Description
Melt-in-your-mouth holiday magic with a tender, crumbly cookie and a silky lemon-cream center, dusted with powdered sugar.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp lemon zest (from about 1–2 lemons)
- 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp (28.5 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1½ cups (180 g) powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp lemon zest
- Pinch of salt
- Additional powdered sugar for rolling/coating (about ½ cup or as needed)
Instructions
- Prepare the filling: Beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt; mix until silky. Cover and chill for 30 minutes.
- Make the cookie dough: Cream softened butter and powdered sugar until light and airy. Mix in vanilla extract and lemon zest. Gradually add flour and salt, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Assemble balls: Flatten a tablespoon of dough, place about ½ teaspoon of chilled lemon filling in the center, fold the dough around it, and roll into a smooth ball.
- Bake: Place on a lined baking sheet and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 12–14 minutes until edges are set but centers are pale.
- Cool & coat: Let cool for 5 minutes before rolling in powdered sugar. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely and roll again in powdered sugar.
Notes
Chill the filling before shaping cookies. Use a cookie scoop for uniform sizes to ensure even baking. Store cookies in an airtight container for freshness.
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 178
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 30mg