Description
Delightful lemon zest cookie cups combine tangy citrus notes with sweet buttery bases. Creamy filling and zesty crumble create perfect balance, promising refreshing dessert experience you’ll savor to the last delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar (for cookie base)
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar (for lemon filling)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Heat oven to 350°F (175°C) and coat a standard 12-cup muffin tin with non-stick spray or cupcake liners.
- Create Cookie Base: Whip softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until fluffy, blending in vanilla extract for depth of flavor. Gently incorporate all-purpose flour and salt, mixing until a smooth dough develops.
- Form Cookie Shells: Evenly distribute dough across muffin cups, pressing and sculpting each portion into cup-like shapes with slightly elevated edges.
- Initial Baking: Bake cookie shells for 12-15 minutes until edges achieve a golden-brown hue, signaling a crisp foundation.
- Craft Lemon Filling: Whisk whole eggs, granulated sugar, fresh lemon juice, and lemon zest into a silky, vibrant mixture while cookie shells are baking.
- Fill and Finish Baking: Remove partially baked shells, carefully pour lemon filling three-quarters full into each cup. Return to oven and bake an additional 15-18 minutes until filling sets with a gentle wobble.
- Cool and Garnish: Allow cookie cups to cool completely at room temperature, then dust with a delicate layer of powdered sugar just before serving for an elegant touch.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Gently combine flour to maintain a tender, delicate cookie texture that melts in your mouth.
- Mold with Care: Press cookie dough carefully into muffin cups, creating thin, even walls to ensure a perfect cup-like shape for the lemon filling.
- Temperature Matters: Let cookies cool completely at room temperature to help the lemon filling set properly and develop a stable, creamy consistency.
- Zest Secret: Use fresh lemon zest for maximum flavor intensity, releasing aromatic oils that elevate the entire dessert’s brightness and appeal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 70 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg