Description
Delightfully tender Lemon Meltaways feature a luscious blend of buttery sweetness and bright, zesty lemon flavor. These melt-in-your-mouth cookies are rolled in powdered sugar for a delicate finish, perfect for tea time or a light dessert treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Finishing
- Additional powdered sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and powdered sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which ensures a smooth base for the cookie dough.
- Add Lemon Flavor: Stir in the lemon extract along with the freshly grated lemon zest to infuse the dough with bright citrus notes.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and salt thoroughly to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning agents.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet lemon butter mixture, blending well until a smooth, soft dough forms.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the dough and refrigerate it for at least 1 hour to firm up, making it easier to shape and helping the flavors to meld.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your 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 arrange them with space in between on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are set but remain pale without browning, preserving their delicate texture.
- Initial Cooling and Sugar Coating: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then gently roll each cookie in powdered sugar while still warm for that signature meltaway coating.
- Final Cooling: Transfer the coated cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before serving, ensuring they achieve the perfect melt-in-your-mouth consistency.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh lemon zest and pure lemon extract to maximize flavor.
- Chilling the dough is essential to maintain the shape of the cookies during baking.
- Be careful not to overbake; the cookies should remain pale to keep their meltaway texture.
- Rolling in powdered sugar while warm helps the coating adhere better.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
