Italian Lemon Cookies
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
15 mins
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Chilling Time
1 hr 20 mins
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Total Time
1 hr 50 mins
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Servings
22 cookies
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Calories
131 kcal
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Course
Dessert, Baked Goods
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Cuisine
Italian
Italian Lemon Cookies
Description
These Italian Lemon Cookies combine all-purpose flour and cornstarch with lemon zest and juice to infuse the dough with a bright citrus flavor. Softened butter and powdered sugar are creamed together before incorporating the dry ingredients and more lemon juice, forming a slightly sticky dough. The dough is rolled into a log, chilled to firm up before slicing into thin rounds. After a second chill, the cookies bake first at 320°F briefly, then finish baking at 350°F until lightly golden.
The resulting cookies have a tender crumb with a gentle lemon scent and flavor. They are finished with a lemon glaze made from powdered sugar, lemon juice, and zest, which enhances brightness and sweetness. The balance of tender texture and fresh citrus lifts these cookies.
These cookies store well at room temperature or refrigerated depending on whether they are glazed, and the dough can be refrigerated or frozen for later baking. Chilling the dough before baking helps prevent spreading and achieves a better cookie shape.
Ingredients
LEMON COOKIES
- 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch 50 grams total, if you double or triple the recipe then double or triple this amount, 2 tablespoons
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest and juice (approx. 2 tablespoons juice and 0.5-1 tablespoon zest
- 1 pinch salt
- ¾ cup butter 185 grams total, if you double or triple the recipe then double or triple this amount, softened, 2 tablespoons
- ½ cup powdered sugar
*I use salted butter, if you use unsalted then increase the salt to 1/4 teaspoon. Be sure to use a good quality butter, apparently this year 2022, store brand butter quality is not what it used to be. Less fat could mean a dry not so tasty cookie.
LEMON GLAZE
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice fresh, strained
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 zest lemon
Instructions
LEMON COOKIES
- In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, cornstarch, zest and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat on medium speed the butter and sugar until fluffy, 3-5 minutes. Then add half the flour and the lemon juice beat to combine. Then add the remaining flour and with a wooden spoon or spatula combine to form a dough (the dough will be a little sticky, if the dough is too sticky then add 1-2 tablespoons of flour).
- Transfer the dough to a large piece of parchment paper and roll the dough into a log approximately 1 1/2 inches (4cm) wide. Wrap the dough in the parchment paper and refrigerate for one hour.
- Remove the dough from the fridge and cut into 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) slices. Place the slices on a large cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
- Pre-heat oven to 320F (160C).
- Bake the cookies for 5 minutes, then raise the oven temperature to 350F (180C) and continue to bake for 9-10 minutes. The should be light gold in colour. Remove from the oven and let the cookies sit on the cookie sheet for about 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely. The cookies can be either dusted with powdered sugar or spread with a lemon glaze. Enjoy!
LEMON GLAZE
- In a small bowl whisk together the lemon juice, powdered sugar and zest until smooth.
Notes
- Chilling the dough before baking helps prevent spreading and maintains cookie shape.
- Use flour with at least 11% protein to improve cookie texture and structure.
- Unfrosted cookies keep 5-6 days at room temperature; glazed cookies last 3-4 days refrigerated in a single layer.
- Refrigerated cookies last up to 7 days; freeze cookies or dough for up to 4 weeks.
- Dough stores 2-3 days in refrigerator and up to 2 months in freezer if well wrapped.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 22cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 131 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 131kcal | 7% |
| Carbohydrates | 18g | 6% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 17mg | 6% |
| Sodium | 58mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 18mg | 0% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 11g | 22% |
| Vitamin A | 193IU | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 3mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 4mg | 0% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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