well combined. Scrape the bowl as needed.
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Now slowly add the flour. Combine until the dough starts to form.
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Remove the cookie dough from the bowl and form a disk shape.
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Wrap plastic wrap around the dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
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Preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Once the dough is cooled down, drop the cookies onto the prepared baking sheet.
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Bake the hibiscus cookie for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown on top but still soft inside.
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Glaze and decorate with hibiscus flower powder and orange zest.
Calories: 80kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 30.1mg | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Conclusion
Hibiscus cookies are a classic dessert that everyone loves. They’re easy to make, taste delicious, and look beautiful when served!
If you want to add color and flavor and bring a little joy, this recipe is perfect for all experience levels. If you have tried this easiest cookie recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What beverages go well with hibiscus cookies?
You can serve these cookies with an iced cold glass of milk or a malted milk latte.
What does hibiscus taste like?
The hibiscus is a tropical plant with large, brightly colored flowers. When the dried petals are steeped in cold water, they release a tart, almost cranberry-like flavor and a deep red-violet color that looks more like cabernet than chamomile.
What can you substitute with dried hibiscus flowers?
If you cannot get your hands on dried hibiscus flowers, you can substitute them with tart-dried cherries or dried cranberries for the chewy dried fruit bits in the shortbread cookie dough.
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