Description
Delight in these Zesty Lemon-Filled Cookies, offering a perfect balance of tangy lemon flavor and sweet, buttery cookie dough. Quick to prepare and bake, these cookies are ideal as a refreshing treat for any occasion, featuring a bright lemon glaze that adds a smooth, citrusy finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
Glaze
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- lemon juice (from the 1/4 cup used above for dough; use additional if needed to achieve desired glaze consistency)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure even distribution of leavening and salt, then set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and sugar together until the mixture becomes light, airy, and fluffy, which helps produce tender cookies.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Incorporate the egg, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice into the creamed butter and sugar, mixing thoroughly until the batter is smooth and well combined.
- Combine Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing, which can make the cookies tough.
- Shape Cookies: Using a tablespoon, scoop rounded portions of the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them approximately 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges turn lightly golden brown, indicating doneness. Remove from oven and transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Glaze and Serve: Prepare the glaze by mixing powdered sugar with enough lemon juice to create a smooth, pourable consistency. Drizzle the glaze over each cooled cookie, allowing it to set before serving for an extra burst of lemon flavor.
Notes
- Ensure butter is fully softened to room temperature for easier creaming with sugar.
- Do not overmix the dough once dry ingredients are added to keep cookies tender.
- Adjust lemon juice quantity in the glaze to achieve the desired thickness.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- For an extra lemony punch, sprinkle additional lemon zest over the glaze before it sets.
