Description
Delightfully zesty lemon cookies with a perfect balance of sweetness and citrus flavor, enhanced by a special zest-blooming technique.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2–3 tablespoons fresh lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Optional: ½ teaspoon culinary lavender, 1 teaspoon poppy seeds, or ½ teaspoon fresh thyme
Instructions
- Rub lemon zest into sugar with fingertips to release oils and enhance flavor.
- Cream together butter and the lemon-infused sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just combined.
- If using, fold in optional flavoring ingredients.
- Chill dough for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Roll dough and cut into desired shapes, or form into balls.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
Notes
- Can substitute lemon zest with orange, lime, or grapefruit zest.
- Dough can be made 3 days ahead and refrigerated.
- Freeze dough for up to 2 months.
- For cut-out cookies, roll between parchment paper.
- Lemon flavor intensifies over time.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: lemon cookies, citrus cookies, cut-out cookies, holiday cookies, zesty cookies
