Delicious Lemon Meltaways Treats (Printable)

Tender, buttery cookies bursting with fresh lemon flavor that melt in your mouth. Perfect for teatime or light dessert.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1/2 cup powdered sugar
03 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
04 - 1 tablespoon lemon zest
05 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
07 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
08 - 1/4 cup cornstarch

→ Coating

09 - 1 cup powdered sugar for dusting

# Step-by-step:

01 - Beat softened butter and powdered sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
02 - Mix in fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until thoroughly incorporated.
03 - Add salt, flour, and cornstarch, mixing just until soft dough forms and no dry streaks remain.
04 - Divide dough in half and roll each into 1-inch diameter logs. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes until firm.
05 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
06 - Unwrap dough and slice into 1/4-inch rounds. Arrange on prepared sheets with 1-inch spacing.
07 - Bake 10-12 minutes until edges are barely golden.
08 - Cool 5 minutes on baking sheets, then gently toss warm cookies in powdered sugar until evenly coated.
09 - Transfer to wire rack and cool completely. Dust with additional powdered sugar before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The texture is impossibly light, practically dissolving on your tongue
  • Fresh lemon makes these feel fancy without any complicated techniques
  • They come together faster than you can decide which tea to pair them with
02 -
  • The dough must chill thoroughly or the cookies will spread into flat puddles instead of holding their shape
  • Slicing with a sharp knife in a gentle sawing motion keeps the round edges intact
  • Wait until the cookies are slightly warm, not piping hot, before coating them in sugar
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are non-negotiable here—cold butter creates lumpy dough that never bakes up quite right
  • Cornstarch is not optional, it is what gives these cookies their signature short, tender crumb

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