Lemon Meltaways - An Easy Lemon Cookie Recipe! (2024)

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Shelly 18 Comments

★★★★4 from 7 reviews

Lemon Meltaways are a soft, buttery, shortbread-style, slice and bake cookie recipe. They are topped with a creamy icing and literally melt in your mouth! The best lemon cookies ever!

Lemon Meltaways - An Easy Lemon Cookie Recipe! (1)

Table of Contents

  • Lemon Meltaways Are An Easy Slice and Bake Cookie Recipe!
  • Here Are Some Of My Favorite Lemon Cookies:
  • How Do You Make Lemon Meltaways?
  • Can You Make These Lemon Cookies Another Flavor?
  • Get the Recipe

Lemon Meltaways Are An Easy Slice and Bake Cookie Recipe!

Lemon Cookies are one of those cookie recipes that I try not to make a lot because I am the only one in my house who eats them!! You see I LOVE lemon cookies, and I can’t be trusted if they’re in the house…and that paired with the fact that no one else will eat them is a recipe for a quick 5 pound weight gain!

Here Are Some Of My Favorite Lemon Cookies:

  • Cream Cheese Lemon Cookies
  • Lemonhead Cookies
  • Lemon Thumbprint Cookies
Lemon Meltaways - An Easy Lemon Cookie Recipe! (2)

How Do You Make Lemon Meltaways?

Like I said before, this is aslice and bake cookie recipe,which is great because not only are slice and bakes easy, but they can be made ahead and baked whenever you’re ready, which makes this recipe great for holiday cookie baking when you are baking a lot in a short period of time!

You can prep with cookie dough the night before and bake them up when you’re ready!

Why Does This Cookie Dough Use Powdered Sugar?

Powdered Sugar in this dough adds to the melty, soft texture. Using powdered (or confectioners) sugar is essential in this recipe to achieve the texture!

Can You Freeze These Lemon Cookies?

Yep! These cookies freeze beautifully. I prefer to freeze then before icing them, as the icing can get sticky as it thaws.

You can even make the dough, wrap it up and freeze the dough in the log shape for later. When you’re ready to bake, allow the cookies to thaw slightly, enough that you can slice them. Then bake them as stated in the recipe!

Lemon Meltaways - An Easy Lemon Cookie Recipe! (3)

Can You Make These Lemon Cookies Another Flavor?

Absolutely! Here are some ideas:

  • Use another form of citrus likeorange, orlime!
  • Leave out the citrus entirely and add aVanilla Bean!
  • Finely chop up somedried cranberriesand add those into the dough!
  • Mini Chocolate Chips! About 1/2 cup will be great!
  • Add 1/2 cup shreddedcoconutand a little coconut extract into the icing!

Looking For More Slice and Bake Cookie Recipes? Try These:

  • Checkerboard Cookies
  • Refrigerator Sprinkle Cookies
  • Chocolate Shortbread
  • Salted Caramel Pinwheels

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    Lemon Meltaways - An Easy Lemon Cookie Recipe! (4)

    Lemon Meltaways

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 3.7 from 7 reviews

    • Author: Shelly
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 10 minutes + chill time
    • Yield: 24 cookies 1x
    • Category: Cookies
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: Dessert

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    Description

    These tender lemon cookies melt in your mouth!

    Ingredients

    Scale

    Cookies

    • 1 cup butter, room temperature
    • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
    • 1/2 cup cornstarch
    • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
    • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

    Icing

    • 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
    • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
    • 12 teaspoons lemon zest

    Instructions

    1. For the Cookies: In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment mix the butter and powdered sugar together on medium speed until smooth.
    2. Turn the mixer to low and add in the cornstarch, salt, vanilla, and lemon juice. Mix for 30 seconds until incorporated, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
    3. Add in the flour and mix until just combined.
    4. Divide the dough in half and roll each half into a log, 8-9 inches long. Wrap the logs separately in plastic wrap and chill for 2-3 hours.
    5. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    6. Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Slice the logs into 1/2- inch thick rounds. Place the cookies onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for 9-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
    7. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
    8. For the Icing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and zest until smooth. Spoon or pour the icing on top of each cookie. Allow the icing to set.

    Notes

    Store cookies airtight at room temperature for up to 5 days.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 cookie
    • Calories: 158
    • Sugar: 13 g
    • Sodium: 50.1 mg
    • Fat: 7.8 g
    • Carbohydrates: 21.5 g
    • Protein: 0.9 g
    • Cholesterol: 20.3 mg

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    Lemon Meltaways - An Easy Lemon Cookie Recipe! (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the secret to making cookies soft and chewy? ›

    Cornstarch gives the cookies that ultra soft consistency we all love. Plus, it helps keep the cookies beautifully thick. We use the same trick when making shortbread cookies. Egg yolk: Another way to promise a super chewy chocolate chip cookie is to use an extra egg yolk.

    What kind of cookie is a lemon up? ›

    Lemon Ups Vs Lemonades

    Many people think the cookies are very similar aside from the design. Lemonades have a lemon design imprinted on them, while Lemon-Ups are designed with inspiring messages. While they're both lemon cookies, the Lemonades are a shortbread, while the Lemon-Ups are described as crispy cookies.

    Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

    Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

    How do I make my cookies chewy instead of crunchy? ›

    Double Your Yolks Most cookie recipes call for at least one egg. You can try omitting the white of each egg, which tends to dry out when baked, and replacing it with an additional yolk. Plus, egg yolks have more fat than egg whites, which helps to keep your cookies moist and chewy.

    What are lemon cookies made of? ›

    Beat together sugar, butter, and lemon zest in a large bowl using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Whisk together eggs, lemon juice, and vanilla in a small bowl until combined. Beat into butter mixture slowly on low speed. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.

    What are the old lemon Girl Scout Cookies? ›

    Savannah Smiles was another popular variety of lemon cookies that Little Brownie Bakers produced. These cookies were lemony wedges coated with powdered sugar and were available from 2011 to 2019. The precursor to Savannah Smiles was the Lemon Coolers, a reduced-fat bite-sized cookie that lasted from 2003 to 2006.

    What's the difference between lemonade and lemon up cookies? ›

    Lemon-Ups taste fruitier than the Lemonades and smell like fresh-squeezed lemons. There's a lemon glaze on the cookie's bottom that really drives the flavor home, and also a sort of tanginess that you don't typically get with the average cookie.

    What is the secret ingredient to keep cookies soft? ›

    Use Corn Syrup

    Before you freak out! Corn syrup (and not the high fructose kind) is kind of a baking miracle. It's what's called an invert sugar, meaning it's liquid at room temperature.

    What is the trick to keep baked goods like cookies soft? ›

    It may sounds like a myth, but a slice of bread can help soft cookies retain their moisture. Add a slice of bread, along with your baked cookies, to an airtight container and store them at room temperature.

    What are 3 factors that contribute to a chewy cookie? ›

    The ingredients you use and how you shape your cookies both play an important role in whether your cookies turn out crispy or chewy. The type of flour and sugar you use, if your cookie dough contains eggs, and whether you use melted or softened butter all factor into the crispy-chewy equation, too.

    What determines the moistness of a cookie? ›

    Butter contributes milk solids and water to a cookie, both of which soften it. Brown sugar contributes molasses – again, a softener. Using lower-moisture sugar (granulated) and fat (vegetable shortening), plus a longer, slower bake than normal, produces light, crunchy cookies.

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