Description
Classic lemon curd crème brûlée cookies blend French pastry techniques with zesty citrus delights. Creamy custard notes and caramelized sugar layers create an irresistible dessert experience you’ll savor with each delicate bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (1 stick or 113 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (120 ml) lemon curd (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar (for caramelizing)
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then blend in egg and vanilla extract to create a smooth, uniform base.
- Dough Formation: Sift flour, baking powder, and salt, then gently fold into the wet mixture to develop a soft, malleable dough.
- Shaping and Initial Baking: Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Mold dough into small spheres on a parchment-lined baking sheet, creating a central indentation using your thumb or a spoon’s curved edge.
- Baking and Cooling: Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges turn golden. Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool slightly, preparing them for filling.
- Filling and Finishing: Carefully place a precise amount of lemon curd into each cookie’s center, ensuring complete coverage. Dust with a light layer of granulated sugar.
- Caramelization: Use a kitchen torch to transform the sugar into a crisp, amber crust. If a torch is unavailable, carefully broil for approximately one minute, watching intently to prevent burning.
Notes
- Prevent Dough Crumbling: Chill the dough for 30 minutes before shaping to enhance texture and prevent cookies from falling apart during handling.
- Achieve Precise Thumb Indentation: Use the back of a rounded measuring spoon for consistent, symmetrical centers without applying excessive pressure that might crack the dough.
- Control Lemon Curd Consistency: Ensure lemon curd is slightly cooled and thickened before filling to prevent soaking into the cookie base and maintain structural integrity.
- Master Sugar Caramelization Technique: Hold kitchen torch 2-3 inches from surface, move continuously in circular motion to create even, golden-brown caramel crust without burning the delicate sugar layer.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg