ITALIAN SOFT LEMON COOKIES

Indulge in the sweetness of these soft lemon cookies, a quick and easy treat perfect for any occasion.

Made from pantry products and infused with the fresh flavor of lemon, these cookies are irresistibly soft, crumbly and topped with powdered sugar for a delicious finish.

The characteristic cracks that form during baking allow the sugar to seep in, creating a melt-in-your-mouth texture that is simply unforgettable.

Perfect with tea, coffee or as a light dessert, these lemon cookies are sure to brighten your day.

Why you will love this recipe

• Quick and easy: Perfect for busy days or last-minute treats.
• Simple ingredients: Made with pantry staples and fresh lemon.
• Fresh, bright flavor: Lemon and powdered sugar create a balanced sweetness that is hard to resist.

Makes about 10-15 cookies

• Preparation Time: 15 minutes
• Baking Time: 20 minutes
• Cooling Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: Approximately 40 minutes.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
•  zest and juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
•  1/2 teaspoon baking powder
•  1 egg yolk
• powdered sugar to taste (for dusting)

METHOD:

Step 1: Prepare the dough

• In a bowl, combine the granulated sugar and vegetable oil. Stir until well combined.
• Add the lemon juice and grated lemon zest, stirring to blend the flavors.
• In a separate bowl, combine the whole-wheat flour and baking powder. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, starting with a fork.

Step 2: Incorporate the egg yolk.

• Add the egg yolk to the dough.
• Using your hands, knead the dough until smooth and firm.

Step 3: Form the cookies

• Form uniformly sized balls of dough by gently rolling them between the palms of your hands.
• Flatten each dough ball slightly with your hand or the back of a spoon.

Step 4: Prepare the cookies for baking

• Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with baking paper, leaving space between each one.
• Dust the tops of the cookies generously with powdered sugar.

Step 5: Baking

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Bake the cookies for about 20 minutes, or until lightly browned and cracks form on the surface.

Step 6: Cool and serve

• Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
• Serve the cookies with milk, coffee or tea and enjoy their delicious softness and vibrant lemon flavor.

Tips for perfect lemon cookies.

1. Remove the zest before extracting the juice : Zest the lemon before extracting the juice to avoid the difficulty of grating a soft lemon.
2. Uniform cookies: Use a cookie scoop or measure the dough to ensure uniformly sized cookies that bake evenly.
3. Extra lemon flavor: For extra lemon flavor, add a pinch of lemon extract to the dough.
4. Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Notes:

1. Low Calorie Treat: These cookies are light and perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth.
2. Customization: Use a sugar substitute to lower the sugar content or swap vegetable oil for coconut oil for a unique flavor.
3. Serving Size: Nutritional values are based on 12 cookies. Adjust accordingly if making more or fewer cookies.