Zesty Lemon Cookies Recipes

LEMON COOKIES FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• Cream sugar, butter, and lemon zest together in a large bowl using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Combine eggs, lemon juice, and vanilla extract in a cup; mix using a fork until combined. Beat into egg mixture slowly on low speed.
• Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Add to egg mixture slowly on low speed until just combined. Do not overbeat; dough will be sticky. Cover and chill dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes; it will still be sticky after chilling.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Form dough into balls using a cookie scoop or tablespoon and roll each in powdered sugar. Place onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Lightly smash each ball down using your hand.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the middle of each cookie is just barely set, 11 to 12 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack completely before storing in an airtight container.

ZESTY LEMON ICE CREAM COOKIE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Spoon the ice cream into a rimmed baking sheet and spread to 1/2-inch thickness. Freeze until firm, 2 to 3 hours. Use a 3-inch round cookie cutter to cut the ice cream into 12 rounds, reshaping the ice cream "sheet" as needed. Keep frozen.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch and salt in a large bowl; set aside.
• Beat the butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer at high speed until creamy. Add the egg, and beat until the yellow disappears. Beat in the lemon zest, juice and extract.
• Add the flour mixture in 2 batches and beat until combined. Roll the dough into twenty-four 2-inch balls. Roll the balls in coarse sugar, if using, and place on the prepared pans. Use the bottom of a glass to press down the dough balls.
• Bake until the cookies are set and lightly golden on the bottoms, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.
• To assemble the sandwiches, spread 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon curd on the flat sides of 12 cookies. Sandwich an ice cream round between 2 cookies (one lemon curd-coated and one uncoated). Roll the edges in the sprinkles. Wrap and freeze the ice cream sandwiches until ready to serve.