Description
Lemon Meltaways are delicate, buttery cookies infused with fresh lemon zest and juice, offering a refreshing citrus flavor. These melt-in-your-mouth treats are lightly dusted with powdered sugar, making them the perfect sweet and tangy dessert for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For Coating
- Additional powdered sugar
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring a smooth base for the cookie dough.
- Add Lemon and Vanilla: Beat in the lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, and vanilla extract into the creamed butter mixture, evenly distributing the citrus flavor throughout.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and salt to ensure the dry ingredients are well mixed before incorporation.
- Form Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing gently until a soft dough forms without overworking the batter to maintain a tender texture.
- Shape and Chill: Divide the dough in half and shape each portion into a log about 2 inches thick. Wrap the logs tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour until firm for easier slicing.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Slice and Bake: Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator and slice into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Place the slices on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them slightly apart.
- Bake Until Lightly Golden: Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, just until the edges are lightly golden, ensuring a tender crumb without over-baking.
- Coat with Powdered Sugar: Cool the cookies for 5 minutes on the baking sheet then roll the warm cookies in powdered sugar to coat them thoroughly.
- Final Cooling and Dusting: Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack, then dust again with powdered sugar before serving for an extra snowy finish.
Notes
- These cookies store well in an airtight container for up to one week, maintaining their freshness and delicate texture.
- You can freeze the shaped dough logs before slicing for longer storage. Thaw in the refrigerator before baking.
- For an intensified lemon flavor, add an extra teaspoon of lemon extract to the wet ingredients.
- Handle the dough gently to prevent tough cookies, as overmixing can activate gluten in the flour.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus 1 hour chilling time)
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 35 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
