Description
Sweet lemon cardamom cookies blend Mediterranean and Scandinavian baking traditions with delicate spice and citrus notes. Nordic-inspired treats provide elegant simplicity that delights home bakers seeking sophisticated flavor combinations.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup (113g or 4 oz) plant-based (or regular) butter, softened
- 1 cup (130g or 4.6 oz) unbleached all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup (40g or 1.4 oz) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp lemon extract
- Zest from 1 large lemon (or 2 small lemons)
- 1 pinch of salt
- ½ cup (60g or 2.1 oz) powdered sugar (for topping)
- Lemon zest (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 325°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for uniform baking.
- Mixing Base: Cream butter and powdered sugar in a medium bowl until smooth and light, blending extracts, cardamom, and lemon zest thoroughly into the mixture.
- Dough Formation: Gently fold flour into the aromatic blend, mixing until a cohesive, soft dough develops without overmixing.
- Shaping Cookies: Roll the dough into uniform tablespoon-sized balls, creating smooth, perfectly round spheres with gentle palm pressure.
- Initial Baking: Arrange cookie dough balls evenly on the prepared sheet, then bake for 8-10 minutes until edges turn delicately golden.
- Sugar Coating: After removing from the oven, allow cookies to rest for 4 minutes, then carefully roll each warm cookie in powdered sugar for complete coverage.
- Finishing Touches: Transfer sugar-coated cookies to a cooling rack, optionally dust with additional powdered sugar, and sprinkle with fresh lemon zest for enhanced aroma.
- Storage: Once completely cooled, preserve cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain their delicate texture and flavor.
Notes
- Handle Cookie Dough Gently: Work with soft, not melted butter and mix ingredients minimally to prevent tough, dense cookies.
- Watch Baking Time Carefully: Cookies should have barely golden edges; overcooking leads to dry, crumbly texture.
- Powdered Sugar Coating Technique: Roll warm cookies immediately in sugar for best adhesion and a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth finish.
- Storage Wisdom: Keep cookies in a single layer to preserve their delicate texture and prevent moisture buildup.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 133
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg