Lemon Meltaways Zesty Treats (Printable)

Buttery, tender cookies bursting with fresh lemon that melt in your mouth with every bite.

# What You Need:

→ Dough

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
03 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
04 - 1 tablespoon lemon zest
05 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
07 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
08 - 1/4 cup cornstarch

→ Coating

09 - 1 cup powdered sugar for dusting

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy using an electric mixer.
02 - Mix in lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
03 - Add salt, flour, and cornstarch, mixing until a soft dough forms.
04 - Divide dough in half and roll each half into a 1-inch diameter log. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
05 - Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
06 - Unwrap dough and slice into 1/4-inch rounds. Place cookies 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
07 - Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are barely golden.
08 - Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then gently toss warm cookies in powdered sugar.
09 - Transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool completely. Dust with additional powdered sugar before serving.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • These cookies literally dissolve on your tongue, leaving behind this wonderful bright lemon essence that makes you close your eyes and smile
  • The dough comes together in minutes but the chilling step means you can prep ahead and bake fresh whenever the mood strikes
02 -
  • Don't skip the chilling step even if you're impatient—warm dough spreads into flat puddles instead of holding that cute round shape
  • The cookies need those 5 minutes of cooling time on the sheet before the sugar coating or they'll fall apart in your hands
03 -
  • Use a microplane for the finest, most aromatic zest that incorporates seamlessly into the dough
  • If your kitchen is particularly warm, chill the baking sheet with the sliced dough on it for 10 minutes before popping it in the oven

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