I first made these a few years ago and really liked them. Last week I made them for a get together and they were well received again. I like them the way the are-with their sugary, crispy exterior and lemony, chewy middle-but I bet you could vary them by not rolling them in sugar and drizzling on a lemony powdered sugar glaze instead.
This recipe comes from Cook's Illustrated and was included in their cookbook The Best Light Recipe.
Lemon Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
3/4 | cup unbleached all-purpose flour (3 3/4 ounces) |
1/2 | cup plain cake flour (2 ounces) |
1/2 | teaspoon baking powder |
1/4 | teaspoon table salt |
5 | tablespoons unsalted butter , softened |
1 1/3 | cups granulated sugar ( 9 1/3 ounces), divided |
1 | large egg , lightly beaten |
3 | teaspoons grated lemon zest , divided |
1 | tablespoon vanilla extract |
Instructions
1. Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Whisk the flours, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl; set aside. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and 1 cup of the sugar together at medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Add the egg, 2 teaspoons lemon zest, and vanilla and continue to beat at low speed until just combined, 30 to 60 seconds, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add the flour mixture and continue to beat at low speed until just combined, 30 to 60 seconds, scraping down the bowl as needed.
3. Process the remaining 1/3 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest in a food processor until fragrant, about 10 seconds. Place the lemon sugar in a shallow bowl. Working with a level tablespoon of dough each time, roll the dough into 1-inch balls. (If the dough is too soft to roll, refrigerate it until firm.) Carefully roll the balls in the sugar and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 1/2 inches apart (you will fit 12 cookies on each baking sheet).
4. Bake the cookies, one tray at a time, until the edges are light golden and the centers are just set, 9 to 11 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through baking (do not overbake). Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then serve warm, or transfer to a wrire rack and cool completely. Bake the second tray while the first tray cools.
Hi Megan! This is Emily from the crafting group. These cookies were highly delicious. I had to hold myself back from eating more. Lemon is never a bad idea. It was really lovely to meet you and I'm excited for more crafting! Take care.
ReplyDeleteSounds like I'm missing out on some fun, a crafting group AND delicious lemon cookies? You lucky ladies.... I love Cooks Illustrated too, in fact, I have the Light recipes cookbook sitting right here, I guess I'll have to try these now.
ReplyDeleteI have to try these-I love lemon in about anything.
ReplyDeleteThese sound so good I'm drooling just thinking about them!
ReplyDeleteYum these look so good. I think I might have to make these with my daughter today. We love lemon. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThese look fantastic! I think I'll be baking them very, very soon. Thanks for sharing!
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