For those of who know of Paradise Bakery I must share my ongoing obsession with Lemon Zester cookies with you! They are the most amazing lemon-y (I know it's not a word!) and delicious sugar cookies ever!! This past weekend when at the mall we stopped to enjoy a cookie (or two ;))
and i got to thinking...I should learn to make them myself. So I went home and did some research and...I found the recipe! They turned out AMAZING and lemon-y! YUM!
~I put the recipe below for those of you who want to try~
*Here's a good idea too~The recipe makes about 3 dozen cookies so I didn't cook all of the dough and pre-made the balls of dough, stuck them in a bag and put them in the freezer. Now whenever we (I mean I) get a craving for one you just defrost and cook!
Recipe~
Zest of SIX lemons
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups shortening
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 (3 oz.) package lemon Jello
20 drops of yellow food dye
1 large egg, beaten
4 1/3 cups cake flour (*important*)
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Plain or colored sugar, for decorating
Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
In a food processor, mix the zest of 6 lemons with the 1 cup of granulated sugar. Mix until the sugar is yellow and the zest is finely chopped.
In a medium bowl, cream together the lemon sugar, powdered sugar and shortening using an electric mixer. Mix on slow speed 30 seconds, then scrape down the bowl with a spatula. Increase speed to medium and mix for 3 minutes. Slowly add vanilla, jello (dry), food dye, and beaten egg while mixing.
In a separate bowl, combine cake flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, mixing on slow speed until just blended. Do not overmix.
Scoop with an ice cream scoop and roll in sugar. Place on baking sheet. Flatten slightly with palm of hand.
Bake 9 to 10 minutes. Cookies are done when small cracks appear and are pale golden. Ideally, do not let edges brown.
Makes about 3 dozen cookies
