Name: Lemon Meltaway Cookies
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 39 min
Total time: 2 h 9 min
Yield: 3
Cuisine: American
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

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

Pin Lemon Meltaway Cookies to make later.

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.

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

Yield: 3 ½ dozen

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Chilling Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 39 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 9 minutes

Lemony goodness in these delicious cookies.

Ingredients

¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 ½ cups powdered sugar, divided
1 tablespoon loosely packed lemon zest
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 ½ cups flour
¼ cup cornstarch
¼ 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 ½ 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).