Zesty Lemon Cookies Food

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.

LEMON CRINKLE COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
• Beat 1 cup of the granulated sugar and the butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed, about 2 minutes.
• Add the egg and beat until incorporated. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice and food coloring if using and beat until incorporated. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture, beating until just combined. Cover the bowl and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Put the confectioners' sugar in a small bowl and the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar in another small bowl. Using a 1-tablespoon scoop, portion the dough and roll into balls. Toss each ball in the granulated sugar, then in the confectioners' sugar, coating it generously and thoroughly. Arrange the balls about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets (you should have 24 balls). Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• Position the oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Bake until the cookies spread, the tops crack and the edges are firm, 14 to 16 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

ZESTY ICED LEMON COOKIES

Steps:

• In large bowl, combine butter, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup powdered sugar; beat well. Add egg, oil and lemon peel; mix well.
• Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. Add flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt to sugar mixture; beat until well blended. Cover dough with plastic wrap; refrigerate 2 hours for easier handling.
• Heat oven to 325. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten cookies into 2-inch rounds with bottom of glass dipped in sugar.
• Bake at 325 for 9 to 11 minutes or until edges begin to set and cookies are light golden brown. Cool 2 minutes. Remove from cookie sheets; place on wire racks. Cool 10 minutes or until completely cooled.
• Meanwhile, in small bowl, blend 2 cups powdered sugar and enough lemon juice for desired spreading consistency. Spread frosting on cooled cookies. Sprinkle pistachios on frosting before it sets.