Lemon Shortbread Cookies Recipe

Rating 5.0
| 1
These lemon shortbread cookies are festive enough for the holidays! These golden shortbread cookies are loaded with pure lemon flavor from an abundance of lemon zest and are frosted with a citrusy lemon glaze.
Utensils Dessert
Globe New American
10
ingredients
13
steps
85
minutes
Chef Christina has held many accomplished titles in her culinary career, including some at Michelin-star establishments. Prior to cooking, she stole the spotlight on stage in famous musicals, and now her spotlight shines bright behind a simmering stove. Sharing her passion for the culinary arts with eager students, Chef Christina loves teaching her techniques from Italian to French cuisine and more.

Ingredients

Servings:
12
For the Lemon Shortbread Cookies
4 oz
unsalted butter, room temperature
2 oz
confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup(s)
grated lemon zest , from 4 to 5 lemons
1/4 tsp
kosher or flaky salt
6 oz
whole wheat pastry flour
For the Lemon Glaze
1 tblsp
freshly-squeezed lemon juice
1 tblsp
pasteurized egg white, see notes
1/2 cup(s)
confectioners' sugar
a few drops
lemon extract, optional
yellow food coloring

Directions 13 steps | 85 Minutes

Step 1

Allow all cold ingredients to come to room temperature.  Line two cookie sheets or shallow sheet pans with parchment paper. Measure and prep all ingredients. 

Step 3747 Shot
Step 2

In a large bowl with a hand mixer or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until it lightens in color.

Step 3748 Shot
Step 3

With the mixer off, add confectioners' sugar, then gradually work up to medium speed and beat until smooth, about 1-2 minutes.

Step 3749 Shot
Step 4

Beat in salt and lemon zest. Scrape the bowl and beater often.

Step 3750 Shot
Step 5

With the mixer on low speed, mix in the flour a large spoonful at a time. Stop and scrape the beater, sides and bottom of the bowl often. Mix until the flour is incorporated and dough just comes together as a cohesive mass.

Step 3751 Shot
Step 6

Shape the dough into a 5-inch disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, or until the dough is cool but still pliable.

Step 3752 Shot
Step 7

Sprinkle a large, clean surface lightly with confectioners’ sugar. With a rolling pin, roll dough to a little less than a ¼-inch thickness, about 2 centimeters. Roll from the center of the dough and up, then from the center and down one time each before making a quarter-turn with the dough and repeating. Add more confectioners’ sugar as necessary to prevent the dough from sticking.

Step 3753 Shot
Step 8

Cut out 2-inch cookies, dipping your cookie cutter into confectioners’ sugar before each one to allow for easy transfer to the pan. Alternatively, you can also cut out 2-inch square cookies using a knife sprinkled with flour or confectioner’s sugar. Gather the dough into a ball and re-roll it as necessary, being sure to maintain the same thickness for every cookie. Chill the cut-out dough on the pan in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, or the freezer for 15 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F while the dough is chilling.

Step 3755 Shot
Step 9

Bake cookies for 9-11 minutes, until the bottoms are lightly browned. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack and cool completely before glazing.

Step 3756 Shot
Step 10

While cookies bake, make the glaze. In a small bowl, combine lemon juice and egg white, then whisk in confectioners’ sugar.

Step 3757 Shot
Step 11

Add lemon extract and enough yellow food coloring to achieve your desired color, if using. Set glaze aside.

Step 3758 Shot
Step 12

Whisk the glaze to loosen it up and dip the tops or one half of each cookie into the glaze, then return to the rack to allow the glaze to set. The glaze can also be drizzled over the tops of the cookies or piped on using a quick zig-zag motion.

Step 3760 Shot
Step 13

Let the glaze set completely before enjoying.

Step 3761 Shot

Notes:

  • Store lightly covered at room temperature. Baked, unglazed cookies, or unbaked dough, can be sealed and frozen for one to two months.
  • For a glaze that does not require the pasteurized egg white, whisk ¾ cup of sifted confectioners' sugar into two tablespoons of freshly-squeezed lemon juice. The pasteurized egg white simply gives the set glaze slightly more shine.

Nutrition Per Serving
View All
CALORIES
154
FAT
8 g
PROTEIN
1.6 g
CARBS
20.7 g

FOOD FOR THOUGHT?

Leave a review or join the conversation.

1 Comments
1 Comments
Please Log In to leave a comment
Sarah D.

Sarah

12 Sep 2022

These pair beautifully with my afternoon tea!

Reply to this comment