Why not start your day with dessert? There is a long tradition of not-too-sweet cookies with one’s morning coffee or tea or cocoa. Whether rusks in South Africa, biscuits in Britain, or almond biscotti in Italy, people love to dunk sweets in their hot morning beverages.
This recipe didn’t start out as a breakfast recipe. It was wholly intended for an after-dinner dessert. But the best laid plans often get thwarted, although in this instance it was more happenstance.
I brought some of these cookies to Rebecca, my loves-to-bake friend at work. Her first words were “These would be great with my morning coffee.” Hmmm. Not what I was expecting. Then I served them post-dinner to our friend Michael and he said, “These would be great with morning coffee.” Whadyaknow… I’d unintentionally created a morning cookie.
The inspiration for them was growing cilantro in the herb garden this year. Once the plant went to seed, we harvested and dried them. I wanted to make something to showcase their delicate floral essence, so I worked up these buttery Coriander Morning Cookies. They are slightly sweet, simple, and delightful.
~ David
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Fiorenza
November 13, 2021 at 5:54 amOooh, these biscotti sound and look just right up my street! Wonderful, I will try them although I’d skip vanilla flavour. Did you use an All Purpose Flour?
Cocoa & Lavender
November 13, 2021 at 10:13 amSo glad you like them! Skipping the vanilla won’t make any difference… And, yes, I did use all purpose flour. Let me know if you make them, Fiorenza.
Chef Mimi
November 13, 2021 at 7:02 amScrew the cookies. What the hell is that piece of lace?????!!!!!! I’m sure you got it in Europe somewhere… oh my goodness it’s so beautiful. I’m fortunate to have many pieces given to me by my mother. There’s just nothing like that kind of handiwork these days.
Cocoa & Lavender
November 13, 2021 at 10:14 amThe lace (probably Belgian) was given to me by the three daughters of a very close friend of mine when she passed away. Small pieces like that are so special and it’s nice to be able to use them now and then.
Chef Mimi
November 17, 2021 at 5:02 pmI assumed French or Belgian! Beautiful, and so thoughtful of the daughters. And I do love your cookies.
Cocoa & Lavender
November 20, 2021 at 3:43 pmThanks!
John / Kitchen Riffs
November 13, 2021 at 8:42 amYup, I’d eat these for breakfast. Although mainly I’d think of them as a snack or after dinner treat I DO eat sweet things for breakfast, but I usually don’t crave sweets early in the day. Anyway, super recipe — really do like the coriander. Nice — thanks.
Cocoa & Lavender
November 13, 2021 at 10:15 amLet’s be honest, John, I will eat them anytime of day or evening! Possibly in the middle of the night, as well.
Coco
November 13, 2021 at 9:10 amCookies for breakfast?!
D, you’re brilliant! xo
Cocoa & Lavender
November 13, 2021 at 10:15 amWhy not, Colette? If they make you happy… 💖
Jeff the Chef
November 13, 2021 at 9:50 amDescribing a cookie as “good with coffee in the morning” is one of the highest of cookie compliments, as far as I’m concerned. Cookies in the U.S. are far, far too sugary. And the morning seems like the worst time to eat a ton of sugar. Plus, I gravitate toward less-sugary anyway, so these cookies sound delicious to me.
Cocoa & Lavender
November 13, 2021 at 10:16 amThank you, Jeff. I took it as quite a compliment, as well. My friend Michael even wrote this morning to say, “where are my morning cookies?“ I guess he has the coffee but no cookies…
2pots2cook
November 13, 2021 at 9:55 amBeauty lies in simple things. Like these cookies. Thank you so much ! Enjoy your weekend.
Cocoa & Lavender
November 13, 2021 at 10:17 amThanks, Davorka. It’s absolutely true!
Gerlinde
November 13, 2021 at 10:21 amWhy not have cookies for breakfast, my husband loves leftover pie with his morning coffee. I start looking for treats in the afternoon or late evening.
Cocoa & Lavender
November 13, 2021 at 6:09 pmI do think it’s completely reasonable, Gerlinde! In fact, I had some of your Apfel Strudel Kuchen For breakfast this morning.
Sippitysup
November 13, 2021 at 12:32 pmThey look delightful! GREG
Cocoa & Lavender
November 13, 2021 at 6:09 pmThanks, Greg. I think they are pretty wonderful.
Pauline
November 13, 2021 at 3:29 pmI was thinking your lace tablecloth or doily was beautiful as well, I have a few pieces like that, and they need to be used. However the biscuits look delicious to have with morning coffee, I am all for that tradition. I have a whole jar of dried coriander seeds, home harvested, when I managed to grow coriander a couple of years ago, not easy to grow here. I must try your biscuits using my seed. I still can’t manage biscuits for breakfast though, unless perhaps when I am travelling. Absolutely delightful post. Thanks David
Cocoa & Lavender
November 13, 2021 at 6:10 pmDon’t you love having homegrown coriander seed, Pauline? Of course here in the states, we differentiate between the plant (cilantro) and the seed (coriander). It’s so much fresher than what we can get in a jar.
Eha
November 13, 2021 at 3:31 pm*laughter* Since I do not eat dessert or ever bake biscuits . . . how could I have these for breakfast 🙂 ? I mean that consists pf pickled anchovies or herring or smoked eel on black bread and gallons of very strong black coffee sans sugar !!! Yet both their look and the presence of beloved coriander do raise interest and curiosity . . . I may very well try ! Meanwhile absolutely love your photos – that lace looks very, very special . . .
Cocoa & Lavender
November 13, 2021 at 6:11 pmThanks, Eha — The lace is indeed very special and reminds me of my friend every time I see it. I knew this wasn’t going to be “the” recipe for you, but I could see you having one for tea and enjoying it very much.
Christina
November 13, 2021 at 9:38 pmThey look great and sound wonderful, David! Despite my feelings on cilantro, I actually like coriander, isn’t that funny? It tastes NOTHING like its mother plant, so there you go!
I just made a batch of lemon ricotta cookies and when I first saw these I thought we’d done it again! haha!
Cocoa & Lavender
November 20, 2021 at 7:58 amWe do tend to have like minds many weekends, Christina! I love that.
CC
November 21, 2021 at 7:25 pmWe do!! 🙂
sherry
November 14, 2021 at 1:12 amthese sound marvellous david. i recently made biscuits with rosemary. i do love a bit of savoury flavour in my sweets. perfect for coffee of course!
Cocoa & Lavender
November 20, 2021 at 7:59 amI made them again yesterday and everyone loved them — really unique flavors!
Ron
November 14, 2021 at 4:25 amMy grandmother always had a butter cookie (or two) with her tea for breakfast. I’ve never been a dessert person, but I love European cookies as they are usually much less sweet than what I was raised on in the US. Your coriander morning cookies look to be very much like the European cookie. I’d have no problem dipping one into my morning coffee or after one’s dinner with a cappuccino.
Cocoa & Lavender
November 20, 2021 at 11:53 amThese are very European style cookies, Ron — half the sugar of American cookies. I think your mother (and you) would approve.
Carolyne
November 14, 2021 at 4:24 pmThere is seriously nothing better in my mind than cookies in the morning!
Cocoa & Lavender
November 20, 2021 at 11:53 amWell… cookies all day?
Kelly | Foodtasia
November 14, 2021 at 7:40 pmThese really would be wonderful with my morning coffee! I can just imagine the wonderful flavor of the corriander.!
Cocoa & Lavender
November 20, 2021 at 11:53 amIt really is quite a good flavor, Kelly – thanks!
Fran @ G'day Souffle
November 15, 2021 at 8:46 amWhat a delight adding coriander (cilantro) to a cookie recipe! I agree with others about the lace- it really adds to the photography. I don’t think I’d be able to pull off the photography by just putting the cookies on a white plate- but adding the lace in the photo really highlights them!
Cocoa & Lavender
November 20, 2021 at 11:54 amThe lace on top of a sterling silver platter also made it stand out. It is so much fun coming up with photo combinations.
EASYFOODSMITH
November 16, 2021 at 4:36 amI can see myself enjoying them for breakfast and for snack. And I do need to give them a try especially since the baking season is here.
Cocoa & Lavender
November 20, 2021 at 11:55 amThanks, Taruna! Is your baking season based on the weather?
Raymund
November 16, 2021 at 1:09 pmI dig you, breakfast desserts are much welcome at home. And with cookies as delicious and simple as that, why not make it a whole day affair 😜
Cocoa & Lavender
November 20, 2021 at 11:55 amI like the way you think, Raymund!
Inger
November 20, 2021 at 10:39 amWow homemade coriander! That’s impressive and I think I’d have some with my coffee too!
Cocoa & Lavender
November 20, 2021 at 11:56 amOf course, homegrown coriander means the end of cilantro season, which is sad…
John
November 20, 2021 at 1:12 pmOh, I do like the sound of these, David. That sweet aroma and taste of coriander. How would one not like them?
Cocoa & Lavender
November 20, 2021 at 3:44 pmWell, if last nights guests were any indication, everybody does love them! hope you get a chance to make them and enjoy them with a nice cup of coffee or tea.
Ronit Penso Tasty Eats
November 20, 2021 at 5:39 pmI love adding aniseed to cookies, but never tried coriander. It sounds so intriguing. Definitely on my list to try soon. 🙂
David Scott Allen
November 23, 2021 at 5:11 amIt’s definitely a unique flavor for a cookie, but I really like it. I hope you do, too!
Judee
November 20, 2021 at 7:18 pmI’m not surprised about eating cookies with a cup of tea for breakfast. However, I find the coriander spice unusual in cookies. We usually eat it in a certain soup that we make. I’ll have to give it a try. Thanks.
David Scott Allen
November 23, 2021 at 5:12 amThis is the first time I’ve used coriander for a sweet dish, and I very much liked it. I hope you give it a try, Judee, and that you like it, as well.