Mennonite Girls Can Cook is a collection of recipes which were posted daily for a period of ten years from 2008 to 2018. We have over 3,000 delicious recipes that we invite you to try. The recipes can be accessed in our recipe file by category or you can use the search engine.

Recipe Search

Lemon Cookies


I  love anything made with lemon. I went looking through my recipes and decided on these lemon cookies that taste a little like shortbread with a burst of lemon zest. They are pretty and delicious, perfect to serve with a cup of coffee.
  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup icing sugar
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon coconut extract (or almond)
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • Lemon curd, or your favorite jam
  1. Using your mixer, beat butter and sugars till fluffy.
  2. Add egg, lemon zest and juice, and coconut extract. Beat until combined.
  3. Stir in flour and baking powder.
  4. Cover and chill dough in fridge for 45 minutes.
  5. Shape dough into balls and place on parchment lined baking sheets. Make an indent in each cookie and fill with lemon curd or jam.
  6. Bake in a 350º oven for 17 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
  7. Cool on rack, sprinkle with icing sugar and serve.
  8. Yield: 30 cookies 
from the kitchen of
recipe file

23 comments:

  1. Jeanine - The Baking BeautiesJuly 16, 2011 at 4:42 AM

    I saw lemon and thought, this must be Betty's recipe! :) They look like they are filled with lemon yumminess!

    ReplyDelete
  2. NormaJuly 16, 2011 at 6:08 AM

    A lemon recipe, gotta try it....Jack would love it....actually we both would!!
    Sis, thanks again for posting another yummy recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  3. TrishJuly 16, 2011 at 7:41 AM

    oh this looks like a Betty recipe for sure! I really needed an idea for cookies this week and this will do perfectly. Thanks Betty.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AlisonJuly 16, 2011 at 8:42 AM

    Mmmmm lemmmmmmmmmmon...save some for me! I promise to come visit! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  5. HellenJuly 16, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    I too love anything Lemon...with coconut and almond being a close second. These sound heavenly!! Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  6. SewconsultJuly 16, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    I am drooling after looking at those cookies. I love lemon, too. One that I will definitely be baking.
    Beckie

    ReplyDelete
  7. HeidiJuly 16, 2011 at 12:49 PM

    Is there another name used for lemon curd? (Is it the same as lemon spread? I needed it for another recipe I made a while ago, and I couldn't find it at my local grocery store. I ended up trying to make it, which was a lot of work, and it didn't turn out well.

    ReplyDelete
  8. BettyJuly 16, 2011 at 1:02 PM

    Heidi..I'm sure you could use lemon spread or cooked lemon pie filling, not the instant variety.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Diana LaMarreJuly 16, 2011 at 1:55 PM

    Betty,
    How is it that I always know your recipes before I read the author's name? LOL. I love lemon, too.

    I have to say, though, that I have not baked a real cookie for months. I bought some of that cookie dough in a pail from the school kids, but that's it.

    Shame on me!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Katy ~July 16, 2011 at 4:20 PM

    I'm with you, LOVE lemon. I could not make these though. I would have to eat them until I had a belly ache, methinks.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousJuly 16, 2011 at 5:12 PM

    By "icing sugar" do you mean powdered sugar?

    ReplyDelete
  12. BettyJuly 16, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    Anonymous..yes icing sugar is powdered sugar.

    ReplyDelete
  13. TrishJuly 16, 2011 at 5:21 PM

    Oh Betty...my house smelled wonderful today...your lemon cookies and Judy's meat buns in the oven....I love them both immensely! happy happy friends and neighbours as I pack them up into little bags to distribute tonight...AND...woohooo...the sun just came out so it is alllll lemony good!

    ReplyDelete
  14. VeeJuly 17, 2011 at 5:14 AM

    Presumably one could fill the indent with any flavor jam? I do love lemon cookies and have never seen any that look this delicious. Snag!

    ReplyDelete
  15. SachaJuly 17, 2011 at 6:48 AM

    Hello
    Thank you for this delicious recipe to which I literally cracked (I absolutely love the lemon curd)
    I'll just adapt the measures but the recipe is this little hassle largemet
    Thank you for sharing this delicious
    good day
    A + Sacha

    ReplyDelete
  16. NancyJuly 17, 2011 at 7:47 AM

    Heard about your book after passing the beautiful display of aprons with your cookbook in the Wordsworth storefront in Kitchener. Yesterday I made your lemon cookies which turned out beautifully. I made a few adaptations as I was short a few ingredients --I used rose water instead of the coconut extract and blueberry jam for the centers. Will make again for sure with the lemon curd as no doubt that is lovely as well. Great website!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Barbara F.July 17, 2011 at 9:34 AM

    Just discovered your blog through Pat at Mille Fiori Favoriti. These cookies look divine. I love lemon desserts. I will have to spend some time catching up with your posts. xo,

    ReplyDelete
  18. KathieJuly 17, 2011 at 3:29 PM

    I love lemon too - I'm definitely trying this recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  19. LorrieJuly 17, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    Betty, do you purchase lemon curd or do you make it? If you purchase it, what brand do you buy?

    ReplyDelete
  20. BettyJuly 17, 2011 at 5:10 PM

    Lorrie..I made my own lemon curd. You can find a great recipe for lemon curd on this blog..check the lemon poppyseed cake under the cakes index.
    Vee..jam would be great in these cookies..how about apricot?
    Trish and Nancy..thank you for letting me know that you tried and liked this recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  21. NancyJuly 18, 2011 at 11:35 AM

    Betty,
    I gave all the cookies I made away the first time around so I tried them again today with homemade lemon curd and a sprinkle of lavender in the dough. This is almost like a portable lemon square cookie and so pretty. My new go to recipe for sure! Thank-you for sharing it.

    ReplyDelete
  22. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 5:46 PM

    I am getting an island put in the kitchen this weekend, just so I can make some of these delicious recipes!!!

    I have been a big fan for a long time, and unable to cook for probably 3 months - you'll be the first recipe I make, Mr. Lemon Cookie!

    ReplyDelete
  23. NancyJuly 25, 2011 at 1:25 PM

    I just made your Lemon Cookies and they are truly wonderful. I added a little lemon curd to the centers after they came out of the oven. (a trick i learned when making thumbprints with jam). Thanks for sharing this great recipe.

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)