Description
Lemon zest delight cookies bring Mediterranean sunshine to your kitchen with delicate, buttery perfection. Sweet-tart crumbles melt on your palate, whisking you to coastal Italian afternoons of pure culinary bliss.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups (360 grams) all-purpose flour
- 2 sticks (1 cup – 230 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups (300 grams) granulated sugar
Flavor Enhancers:
- 3 tablespoons lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 large egg
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup (50 grams) sugar, for rolling cookies
Instructions
- Whip softened butter, granulated sugar, and freshly grated lemon zest in a spacious mixing bowl using an electric mixer for approximately 12 minutes until the mixture transforms into a pale, airy, and voluminous consistency.
- Introduce lemon juice and egg into the creamed butter mixture, blending thoroughly until all ingredients are seamlessly integrated.
- Gently fold in all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt using a silicone spatula, ensuring complete incorporation without overworking the dough.
- Encase the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for 30-60 minutes, allowing it to slightly solidify and develop enhanced flavor complexity.
- Heat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Prepare a shallow dish with additional granulated sugar for coating. Line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
- Utilize a cookie scoop to form uniform dough balls, meticulously rolling each one in the reserved sugar and positioning them approximately 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 11-13 minutes, monitoring until cookie edges acquire a delicate golden hue while maintaining a soft, tender interior.
- Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to stabilize, then carefully transfer to a wire cooling rack for complete temperature reduction.
Notes
- Chill the dough for optimal texture, allowing flavors to meld and preventing cookies from spreading too thin during baking.
- Use fresh lemon zest and juice for a vibrant, bright citrus punch that elevates the cookie’s overall taste profile.
- Roll cookie dough balls in sugar before baking to create a delightful crispy exterior and sweet crunch.
- Avoid overmixing the dough to prevent tough, dense cookies; mix just until ingredients are combined.
- Bake until edges are lightly golden, keeping the center soft for a perfectly chewy texture that melts in your mouth.
- Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes to set before transferring, ensuring they maintain their shape and softness.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 155 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 75 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg