Description
Delightful lemon cooler cookies bring zesty sunshine to classic dessert moments. Powdered sugar dusting and bright citrus notes create a perfect treat you’ll savor with pure joy.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter
- 1 large egg yolk
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3/4 teaspoon lemonade Kool-Aid powder
Coating and Stabilizing Ingredients:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Infuse granulated sugar with vibrant lemon zest using an electric mixer, releasing aromatic citrus oils and creating a fragrant base for the cookies.
- Incorporate softened butter into the zesty sugar mixture, blending until creamy and smooth. Gently fold in the egg yolk, ensuring a uniform, silky texture.
- Gradually introduce flour and cornstarch to the wet ingredients, mixing at high speed until the dough develops a crumbly consistency. Drizzle lemon juice and blend on low speed to bind the mixture into a cohesive dough.
- Utilize a cookie scoop to portion the dough, dividing each scoop into symmetrical spheres. Gently roll each portion between palms to create uniform, smooth balls.
- Arrange dough balls on prepared baking sheets, spacing them slightly apart. Delicately flatten each ball using the bottom of a glass, creating uniform thickness. Encase the sheets in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes to enhance flavor development and prevent spreading.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or apply a light coating of baking spray to prevent sticking.
- Transfer chilled baking sheet directly from refrigerator to oven. Bake cookies for 9-12 minutes, watching for subtle golden edges as an indicator of perfect doneness.
- Prepare a coating by whisking powdered sugar with lemonade Kool-Aid powder until thoroughly combined. While cookies are still warm, generously roll each one in the sugary mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
- Allow cookies to cool momentarily on the tray. Once slightly cooled, perform a second coating of the powdered sugar mixture for enhanced flavor and appearance. Serve and enjoy the bright, zesty treats.
Notes
- Zesting Technique: Roll the lemon on the counter before zesting to release more oils and enhance the citrusy flavor.
- Butter Temperature: Use room temperature butter for smoother mixing and better cookie texture.
- Chilling Importance: Refrigerating the dough prevents cookies from spreading too much and creates a more compact, tender result.
- Coating Trick: Sift the powdered sugar and Kool-Aid mixture for a more even, smooth coating that sticks better to the warm cookies.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend to make these cookies suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Storage Tip: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain their delicate texture and lemony flavor.
- Flavor Variation: Experiment with different Kool-Aid flavors or citrus zests to create unique cookie variations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 157
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 85 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 17 mg