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Limoncello Cookies with Candied Lemons

5.00 Mitt(s) 1 Rating(s)1 vote, average: 5.00 out of 51 vote, average: 5.00 out of 51 vote, average: 5.00 out of 51 vote, average: 5.00 out of 51 vote, average: 5.00 out of 5

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Level: Intermediate

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Description

A shortbread base with a limoncello frosting and topped with a candied lemon, these Limoncello Cookies are the perfect heavenly holiday cookie.

Ingredients

  • FOR THE CANDIED LEMONS:
  • 3 whole Lemons
  • 2 cups Granulated Sugar
  • 2 cups Water
  • FOR THE COOKIES:
  • ¼ teaspoons Sea Salt
  • 1-¼ cup All-purpose Flour
  • ½ cups Unsalted Butter, At Room Temperature
  • ½ cups Granulated Sugar
  • 1 whole Egg, At Room Temperature
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract Or Vanilla Paste
  • ½ Tablespoons Grated Lemon Zest
  • FOR THE ICING:
  • 1-½ cup Confectioners Sugar
  • 5 Tablespoons Limoncello
  • 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
  • Optional Garnish: Sugar Pearls, For Sprinkling On The Cookies

Preparation

For the Candied Lemon Wheels:
Using a mandolin or a very sharp knife, slice the lemons into 1/8 inch slices and remove any seeds. Bring the sugar and water to a boil in a saucepan. Once boiling and the sugar is dissolved, reduce the heat to low, add lemon slices, and simmer for 30 minutes. Carefully remove the lemons wheels and place on a cooling rack or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Allow to cool completely before using. Unused wheels can be stored in an air-tight container for 1 month in the refrigerator. Best if made the day before using.

For the cookies:
1. In a medium bowl, combine salt and flour. Set aside.
2. Using a stand or hand mixer on a medium-high setting, cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg and mix until combined.
3. Next, add vanilla and lemon zest to the batter and mix to combine.
4. With the mixer on a medium-low setting, slowly add the flour/salt combo. Mix until the flour just starts to incorporate. Which simply means don’t over mix or you’ll get a tough cookie.
5. Pour the dough onto a large sheet of plastic wrap and tightly cover it. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
6. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Once the dough is ready, divide it in half and return one half to the refrigerator. On a floured surface, roll the dough to 1/3 inch thick (just somewhere in between 1/4″ and 1/2″). With a 2 inch diameter round cookie cutter, cut dough into rounds and place on a large baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes until the edges start to golden. Repeat with the remaining dough.
7. Once baked, transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely before icing.
8. For the icing: In a medium bowl, combine the confectioner’s sugar, Limoncello, and lemon juice. Stir until fluid but thick.
9. Dip cookies into the icing, allowing some of the icing to drain off. Place on a plate, parchment paper, or cooling rack.
10. Decorate the cookies by placing a candied lemon wheel and a few sugar pearls on top of the cookie. Repeat with the remaining cookies. Allow the icing to set for at least 10 to 30 minutes.

Chefs Note:
For a “no-fuss” simple version of the Limoncello cookie, follow mixing instructions but instead of rolling out the dough to make perfect round cookies, roll the dough into 2″ by 12″ logs, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. When ready to bake, remove the wrap and with a knife simply slice the dough into 1/3″ thick cookies. Bake according to directions. Cool. And when it comes time to decorate after the icing is applied simply use a cluster of yellow sugar pearls, or a pinch of grated lemon zest, or yellow sprinkles, or just decorate however you wish.

2 Comments

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Clabbergirl on 12.15.2011

How beautiful!

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soufflebombay on 12.15.2011

Now these are interesting!!! I totally have to try these they re aa nice departure from the same old holiday cookies! Thanks!!!

One Review

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MAChancellor on 3.1.2012

Absolutely scrumptious! For the icing there is too much liquid as the icing is very runny, try 4 teaspoons of limoncello.

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