Lemon Sandwich Cookies W Lemon Cream Cheese Filling Recipes

LEMON SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• Food Processor Method Process the lemon zest with the sugar and salt until the zest is very fine. Cut the butter into several pieces and add it with the motor running. Process until smooth and creamy, Add the egg and vanilla and process until incorporated, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the flour and pulse in just until incorporated. The mixture will hold together if pinched.
• Electric Mixer Method For the best texture use superfine granulated sugar. Soften the butter and chop the lemon zest until very fine. In a mixing bowl cream together the sugar and butter until fluffy. Add the lemon zest, egg, and vanilla extract and beat until blended. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. On low speed, gradually add it to the butter mixture and mix until incorporated and the dough just begins to come away from the sides of the bowl.
• For Both Methods Scrape the mixture onto a large sheet of plastic wrap and use the wrap to press down on the dough, kneading it until it is smooth. Divide the dough into four pieces, wrap each one with plastic wrap, and press to form flat discs. Refrigerate for 2 hours up to 2 days placed in a zip-seal bag, to firm and give the dough a chance to absorb the moisture evenly to make rolling easier.
• Place 2 oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator and set it on a lightly floured surface. Lightly flour the dough and cover it with plastic wrap. (I like to use Wondra® flour for dusting.) Allow the dough to soften for about 10 minutes or until supple enough to roll. Roll the dough to 1/8 inch thick, moving it from time to time and adding more flour if necessary to keep it from sticking.
• Cut out 2-1/4 inch cookies. preferably using a scalloped cutter. Use a 3/4 inch round cutter or pastry tube to cut out the centers of half of them. (If using a plastic cutter, or parchment-lined cookied sheet, it's best to do this after placing the cookies on the cookie sheet.) Set the cookies, about 1/2 inch apart, on the cookie sheets. Knead together the scraps and reroll them, chilling them first if necessary.
• Bake the cookies for 8 to 12 minutes or just until they begin to brown lightly. For even baking, rotate the cookie sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through baking.
• Use a small offset spatula or pancake turner to transfer the cookies to cooling racks. When cool, spread the bottom sides of the cookie halves without the cutouts with 1 teaspoon of lemon buttercream or your favorite jam or jelly, and set the second set of cookies with the cutouts on top, bottom side down to create the sandwiches.
• Lemon Neoclassic Buttercream Makes: 1 cup/about 8 ounces 2 large egg yolks 1/4 cup superfine sugar 2 tablespoons light corn syrup 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened-65 to 75°F 1 tablespoon lemon zest, finely chopped, loosely packed 2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• In a medium bowl, with a handheld mixer, beat the yolks on high speed until light in color.
• Have ready a 1-cup heatproof glass measure, coated lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a small saucepan, preferably nonstick, using a silicone spatula, stir together the sugar and corn syrup until all the sugar is moistened. Heat over medium-high, stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves and the syrup begins to bubble around the edges. Stop stirring completely and continue cooking for a few minutes until the syrup comes to a rolling boil. (The entire surface will be covered with large bubbles.) Immediately transfer the syrup to the glass measure to stop the cooking.
• Beat the syrup into the yolks in a steady stream. Don't allow the syrup to fall on the beaters or they will spin it onto the sides of the bowl. Continue beating on high speed for 5 minutes. Allow it to cool completely. To speed cooling, place the buttercream in an ice water bath or the refrigerator, stirring occasionally. When the outside of the bowl feels cool, on high speed, beat in the butter by the tablespoon. The buttercream will not thicken until almost all of the butter has been added. On low speed, add the lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla. Raise the speed to high and beat until smooth and creamy. It may separate at first but come together on beating.
• Place the buttercream in an airtight bowl. Use it at once or set it aside for up to 4 hours. If keeping it longer than 4 hours, refrigerate it. Bring it to room temperature and rebeat to restore the texture.

LEMON SANDWICH COOKIES (W/ LEMON CREAM CHEESE FILLING)

Steps:

• To make cookies, preheat oven to 350°F
• In a large bowl using an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter, icing sugar, lemon zest, and salt until combined.
• With mixer on low, add flour (dough will be stiff); finish mixing with a wooden spoon.
• Turn dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap; pat into a disk about 1/2 inch (1 cm) thick.
• Wrap and chill until firm, about 1 hour (and up to 3 days).
• Unwrap dough; place on a lightly floured piece of parchment or waxed paper.
• With a lightly floured rolling pin, roll dough about 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick. (If dough cracks, let it warm up slightly).
• Cut out cookies with a 1 1/2 inch (4 cm) round cutter.
• (Re-roll scraps once, chilling if too soft).
• Place 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart on two baking sheets; sprinkle with granulated sugar.
• Bake until barely beginning to brown, 15-20 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool.
• For the filling, in a small bowl, mix cream cheese and zest until smooth.
• Gradually add 1 cup of icing sugar, mixing until smooth.
• Mix in remaining sugar as necessary to create a firm but spreadable filling.
• To form the sandwiches, place about 1 teaspoon filling between two cookies, sugared sides facing out; squeeze gently.

LEMON SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl using an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter, confectioners' sugar, lemon zest, and salt until combined. With mixer on low, add flour (dough will still be stiff); finish mixing with a wooden spoon.
• Turn dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap, pat into a disk about 1/2 inch thick. Wrap, and chill until firm, about 1 hour (and up to 3 days).
• Unwrap dough; place on a lightly floured piece of parchment or waxed paper. With a lightly floured rolling pin, roll dough about 1/8 inch thick (if dough cracks, let it warm up slightly).
• Cut out cookies with a 1 1/2-inch round cutter (reroll scraps once, chilling of too soft). Place 1 inch apart on two baking sheets; sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake until barely beginning to brown, 15 to 20 minutes; transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
• Form sandwiches: Place about 1 teaspoon Creamy Lemon Filling between two cookies, sugared sides facing out; squeeze gently.

LEMON-CREAM SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• For filling:
• Using back of spoon, mash lemon peel and salt to paste in medium bowl. Add butter. Using electric mixer, beat until fluffy. Add sugar in 4 batches, beating after each addition until blended.
• For cookies:
• Boil lemon juice and lemon peel in small saucepan until mixture is reduced to 2 tablespoons, about 4 minutes. Pour into small bowl and cool. Sift flour, salt, and baking soda into medium bowl.
• Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add sugar; beat until blended. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then beat in yolks. Beat in lemon juice mixture. Add dry ingredients and stir to blend well. Cover dough and chill until firm, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll out 1/3 of dough on lightly floured surface to scant 3/8-inch thickness. Using 2-inch round cutter, cut out cookies. Transfer cookies to prepared baking sheets. Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until golden at edges, about 12 minutes. Let cookies cool 5 minutes. Transfer to racks and cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Spread 2 teaspoons filling on flat side of 1 cookie. Top with another cookie, flat side down. Repeat to make more sandwich cookies. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight in refrigerator.

LEMON-CREAM SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• Filling:.
• Using the back of a spoon mash lemon zest and salt to a paste in a medium bowl.
• Add butter. Using an electric mixer, beat until fluffy.
• Add powdered sugar in 4 batches, beating after each addition until well blended.
• Cookies:.
• Boil lemon juice and lemon zest in small pan until the mixture is reduced to two tablespoons, this takes about four minutes, watch it closely.
• Pour into a small bowl and let cool.
• Sift flour, salt, and baking soda into a small bowl.
• Using an electric mixer beat butter in a large bowl until fluffy.
• Add sugar, beat until well blended.
• Beat in two whole eggs, one at a time, then beat in two egg yolks.
• Beat in lemon juice mixture.
• Add in dry ingredients and stir until well blended but do not overstir!
• Cover dough and chill until very firm, at least four hours and up to one day.
• Preheat oven to 375°F Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to scant 3/8 inch thickness.
• Using 2 inch round cookie cutter, cut out cookies.
• Transfer cookies to baking sheets and bake one pan at a time for best results.
• Bake for 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
• Transfer to racks and cool completely, repeat with remaining dough.
• Spread 2 tablespoons of filling on the flat side of one cookie. Top with another cookie.
• Repeat process to make your sandwich cookies.
• Can be made 2 days ahead.
• Store airtight in the refrigerator.