Go Back
5 from 31 ratings

Lemon Curd Cookies

These perfect lemon curd cookies are soft, buttery lemon sugar cookies with luscious, zesty lemon curd centers, with a light dusting of powdered sugar. They are the best and brightest lemony cookie you'll ever make!

Ingredients

For the Lemon Curd

  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) lemon juice, about 3 large lemons
  • 1 tbsp (10 g) lemon zest, about 2 lemons
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated white sugar
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup (112 g) unsalted butter, cold and cut in cubes

For the Lemon Sugar Cookies

  • 2 3/4 cups (344 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 cup (224 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla
  • 1 tbsp (10 g) lemon zest
  • 1/4-1/2 cup (32-65 g) powdered sugar (for sprinkling over the baked cookies)

Instructions
 

For the Lemon Curd

  • To make the lemon curd, add the lemon juice, lemon zest, egg yolks, granulated white sugar and salt to a small saucepan or pot. Whisk everything together.
    1/2 cup (120 ml) lemon juice, 1 tbsp (10 g) lemon zest, 4 egg yolks, 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated white sugar, 1/8 tsp salt
  • Heat the lemon mixture over medium low heat for 20-25 minutes, stirring frequently, until thick. It should coat the back of a spoon once thick enough. 
  • Remove it from the heat and slowly whisk in the cold, cubbed butter.
    1/2 cup (112 g) unsalted butter, cold and cut in cubes
  • Once all of the butter is melted in, transfer the curd to a heat proof, medium bowl. Place plastic wrap on top of the curd, so it doesn't form a skin, and allow it to cool completely.

For the Lemon Sugar Cookies

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
    2 3/4 cups (344 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • Add the sugar and lemon zest to a large bowl. Rub the lemon zest and sugar together with your fingertips to extract the most lemon flavor from the zest.
    1 cup (200 g) granulated white sugar, 1 tbsp (10 g) lemon zest
  • Add in the softened butter. Cream the butter, sugar and lemon zest together with an electric mixer on high speed for 1-2 minutes until very light and fluffy.
    (If using a stand mixer, use the paddle attachment.)
    1 cup (224 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • Add in the egg and vanilla, and mix on medium-high speed until pale in color and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes.
    1 egg, 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla
  • Add in the dry ingredients and mix on low then medium speed just until combined. (Scrape the sides of the bowl as necessary.)
  • Scoop the dough into 1 tbsp portions and roll them into balls. After each ball is rolled, immediately press it with a 1/2 tsp to make an indent.
  • Chill the prepared cookie dough balls on parchment paper lined baking sheets for 1 hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 350℉ (175℃).
  • Once chilled, separate the cookies 12 at a time on a prepared, parchment paper lined baking sheet.
  • Bake the cookies for 8-9 minutes.
  • When the cookies are straight out of the oven, scoot a small, round cookie cutter around them in a circular motion to help them return to their original smaller sizer. You can also press the centers again with a 1/2 tsp to create a deeper indent.
  • Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet, then transfer them to a cooling rack to finishing cooling.
  • Once the cookies are completely cooled, sprinkle powdered sugar over the cookies then fill each with about 1 tsp of lemon curd. Then enjoy!
    1/4-1/2 cup (32-65 g) powdered sugar (for sprinkling over the baked cookies)
Did you make this recipe?Please consider Leaving a Review!