Description
Lemon meltaway cookies dance with tangy brightness, promising a delightful burst of citrus in every delicate bite. Silky smooth and irresistibly light, these cookies will transport you to a sunshine-filled kitchen with their simple elegance and pure, zesty charm.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (226 grams/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
Flavor and Binding Ingredients:
- 1 large egg
- Zest of 1 medium lemon
Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and arrange a parchment-lined baking sheet, creating a smooth surface for cookie preparation.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, whip butter and granulated sugar until achieving a light, airy consistency with a creamy texture.
- Incorporate egg and vibrant lemon zest, blending thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly throughout the mixture.
- Gently fold in baking powder and salt, ensuring uniform distribution of leavening agents.
- Gradually add flour, stirring carefully until a soft, pliable dough emerges with a consistent texture.
- Portion out tablespoon-sized segments of dough, gently rolling each into perfectly round spheres.
- Strategically place dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, maintaining adequate spacing between cookies.
- Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven, baking for 10-12 minutes until cookie edges become firm yet retain a delicate appearance.
- Remove cookies from oven and allow them to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, facilitating initial cooling.
- Transfer cookies to a wire rack, permitting complete temperature reduction.
- Prepare lemon glaze by whisking confectioners sugar and fresh lemon juice until achieving a silky, smooth consistency.
- Once cookies have completely cooled, delicately dip or drizzle each cookie with the tangy lemon glaze.
- Allow glaze to set for approximately 15 minutes, creating a glossy, appetizing finish.
Notes
- Softening butter to room temperature ensures smooth, even mixing and helps create a light, fluffy cookie texture.
- Zesting lemons carefully avoids the bitter white pith, capturing only the bright, fragrant outer layer for maximum citrus flavor.
- Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can prevent spreading and help maintain the cookies’ delicate shape.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 144
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 51
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 3
- Trans Fat: 0.2
- Carbohydrates: 17
- Fiber: 0.3
- Protein: 1.4
- Cholesterol: 15