Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Lemon Sunshine Cookies


Do you remember when I said that "sunshine in a bowl" was going to be the theme for me until the snow melts?  I wasn't kidding.  In fact, I've expanded my theme to include sunshine in a glass, sunshine on a plate, and sunshine in a jar.  As long as that sunshine ends up in my belly, I'm happy.

These butter cookies definitely fit the theme, plus they are a breeze to make with ingredients many folks are likely to have on hand.  Make them when you're craving shortbread with a little twist.  Mr. Magpie and I have been dipping them in our tea and coffee all week.

Lemon Sunshine Cookies

Yield: Approximately 30 cookies

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • Grated zest of one lemon
  • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2 1/2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
  • Powdered sugar for dusting
METHOD
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a large bowl with an electric mixer or in a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
  3. Beat in the egg.
  4. Add lemon zest and lemon juice.
  5. Gradually mix in the flour until well incorporated.
  6. Roll dough into one-inch balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  7. Using the back of a fork, mark the cookies in a crosshatch pattern.
  8. Bake for fifteen minutes (I turn them once midway through the baking time) until the bottoms are just beginning to turn golden brown.
  9. Transfer to a cooling rack and dust with powdered sugar (I use a small sieve to do this).
  10. Optional: I love really lemony cookies, so I sometimes sprinkle a little more lemon juice over the top before step 11.
  11. Allow to cool, then, if you like, dust with powdered sugar one more time.
  12. Store in a cookie tin or other airtight container.
These really couldn't be faster to make, and you can freeze them as well, so you'll always have some around for tea time!

P.S. I wouldn't be opposed to dipping one half of each cookie in dark chocolate.  Just sayin'. 


20 comments:

  1. Thanking you muchly . .. love lemon cookies . . and baking . .. you may just see these again . . .

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  2. Wow, these really do sound easy and delicious ... thanks!

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    1. Just about as easy as it gets, Susan, and very yummy!

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  3. Love the photo too - that looks good enough to eat! :)

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  4. Yumm! I'm off to make them right now! Thank you Gigi, you may see these on my blog soon (with a link to your recipe of course :))

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    1. Enjoy, Barb! They're so simple, yet really satisfying to make. I'm imagining lots of variations, including a glazed one. Let me know if you do any variations!

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  5. These look delicious! I love sunshine (lemon) in about anything. Thanks for the recipe.

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    1. Lemon is one of my all-time favorite flavors, Marilyn. Lime's up there, too. Maybe I'll make these as lime cookies sometime!

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  6. I made your Sunshine cookies and took them to a tea event. Everyone loved them. Thanks!

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    1. I'm so glad, Marilyn! Thanks for letting me know. :) xo

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  7. What beautiful photos you have here at your weblog!

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  8. Okay, seriously how did I miss this shot? Everybody is chatting about it at The Studio... I think I will have to try your recipe while I am capturing my stacked shot. Terrific capture, I love the natural texture of the entire image.

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    1. Thanks very much for visiting, Lisa! I hope you like the cookies. :) And thanks for your kind words about my photo. I won't tell you how many cookies I ate while I was setting up that shoot!

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  9. Hi Gigi, I'm visiting by way of Barb and Keeping Up With the Times. So happy she sent me to your blog! Thank you for sharing the recipe. I'll try this one to give as little Easter treats to my family. And I love the simplicity of your "stacked" photo - sometimes cookies need center stage!

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    1. I think these would make perfect Easter treats, Donna! I hope you like them. I'm so glad you stopped by. And I agree, sometimes cookies are really all a photo needs. ;)

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