Description
Scrumptious lemon cookies with lemon cream bring zesty sunshine to your dessert table. Rich Italian-style pastry combines tangy citrus notes with delicate sweet undertones that will delight you.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ⅔ cups (337g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (206g) granulated sugar
- 8 oz (226g or 16 tbsps) unsalted butter (softened)
- 3 oz (86g) cream cheese (softened)
- 2 lemons (finely grated zest)
- 1 large egg yolk (room temperature)
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅛ tsp salt
- ½ cup (4 oz or 113g) unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 ⅔ cups (190g) powdered sugar (plus more for dusting)
- 1 lemon (finely grated zest)
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F, positioning the rack in the center for even heat distribution.
- Create precise piping guides by drawing 1½-inch circles on parchment paper, spacing them 1 inch apart. Flip the paper to ensure the marked side faces down on baking sheets.
- Pulse lemon zest with half the granulated sugar in a food processor until the mixture turns a soft, pale yellow and becomes thoroughly integrated.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, lemon-sugar blend, remaining sugar, egg yolk, lemon juice, salt, and vanilla. Whip at medium-high speed until the mixture becomes light and airy, about 3-4 minutes, scraping the bowl’s sides periodically.
- Gradually fold flour into the creamed mixture in three increments, ensuring thorough incorporation without overmixing.
- Fill a large pastry bag fitted with an open decorator tip with the cookie dough. If the mixture seems too firm, gently warm the bag by holding it briefly under warm water or placing it in a warm area.
- Pipe uniform 1½-inch rounds onto the prepared parchment paper, using the pre-drawn circles as precise placement guides.
- Carefully transfer the baking sheets to the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the cookie edges turn delicately golden.
- Remove from the oven and allow cookies to cool completely on the baking sheets before attempting to move or assemble them.
Notes
- Bring cream cheese and butter to room temperature before mixing to ensure smooth, lump-free incorporation and better texture.
- Gently rub lemon zest with sugar to release essential oils, intensifying the citrus flavor throughout the cookie dough.
- If the dough feels too stiff, briefly warm the pastry bag with your hands or place near a warm surface to make piping easier and more consistent.
- Substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend, adding 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum to help maintain cookie structure and prevent crumbling.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 152
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg