Lemon Meltaway Cookies

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These lemon meltaway cookies are a flavorful twist to a traditional wedding cookie. Bursting with lemon flavor they are perfect with tea or coffee.

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Lemon meltaway cookies are bursting with lemon flavor. Perfect for summer.Lemon is such a popular flavor. Chances are you know more than a few people who like lemon treats. These lemon meltaway cookies are very similar to wedding cookies, sometimes called snowballs, Russian tea cakes or Mexican wedding cookies.

Lemon meltaway cookies truly melt in your mouth. They are a delicate cookie bursting with lemon flavor. This recipe uses fresh lemon zest and lemon juice. If you’re not familiar with zesting lemons check out my tips below.

While you could substitute lemon extract, using fresh juice and zest really elevates the flavor of these cookies. If you do choose to substitute extract, start with a little at a time, maybe one  teaspoon and add more if you feel it needs it.

Lemon meltaway cookies are bursting with lemon flavor. Perfect for summer.

Tips for zesting lemons and other citrus fruits

  • Zest only the outer peel. The white, or pith, under the peel is bitter and will alter the flavor of your cookies.
  • Use a tool for zesting, not a regular cheese grater. You can see my favorite zester in the recipe card below.
  • When zesting with a rasp, or zesting tool, hold the tool top down so all the zest collects on the bottom. Then, using your finger or mini spatula, scrape into the bowl. It’s a less messy method, I promise.
  • Zest first, juice second.

Lemon Meltaway Cookies

Lemony goodness in these delicious cookies.
4.80 from 5 votes
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time39 minutes
Chilling Time1 hour
Total Time2 hours 9 minutes
Course: Desserts and Sweets
Cuisine: American
Servings: 3 1/2 dozen

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter softened
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar divided
  • 1 tablespoon loosely packed lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
  • Beat butter at medium speed with a stand mixer until creamy. Add 1/2 cup powdered sugar and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Stir in zest and juice. Whisk together flour and next 2 ingredients. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Cover and chill 1 hour.
  • Using a 1-inch cookie scoop, drop dough by spoonfuls 2 inches apart onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
  • Bake, in batches, at 350F for 13 minutes or until lightly browned around edges. Cool on baking sheets 5 minutes.
  • Toss together warm cookies and remaining 1 cup powdered sugar in small bowl. Transfer to wire racks, and cool completely (about 15 minutes).
Lemon meltaway cookies truly melt in your mouth. A delicate and lemony cookie perfect with tea. #FarmersMarketWeek

Thanks Ellen from Family Around the Table and Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures for hosting our Farmer’s Market Event!

Wednesday Farmer’s Market Week Recipes

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10 Comments

  1. I just made a small test batch in preparation for a wedding cookie table this weekend. The test batch aren’t the prettiest, but boy are they delicious! And they DO melt in your mouth. I am concerned about how to keep these for the wedding, though as there’s a heat wave coming through this weekend. Any recommendations would be great!

    1. Hi Martine, So glad you enjoy the cookies! Will they be outside? My suggestions would be to toss them in powdered sugar just prior to serving, which I know could be difficult and a bit messy but an extra layer would probably be good. Another suggestion to keep them cool would be to chill the platter you will be serving them on. If you can, make them at the last minute or at least the last cookie you make. I hope that helps and enjoy the wedding!

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