Lemon Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Classic Shortbread Cookies made with lemon and thyme and granulated sugar for a crisp, buttery cookie! Add a little lemon frosting and sea salt to the cookie for a melt in your mouth dessert!
Servings: 16 Cookies
Calories: 454kcal
Ingredients
Lemon Shortbread Cookies
- 3 sticks unsalted butter must be room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
- 3 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
Lemon Frosting
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1/8 cup fresh lemon juice
Instructions
Instructions
- Using your fingers, rub the thyme and lemon zest in the sugar in a bowl, relaxing the oils from the thyme to fragrance the sugar. This process will infuse the sugar with the thyme scent and a little flavor.
- Using an electric mixer and the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until combined.
- Add the extracts, flour, and salt and slowly mix until they all come together.
- Flatten the dough into a 1” disk and refrigerate the shortbread dough for about 30 minutes until the dough is cold.
- Roll the dough about 1/2" thick on a lightly floured surface and use a 1 1/2" to 2" cookie cutter. I used a round cookie cutter for these.
- Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 10 - 15 minutes until slightly golden brown.
- Let them cool on a cooling rack for 10 minutes while you whip up the icing.
Lemon Frosting
- While the cookies bake, make the frosting! Beat the butter and powdered sugar on high.
- Add in the lemon juice and zest and beat until smooth.
- Set aside until the cookies are ready to frost.
- Add a tiny thyme spring on top!
Notes
The cookies are usually done baking once they turn a light golden brown. I like to take mine out a few seconds before this happens or when I see the edge of the cookie turn light brown.
You can also freeze the dough for up to 3 months. Just remember to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before you roll it out.
You can use any shape for the cutout cookies.
Add a dash of sea salt on the top for even more yumminess!
Make sure the butter is always room temperature and soft.
Nutrition
Calories: 454kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 141mg | Potassium: 40mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 896IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg