Description
Lemon Meltaways are delicate, buttery cookies infused with bright lemon zest and extract. Soft and crumbly, these melt-in-your-mouth treats are rolled in powdered sugar for a sweet finish. Perfect for tea time or gifting, they offer a light citrus flavor balanced by a tender texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Zest of 1 lemon
Finishing
- Additional powdered sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring a smooth base for the dough.
- Add Lemon Flavor: Mix in the lemon extract and lemon zest thoroughly to distribute the citrus flavor evenly throughout the batter.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and salt to blend the dry components well.
- Mix Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, stirring until the dough comes together and is evenly combined without over-mixing.
- Chill Dough: Cover the dough and refrigerate it for at least one hour to firm up, which helps in shaping the cookies later.
- Prepare Oven and Baking Sheet: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Shape Cookies: Roll the chilled dough into 1-inch balls and place them evenly spaced on the lined baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes until the edges are set but not browned, maintaining a tender texture.
- Initial Cooling and Rolling: Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then gently roll them in powdered sugar to coat.
- Final Cooling: Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before serving to let them set and develop their characteristic meltaway texture.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened, not melted, for proper texture.
- Chilling the dough is essential to prevent spreading during baking.
- Do not over-bake to keep cookies tender and melt-in-your-mouth.
- Use fresh lemon zest for the best bright citrus flavor.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- These cookies can also be frozen before or after baking for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
