Lemon Meltaways Light Zesty Treats (Printable)

Tender buttery treats bursting with fresh lemon flavor, dusted in powdered sugar for a delicate finish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
03 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
04 - 1 tablespoon lemon zest
05 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
07 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
08 - 1/4 cup cornstarch

→ Coating

09 - 1 cup powdered sugar for dusting

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy using an electric mixer.
02 - Mix in fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated into the butter mixture.
03 - Add salt, flour, and cornstarch to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft, uniform dough forms.
04 - Divide dough in half and roll each half into 1-inch diameter logs. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes until firm.
05 - Preheat oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
06 - Unwrap chilled dough and slice into 1/4-inch rounds. Arrange cookies on prepared baking sheets, leaving 1 inch of space between each.
07 - Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are just barely golden. Remove from oven promptly.
08 - Let cookies cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes. While still warm, gently toss in powdered sugar to coat evenly.
09 - Transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool completely. Dust with additional powdered sugar before serving for extra zest.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The cornstarch secret creates the most impossibly tender texture that literally melts on your tongue
  • They're equally perfect with morning coffee or as an elegant light dessert after dinner
  • The dough keeps beautifully in the freezer, so you can bake fresh cookies on demand
02 -
  • Chilling the dough is not optional, warm dough spreads into flat cookies instead of holding their shape
  • The cookies will look underbaked when you pull them out, but they continue cooking on the hot baking sheet
  • Tossing them in sugar while still warm helps the coating stick better than when completely cooled
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are crucial for achieving that perfectly smooth, homogeneous dough
  • Invest in a microplane zester to get only the bright yellow zest without any bitter white pith

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