Summertime Lemon Cookies
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- Zest of 1 lemon (about 1 teaspoon fine zest)
- Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1 large egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon lemon extract
- For coating warm cookies:
- ½ cups powdered sugar
- 5 or 6 (0.8g) packages True Lemon crystals (see note below)
- True Lemon is crystalized lemon with no sugar. Be careful not to confuse it with the lemonade mix. Its usually found near the artificial sweeteners.
- In a medium bowl combine the flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter, granulated sugar, and ¼ cup of powdered sugar on medium-high until fluffy and light, about 3 minutes.
- Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, egg yolk and lemon extract.
- Beat until combined.
- Add ⅓ of the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture and blend on low until incorporated.
- Repeat in two more additions, blending just until the flour is incorporated.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl and blend for just a few seconds as needed.
- Scrape down the sides again and gather the dough into a ball in the bottom of the mixing bowl.
- Cover and refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours.
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Prepare 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place two-inches apart on the parchment lined baking sheet.
- Lightly flatten each dough ball using the bottom of a small flat drinking glass covered with a piece of wax paper (wrap the bottom of the glass with some waxed paper).
- In a small pie plate or low rimmed bowl, combine the 1 ½ cups of powdered sugar and the lemon crystals.
- Mix well and set aside.
- Bake the cookies for 12 to 14 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.
- Remove from the oven and immediately toss a few hot cookies in the powdered sugar mixture, face down, to coat.
- After a few seconds turn the sugar coated cookies over using a fork.
- Once completely covered with lemon sugar on both sides, remove with a fork onto a cooling rack and repeat until all hot cookies are well covered.
- Work quickly to ensure the cookies don’t cool before covering in sugar.
- Repeat with remaining cookie dough. Don’t let the dough sit on a hot pan for long before baking.
- Allow all the cookies to cool for about an hour, then toss again in the powdered sugar.
- Store in an airtight container.