Description
Lemon Curd Cookies are soft, buttery treats with a delightful tart lemon curd center. These cookies combine a rich, tender sugar cookie base with a bright citrus filling, making them perfect for tea time or any special occasion. Baked to golden perfection and filled while warm, they deliver a burst of lemon flavor in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookie Dough
- 1 Cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 Cup granulated white sugar
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 Cups all-purpose flour
- 2 Egg yolks
- Pinch of salt
For the Filling
- 3/4 Cup lemon curd
Instructions
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour and a pinch of salt. Set aside for later use.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, add unsalted butter and granulated sugar. Using a mixer on high speed, beat the mixture for about 3-4 minutes until it becomes light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cookie.
- Add Egg Yolks and Vanilla: Add the two egg yolks and vanilla extract to the butter and sugar mixture. Continue mixing on high for about one minute until fully incorporated.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the flour and salt mixture to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined, forming a soft dough.
- Chill the Dough: Shape the dough into a ball, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for about one hour. This step firms up the dough, making it easier to shape.
- Shape Cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Roll the chilled dough into approximately 36 small balls and place them evenly spaced on the tray. Use your thumb to press an indentation in the center of each ball carefully to hold the lemon curd filling.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for about 12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and transfer them to a cooling rack.
- Fill with Lemon Curd: While the cookies are still warm, spoon about a teaspoon of lemon curd into the thumbprint indentations in each cookie.
- Cool and Set: Allow the cookies to cool completely at room temperature, letting the lemon curd set inside the centers.
- Store Properly: Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container, layering sheets of parchment paper between to prevent sticking. Keep refrigerated for up to four days to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is softened but not melted for easy creaming.
- Do not overfill the cookie centers to prevent lemon curd spilling during baking.
- For a stronger lemon flavor, you can zest a lemon and add it to the dough.
- These cookies freeze well; freeze in an airtight container for up to one month.
- Bring frozen cookies to room temperature before serving for best texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Lemon Curd Cookies, thumbprint cookies, lemon cookies, buttery cookies, lemon dessert, tea cookies
