Description
Delight in these zesty lemon-filled cookies featuring a soft, buttery exterior with a tangy lemon cream filling. Perfect for spring or any citrus lover, these sandwich-style cookies combine fresh lemon zest and juice for a refreshing twist on a classic treat.
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Lemon Filling:
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, creating the base of your cookie dough.
- Add Egg and Lemon: Beat in the egg, lemon zest, and fresh lemon juice until fully incorporated, giving the dough a bright citrus flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to distribute the leavening and seasoning evenly.
- Form Dough: Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms, ensuring the right consistency for shaping.
- Shape Cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll each into a ball. Place them onto the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart, then gently flatten each ball with the bottom of a glass or your palm to help them bake evenly.
- Bake Cookies: Bake for 10–12 minutes or until the edges start turning golden, indicating doneness. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on the baking pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Lemon Filling: While the cookies cool, beat together softened butter, powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest until the mixture is smooth and creamy, creating a tangy filling.
- Assemble Sandwich Cookies: Once the cookies are fully cooled, spread or pipe a small amount of lemon filling onto the flat side of half the cookies. Top with the remaining cookies to form sandwich-style lemon-filled cookies.
- Optional Finishing Touch: Dust the assembled cookies with powdered sugar for an elegant and sweet finish.
Notes
- For an extra burst of lemon flavor, add a few drops of lemon extract to either the dough or the lemon filling.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh for up to 4 days.
