Description
Bright, buttery, and bursting with citrus flavor, these lemon meltaway cookies live up to their name—tender, delicate, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Perfect for spring gatherings or as a light, sweet finish to any meal.
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Zest of 2 lemons (about 2 tbsp)
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
For the Coating:
- 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted (for rolling)
Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat the oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2️⃣ Make the dough:
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
Mix in the vanilla extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice until fully incorporated.
Gradually add the flour and salt, mixing just until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix.
3️⃣ Shape the cookies:
Scoop out tablespoon-sized amounts of dough and roll into balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
(Optional) Gently flatten each ball slightly with your fingers or the bottom of a glass.
4️⃣ Bake:
Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden. The centers should remain pale.
Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
5️⃣ Coat with powdered sugar:
Once the cookies are completely cooled, roll them generously in powdered sugar.
For an extra snowy finish, roll them again right before serving.
Notes
- Butter Matters: Make sure your butter is softened, not melted. This helps create the tender texture that makes these cookies “meltaway.”
- Don’t Overmix: After adding the flour, mix only until combined. Overmixing can lead to dense cookies.
- Extra Lemon Zing: For a more intense lemon flavor, add a few drops of lemon extract or increase the lemon zest slightly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24–30 cookies