Description
Classic Italian lemon drop cookies bring zesty sunshine to your dessert table. Sweet, tangy treats delight with simple ingredients and nostalgic Mediterranean charm. Bakers will savor these delightful morsels.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 large eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 2 tsp lemon extract
- 1/4 cup butter (melted)
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 3 tbsps heavy cream
- 1 tsp lemon extract
- yellow food coloring (as required for desired shade)
- lemon zest from 1/2 lemon (for garnish)
Instructions
- Combine oil, sugar, milk, eggs, and lemon extract in a mixer bowl. Blend ingredients thoroughly until well incorporated.
- Sift flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, creating a soft and slightly sticky dough.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Use a cookie scoop to drop uniform dough portions onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them evenly.
- Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
- Prepare icing by whisking melted butter, confectioners’ sugar, heavy cream, and lemon extract until smooth. Add yellow food coloring to achieve desired shade.
- Once cookies are completely cooled, generously spread icing over each cookie surface using a spatula or back of a spoon.
- Allow icing to set and harden at room temperature. For storage, arrange cookies in an airtight container with wax paper between layers to prevent sticking. Cookies can be frozen before icing for extended preservation.
Notes
- Soften sticky dough by chilling in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before scooping, which helps maintain cookie shape and prevents spreading during baking.
- Prevent dry cookies by carefully measuring flour and avoiding overmixing, ensuring a tender, soft texture that melts in your mouth.
- Customize flavor intensity by adjusting lemon extract amount, allowing you to create a subtle or bold citrus profile based on personal preference.
- Explore dairy-free alternatives by substituting milk with almond or oat milk, and using vegan butter for the icing to accommodate different dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 75 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg