Description
Delightful Lemon Thumbprint Cookies promise a zesty twist on classic shortbread with their sunny citrus centers. Buttery, crumbly base meets tangy lemon curd, creating an irresistible treat sure to brighten dessert tables and spark sweet conversations.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
Egg Ingredients:
- 2 large egg yolks
- 2 large eggs
Flavor and Finishing Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the lemon curd by whisking eggs, sugar, and lemon juice in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens and reaches a custard-like consistency.
- Remove the curd from heat, incorporate butter and lemon zest until smooth, then transfer to a bowl and refrigerate after covering with plastic wrap directly on the surface.
- Heat the oven to 350F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until achieving a light, fluffy texture, then blend in egg yolks and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Gradually integrate flour and salt into the mixture, forming a soft, pliable dough.
- Shape the dough into uniform 1-inch balls, positioning them evenly on prepared baking sheets with sufficient spacing.
- Create a gentle depression in the center of each dough ball using your thumb or the back of a small spoon.
- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, watching for a delicate golden edge; if indentations collapse during baking, carefully reshape them with a spoon while still warm.
- Allow cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet, ensuring they maintain their structural integrity.
- Once cooled, carefully fill each indentation with a precise dollop of chilled lemon curd, smoothing the surface if necessary.
- Finish by lightly dusting the cookies with powdered sugar for an elegant, refined presentation.
Notes
- Experiment with different citrus zests like orange or lime to create unique flavor variations that will surprise your taste buds.
- Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth mixing and a consistent, tender cookie texture that melts in your mouth.
- For a gluten-free version, swap traditional flour with almond or gluten-free flour blend, maintaining the delicate lemon essence of the cookie.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before shaping to prevent spreading and create perfectly round, picture-perfect thumbprint cookies with crisp edges.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 186
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 35mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 33mg