Lemon Doughnut Cookies

August 17, 2012


These are actually supposed to be "wreath" cookies, but I don't use that kind of language until after Thanksgiving.

I don't want to think of Thanksgiving either. Sorry.

Yes, it's still summer. Sometimes we just need to step outside and breath in August's brilliance.

Because she is brilliant. And she's tired of being viewed as back-to-school preparation month. (We had a little chat about it last night, after I had a bit too much Yellow Tail Shiraz.)


 For obvious reasons, I'm calling these doughnut cookies. They're lemony, and tender, and perfectly summer-y. And while they may stray over to the dry side of cookie-hood, it's nothing that can't be fixed with a cup of tea (iced, of course). 


Lemon Doughnut Cookies
yields about 4 dozen

for the cookies
2/3 cup sugar
Zest from about 2 lemons
1 cup (that's 2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons salt

for the glaze
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Sprinkles (optional)

method
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the sugar and lemon zest. Use your fingertips to rub the zest into the sugar until it's moist and fragrant. Add the butter and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy (about 3-5 minutes). Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat on low speed just until the flour has been incorporated. [Note: If the cookie dough feels too sticky and soft to roll, cover the bowl stick it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.]
For each cookie, measure out about 1 Tablespoon of dough. Roll the dough into a log (about 4-inches long), bring the ends together and pinch to seal. Place the cookies on prepared sheets, leaving about 2-inches of space between each one.
Bake for 13-18 minutes, or until light golden brown. Remove the sheets from the oven and allow the cookies to rest for about 3 minutes before carefully transferring them to a cooling rack.
Cool the cookies completely before glazing.

Prepare the glaze: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar and lemon juice until smooth. If the glaze looks too thick, add just a splash more lemon juice. [The glaze should be in the thin side. If it's "spreadable," it's too thick.] Use your hand to grip the cookies, and dip them into the glaze until coated on one side. Transfer the glazed cookies to a sheet of wax or parchment paper and sprinkle immediately with decorations (if using). Let the glaze harden for about 1 hour before serving.

Adapted from Martha Stewart

16 comments:

  1. I'm happy just to think about August, too. What perfect little cookies, even (especially) if we don't want to think about Thanksgiving or Christmas for a long time.

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  2. Oh dear Valerie, those cookies are so beautiful! I am with you: I don't want to think about Christmas until day after Thanksgiving, despite of commercial attempt to remind me of it in August. I want to enjoy sun, flowers, and some of those cute cookies...:)

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  3. These are such cute cookies, Valerie! I just love them, please pass the platter and the iced tea :). And I'm with you, it's most certainly still summer!

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  4. So cute and delicious looking! I'm not yet in the mood for Xmas. I'll only be when December starts... ;-P

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  5. these are just so cute and perfect with some iced tea!

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  6. These are so undoughnut-like with their sunny disposition and pretty dressing of sprinkles.

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  7. These doughnut cookies are so adorable.

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  8. Your blog is really nice.. delicious this dougnuts!!! see you soon
    vale

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  9. These could very well be the perfect cookie! They are so cute and I'm sure delicious. I love anything lemon too, so I'll surely be trying these!

    I've really been loving your blog, Valerie. I love the way you write. Your wittiness makes me laugh! : )

    Danielle xo

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  10. These lemon doughnut cookies look so yummy!

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  11. Ooooh just look at that lemon glaze! Wish I had some for breakfast tomorrow!

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  12. Doughnut cookies - what a fabulous name! Let's not talk about Christmas yet, you made me nervous there with that passing "wreath" mention.

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  13. a little bit in love with the glaze, i always gravitate towards the donuts with glaze on them.

    it's gotten significantly cooler around these parts... i'd want to sit on the deck & share this with you... you with your tea iced, me with my tea warm. :)

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  14. So cute! Makes me want to bite my screen! Seriously!!!

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  15. I love visiting you because I always have a good laugh! And the donut cookies look amazing!

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Thanks for visiting, and for taking the time to read through my ramblings!
If you have a recipe comment or question, I'd love to hear from you.

Happy Baking!
♥ Valerie

 

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