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Lemon Meltaways Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 114 reviews

Lemon Meltaways are delicate, melt-in-your-mouth cookies bursting with fresh lemon flavor. These buttery treats are lightly sweetened and infused with lemon zest and juice, making them perfect for a refreshing snack or elegant dessert. They are easy to prepare and baked to a perfect golden edge, leaving you with tender, citrusy cookies dusted with powdered sugar.

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

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer on medium speed to cream the softened butter with 1 cup of sifted powdered sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  3. Add Flavorings: Beat in the fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until they are fully incorporated, giving the dough a bright and aromatic base.
  4. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt to evenly distribute the salt throughout the flour.
  5. Combine Dough: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients and gently mix just until a soft dough forms, being careful not to overmix to keep the cookies tender.
  6. Shape Dough: Using a small scoop or spoon, form the dough into small balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them apart to allow for slight spreading during baking.
  7. Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges turn lightly golden, indicating they are cooked through but still tender inside.
  8. Cool: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.

Notes

  • Make sure the butter is softened but not melted for best creaming results.
  • Be careful not to overmix the dough once the flour is added to avoid tough cookies.
  • For extra lemon flavor, you can dust the cooled cookies with additional powdered sugar mixed with a bit of lemon zest.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
  • These cookies freeze well; freeze shaped dough balls and bake fresh when needed.

Keywords: lemon meltaways, lemon cookies, buttery lemon cookies, melt-in-your-mouth cookies, citrus dessert

Find it online: https://stirringwithstella.com/lemon-meltaways-recipe/