Description
Zesty lemon thumbprint cookies blend buttery shortbread with tangy citrus filling, creating a delightful sweet-tart sensation. Elegant yet simple, these cookies offer a perfect balance of crisp texture and bright flavor that will charm dessert enthusiasts.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup lemon curd
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine softened butter and sugar in a mixing bowl, whipping until the mixture becomes airy and pale.
- Incorporate vanilla extract and salt, blending thoroughly into the creamed mixture.
- Gently fold flour into the butter mixture until a smooth, consistent dough forms.
- Shape the dough into compact, uniform spheres approximately 1 inch in diameter.
- Arrange cookie spheres on the prepared baking sheet, maintaining even spacing.
- Create a delicate indentation in the center of each dough ball using your thumb or the back of a spoon.
- Carefully spoon a small portion of lemon curd into the center well of each cookie.
- Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, watching for edges to turn a light golden hue.
- Remove from oven and allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to stabilize.
- Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack, permitting them to reach complete room temperature.
Notes
- Use room temperature butter for smoother, easier creaming that creates a fluffier cookie texture.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before shaping to prevent spreading and maintain the thumbprint shape.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with almond or gluten-free flour blend, ensuring a similar tender crumb.
- Experiment with different citrus curds like lime or blood orange for unique flavor variations that add excitement to the classic recipe.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 112
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 28 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 18 mg