Description
Meyer Lemon Meltaways are delicate, buttery cookies infused with the bright, sweet flavor of Meyer lemons. Coated in powdered sugar, these soft lemon cookies offer a perfect balance of citrusy zest and melt-in-your-mouth texture, making them a delightful dessert or teatime treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons Meyer lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh Meyer lemon juice
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Coating
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar for coating
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cookie texture.
- Add flavorings: Mix in the vanilla extract, Meyer lemon zest, and Meyer lemon juice until well combined for a fresh citrus flavor.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt to evenly distribute the salt throughout the dough.
- Form dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms that holds together but is not too sticky.
- Shape cookies: Scoop or roll the dough into small 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Gently flatten each ball slightly using the bottom of a glass or your fingers to help them bake evenly.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are just set and the bottoms are lightly golden, indicating they are cooked through but still tender.
- Cool and coat: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. While still warm, gently roll each cookie in powdered sugar to coat them thoroughly.
- Final cooling: Transfer the coated cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. For a thicker powdered sugar coating, roll the cookies in powdered sugar again once fully cooled.
Notes
- Meyer lemons have a sweeter, less acidic flavor compared to regular lemons, but if unavailable, regular lemons can be used as a substitute.
- For an extra burst of lemon flavor, consider adding more Meyer lemon zest to the dough.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness and dust with additional powdered sugar before serving for a prettier presentation.
