Lemon Meltaways Recipe
Lemon Meltaways are delicate, buttery cookies infused with fresh lemon zest and juice, baked to a tender crumb and finished with a dusting of powdered sugar. These melt-in-your-mouth treats are perfect for a light, citrus-flavored dessert or afternoon snack.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar (plus extra for dusting)
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to ensure the cookies bake evenly and don’t stick.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and 1/4 cup powdered sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cookie texture.
- Add Dry Ingredients and Flavorings: Incorporate the cornstarch, all-purpose flour, lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt into the creamed mixture. Mix until a soft dough forms, ensuring all ingredients are well combined without overmixing.
- Shape Dough: Roll the dough into small balls approximately 1 inch in diameter. Place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet. Then gently flatten each ball with the back of a fork or your fingers to create a uniform shape for even baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges start to turn a light golden brown, indicating they are perfectly baked yet still tender inside.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely to avoid sogginess.
- Dust with Powdered Sugar: Once fully cooled, dust the cookies generously with powdered sugar to add a delicate sweetness and enhance their meltaway texture and appearance.
Notes
- Make sure the butter is softened but not melted to achieve the best texture.
- Use freshly grated lemon zest for the most vibrant citrus flavor.
- Be careful not to overbake; cookies will firm up more as they cool.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- For added flavor, you can substitute lemon juice with lime juice or add a pinch of ground ginger for a subtle spice.
Keywords: Lemon cookies, Meltaway cookies, Butter cookies, Lemon zest, Easy baked cookies, Citrus dessert, Powdered sugar cookies
Find it online: https://jedentaglecker.com/lemon-meltaways-recipe/
