Description
Lemon shortbread cookies meld buttery richness with zesty citrus notes, creating a delightful teatime treat. Crumbly, tender cookies offer a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors you’ll savor with each delicate bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (2 sticks / 226 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon zest (about 1 lemon)
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar (for rolling)
- Extra lemon zest for sprinkling
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, ensuring optimal cookie placement and even heat distribution.
- Creaming: Utilize an electric mixer to blend softened butter with powdered and granulated sugars until the mixture transforms into a light, airy consistency with a smooth, pale appearance.
- Flavor Infusion: Elevate the cookie’s essence by delicately incorporating fresh lemon zest, vibrant lemon juice, and pure vanilla extract, creating a harmonious and aromatic flavor profile.
- Dry Ingredient Refinement: Meticulously sift flour and salt in a separate bowl to eliminate potential clumps and guarantee a consistent, refined dough texture.
- Dough Formation: Gradually combine dry ingredients with the butter mixture, mixing gently until a cohesive, tender dough materializes—soft yet structured, without excessive stickiness.
- Shaping and Coating: Craft uniform dough spheres approximately one inch in diameter, optionally rolling them in granulated sugar to develop a glistening, caramelizable exterior.
- Baking and Cooling: Distribute cookie spheres across the prepared baking sheet, allowing ample spacing for subtle expansion. Bake until edges acquire a delicate golden tone (12-14 minutes), then rest momentarily on the sheet before transferring to a cooling rack for complete temperature reduction.
- Finishing Touch: Optionally dust the fully cooled cookies with a gossamer layer of powdered sugar, imparting an elegant, refined presentation that enhances their visual and gustatory appeal.
Notes
- Zest with Care: Carefully grate only the yellow part of the lemon peel, avoiding the bitter white pith underneath for a pure, bright citrus flavor.
- Room Temperature Matters: Remove butter and eggs from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking to ensure smooth blending and optimal dough consistency.
- Precise Mixing Technique: Mix dry ingredients gently to prevent gluten development, which could make cookies tough instead of tender and crumbly.
- Sugar Coating Trick: Roll cookie dough in sugar before baking to create a delightful crispy exterior that caramelizes beautifully during baking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 45 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg