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 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!
How Do You Make Lemon Meltaways?
Like I said before, this is a slice 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!
Absolutely! Here are some ideas:
- Use another form of citrus like orange, or lime!
- Leave out the citrus entirely and add a Vanilla Bean!
- Finely chop up some dried cranberries and add those into the dough!
- Mini Chocolate Chips! About 1/2 cup will be great!
- Add 1/2 cup shredded coconut and a little coconut extract into the icing!
Looking For More Slice and Bake Cookie Recipes? Try These:
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Lemon Meltaways
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes + chill time
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Dessert
Description
These tender lemon cookies melt in your mouth!
Ingredients
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
- 1 – 2 teaspoons lemon zest
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- Add in the flour and mix until just combined.
- 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.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 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.
- Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- 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
What if I don’t have a stand alone mixer?
You can use a hand held electric mixer as well.
These are DELICIOUS! I found that they started to brown too much on the bottom if I put them on the center rack in the oven but were perfect when I put them on the top rack for the 9-10 mins. I also let them sit a minute or so on the baking sheet when I pulled them out, it helped them not crumble when transferring to the cooling rack. Thanks for a great recipe!!
My husband loves lemon so I made these for him and he loved them. I rolled the dough, wrapped in plastic, refrigerated overnight, and sliced them cold. But my cookies spread A LOT.
Could it be… I live in another country in a high-altitude area (~8,000 ft)? My oven is propane gas heated? I mixed the butter and sugar too long? The all purpose flour here seems to be finer (other dough recipes I’ve tried come out too sticky)? I used a non-stick silicone baking mat instead of parchment paper?
I would love your input because the flavor of these cookies is outstanding and I want to perfect them for my hubby.
Hi, Raquel–
I don’t live in a high-altitude area and mine spread out, too. 🙁 I followed the recipe exactly so I am not sure what happened either. They still tasted okay!
These were easy to make and really delicious! They actually do melt in your mouth!
Sorry, these did not work out for me. They came out mealy, and disintegrated completely. They fell apart into powder as I took them off the cooled cookie sheet. I don’t know why.
That’s very strange and I’m so sorry to hear that happened! They are certainly a tender cookie, but they absolutely shouldn’t fall apart! I have never had that experience, and without seeing the
Same
is it possible to ask for this recipe in grams? i found cups are not reliable and i hate using cups as measurements
Here is a chart I made to help! https://cookiesandcups.com/cups-grams-conversion-chart/
Just made my dough tonight…I put in fridge overnight without rolling them into logs.
Should I let sit out for tomorrow for about 30 mins and then roll into the logs? If so do they have to be refrigerated again before slicing?
I recommend rolling it into logs so they hold their shape and you bake them cold. If you do it that way they might spread a little bit, which is fine, just to be aware!
Have you tried these with gluten-free flour? My sister loves lemon cookies, but can’t have gluten. Thanks!
Do you actually mean to use that much cornstarch! 1:2 cup?
Yes, 1/2 cup!
delicious…love them.