I think of all the new cookies I tried recently, these are my favorite. It’s really hard to go wrong with a nice creamy shortbread cookie and this one has a hint of lemon at the very end. It will definitely lift your spirits, whether you’re at home, at work, or avoiding 11 pipers piping!
Lemon Shortbread Cookies
- 1/2 cup butter (softened)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- zest of 1 lemon
- juice of ½ of the zested lemon
- 1 ½ cups flour
- pinch salt
In a small bowl, sift together the flour and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl/ stand mixer bowl, mix together the butter, sugar, and zest. Add lemon juice.
Lower speed and slowly add the flour mixture a little at a time. Once the dough starts to come together, move to a flat surface and knead into a compact ball. If the dough is too wet or sticky, slowly add small amounts (like a tablespoon or so) of flour until the dough is smooth and a good consistency for rolling. If the dough is too crumbly, do the same using butter.
If you want to roll and cut your cookies, shape the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. If you just want to slice and bake, shape your dough into a log, wrap in plastic, refrigerate for 2 hours, slice, and then bake.
Pre-heat oven to 350F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.
On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness and cut out cookies. Place cookies on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and refrigerate for about 15 minutes.
Bake cookies for approximately 12 minutes or until the edges just start to brown. Let cool completely, if possible, before you start eating them. If you want to go extra crazy, you can top with a glaze made with powdered sugar, lemon juice, and cream, but personally I think this (or any) shortbread is quite delightful all on its own! And by “on its own,” I mean paired with coffee, like perhaps an espresso. Lavazza Leggero espresso pairs particularly well.
And yes, there are double shots of espresso in each cup and I can neither confirm nor deny if I drank all three of them…fa la la la la!
In case you missed them:
12 Cookies of Christmas, Day 1 Salty Scotches
12 Cookies of Christmas, Day 2 Holiday Mint Chocolate Kisses
12 Cookies of Christmas, Day 3 ANZAC Bikkies
12 Cookies of Christmas, Day 4 Iced Oatmeal Cookies
12 Cookies of Christmas, Day 5 Jammy Dodgers
12 Cookies of Christmas, Day 6 Holiday Pinwheels
12 Cookies of Christmas, Day 7 Cranberry Orange Cookies
12 Cookies of Christmas, Day 8 Salted Mocha Cookies
12 Cookies of Christmas, Day 9 Sour Cream Cookies
12 Cookies of Christmas, Day 10 Addy’s Cookies
this recipe was originally adapted from An Italian in my Kitchen.
The Epicurious Texan 
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