Lemon Tea Cookies!

by Diane 

I have been going a little crazy with lemon these days. I've been throwing in the zest and juice wherever I can. I find myself craving the tart bite it can add to savory and sweet dishes. So, when I found a recipe for a simple lemon cookie, you know I was allllll over it!

Lemon Tea Cookies
adapted from Lemon Crinkle Cookie by Lauren Brennan 

Makes 2 dozen 

 Ingredients: 

• ½ cups butter, softened 
• 1 cup granulated sugar 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 1 whole egg 
• zest of a whole lemon (2-3" diameter)
• juice of a whole lemon (2-3" diameter)
•  ¼ teaspoon salt
•  ¼ teaspoon baking powder 
• ⅛ teaspoons baking soda 
• 1-½ cup all-purpose flour 
•  ¼ cup powdered sugar 

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease light colored baking sheets with non-stick cooking spray and set aside. 
2. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. 
4. Whisk in vanilla, egg, lemon zest, and juice. Scrape sides and mix again. 
5. Stir in all flour-salt mixture 1/3 part until just combined. Scrape sides of bowl and mix again briefly. 
6. Chill dough for at least 30 minutes. (Cook's note: the dough will still be a bit sticky.)
7. Pour powdered sugar onto a large plate. Roll a heaping teaspoon of dough into a ball and roll in powdered sugar. (Cook's note: the powdered sugar will act like flour does with bread/pastry doughs.)
8. Place on baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough. 
9. Bake for 8-9 minutes or until the cookies look matte, with only a bit of shine.
10. Remove from oven and cool cookies about 3 minutes before transferring to cooling rack. *If using a non-stick darker baking tray, reduce baking time by about 2 minutes.

These recipe is an unusual one. It's one where along the way, you're sure you've botched it. The mixture (which is almost batter-like) will seem like it's curdled and you'll think the dough is way too sticky, but trust me...you're on the right track. You will be so excited when they come out and you get your first (or second, or third) bite of lemon-y goodness!