Tender Lemon Shortbread Cookies
These tender lemon shortbread cookies offer a melt-in-your-mouth texture paired with bright lemon zest and a buttery crumb, perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
- Zest of 2 medium lemons
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
- 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour, sifted
- 2 tablespoons (16 grams) cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Soften the butter to room temperature (about 20 minutes out of the fridge). Zest two lemons finely, avoiding the white pith. Squeeze out 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice. Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, use a stand mixer or hand mixer to beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes until pale and fluffy.
- Mix in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until evenly combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the sifted all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture on low speed. Mix just until the dough comes together, avoiding overmixing.
- Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
- After chilling, roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch (6 mm) thickness. Use cookie cutters or slice into rectangles or rounds with a knife. Transfer cookies to the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the edges just start to turn a light golden color. The cookies should still feel soft when gently touched.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Use softened butter at room temperature for best creaming results. Avoid overmixing after adding flour to prevent tough cookies. Chilling the dough is essential to prevent spreading and achieve tender texture. Watch oven temperature closely to avoid over-browning. If dough is sticky after chilling, dust hands or rolling surface with flour.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 6
- Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Protein: 1
Keywords: lemon shortbread cookies, lemon cookies, shortbread, melt-in-your-mouth cookies, easy lemon cookies, homemade cookies, buttery cookies