Lemon Meltaways Recipe
Lemon Meltaways are delicate, buttery cookies infused with fresh lemon juice and zest, offering a light citrus aroma balanced by a sweet, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Perfect for tea time or light dessert, these cookies are coated with powdered sugar for an elegant finish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- Zest of 2 lemons
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted (divided)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Start by setting your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and 1 cup of sifted powdered sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, which will take about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add lemon and vanilla: Mix in the fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract into the creamed butter and sugar until everything is well combined, enhancing the cookie’s citrus flavor.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt to ensure even distribution of the salt throughout the dough.
- Form the dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix as that can affect the texture of the cookies.
- Shape the cookies: Use a small scoop or spoon to form small balls of dough and place them with spacing onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden, signaling that they are perfectly baked.
- Cool and finish: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Optionally, roll the cooled cookies in the remaining powdered sugar for an extra sweet finish.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened but not melted for best creaming results.
- Do not overmix the dough to keep the cookies tender and delicate.
- Lemon zest should be finely grated for best flavor distribution.
- Cooling the cookies on a wire rack prevents sogginess.
- For a more intense lemon flavor, additional zest can be added.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to 5 days.
Keywords: Lemon cookies, meltaway cookies, lemon desserts, buttery cookies, easy lemon recipe, tea time cookies
Find it online: https://stirringwithstella.com/lemon-meltaways-recipe-2/
