Melt in your mouth Thumbprint Cookies With Lemon Curd and icing. Get the recipe for these cookies that are sure to impress at your next party or bake sale. Easy to make, but so pretty and yummy that people will think you bought them.
How to Make Lemon Curd Thumbprint Cookies
Thumbprint cookies are buttery shortbread cookies topped with a jam. Or in this case, topped with a lemon curd. These lemon thumbprint cookies are easy to make, but no one needs to know. They’ll think that you spent so much time making these pretty and delicious cookies.
Thumbprint Cookies With Lemon Curd
Equipment
- Cookie Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Measuring Spoons
- Measuring Cup
- Mixing Bowls
Ingredients
- Ā½ cup Unsalted butter
- ā cup Granulated sugar
- Ā½ teaspoon Lemon extract
- Ā¼ teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 1 cup All purpose flour
- Ā½ cup Lemon curd
Ingredients for Lemon Icing
- 1 cup Powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together until creamy.
- Add the vanilla and lemon extracts and beat again.
- Add the flour to the wet ingredients and mix together just until combined.
- On the prepared parchment sheet roll out balls of dough about 1.5 inches round.
- Slightly flatten each cookie with the palm of your hand.
- Then use your thumb, or the back of a teaspoon, to press an indentation in each cookie to fill with lemon curd.
- Put the lemon curd filling in a piping bag and cut the tip. Fill each hole in the unbaked cookies with lemon curd filling.
- Place in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies are just starting to color around the edges.
- While the cookies are in the oven, make the lemon icing by adding the powdered sugar, lemon juice and milk to a bowl and mixing together until smooth.
- Transfer to a piping bag.
- Once the cookies are out of the oven, snip the end of the lemon frosting piping bag and drizzle the glaze over all the cookies.
- For extra flare and more lemon-y flavor zest a lemon over the top of all the cookies.
Notes
Tips for Making Thumbprint Cookies With Lemon Curd
These cookies are easy to make, but here are a few tips to ensure that you get great results every time.
- Use parchment paper with your cookie sheet to prevent the cookies from sticking.
- The lemon extract gives these shortbread-style cookies lots of lemon flavor, but for extra flavor you can add some lemon zest.
- Start with room temperature butter. Creaming the wet ingredients is easier when you start with room temperature ingredients.
- Don’t overwork the dough after adding the dry ingredients. I prefer to gently mix-in the flour with a spoon or rubber spatula. But if you prefer an electric mixer, use the paddle attachment and mix on low speed until just combined.
- Chill the dough for 30 minutes before forming them into balls.
- Use a cookie scoop to get evenly sized cookie dough balls. You can also use the back of a small cookie scoop to create the indent in the center of each cookie for the lemon curd. If you don’t use a cookie scoop, you can make the indent with your thumbprint or the back of a spoon.
- Don’t overbake the cookies. Pull them out of the oven as soon as you see them start to turn golden brown around the edges. Let them cool on the cookie sheets for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Don’t overfill these cookies. It only takes a teaspoon of lemon curd per cookie.
What is Lemon Curd
Lemon curd is a custard-like sauce that is made from egg yolks, sugar, and lemons. It’s not difficult to make a tangy homemade lemon curd as it only has a few simple ingredients. However, it is time consuming. And since you only need 1/2 cup for this recipe, the quickest and easiest way is to use a store-bought curd.
FAQs About Lemon Curd Cookies
Do I Have to Make the Lemon Curd?
Answer: No. You can make your own lemon curd. Or, use a premade curd from the store.
When Do I Add the Lemon Curd?
Answer: The lemon curd can be added before baking. Or, you can add it at the end after the cookies have cooled. Either way is fine and it comes down to your personal preference. I like to add it at the end, but try it both ways and see which you prefer.
Do I Need to Make the Icing?
Answer: These Thumbprint Cookies with Lemon Curd have an icing drizzle on top that adds a little sweetness to offset the tang of the lemon. It’s really easy to make with powdered sugar, fresh lemon juice, and milk. If you don’t have a pastry bag, simply use a Ziploc bag and snip a hole in the corner to pour the glaze over the cookies. And if you don’t want to use a bag at all, you can use a fork to drizzle this simple glaze over the cookies. As an alternative, you can skip the glaze all together and opt for a dusting of powdered sugar, or putting fresh lemon zest on top instead.
How Do I Store Thumbprint Cookies with Lemon Curd?
Answer: Store these cookies in an airtight container. It’s better to store them in a single layer. But if you need to stack them, you can use parchment paper, or waxed paper, to separate layers when storing.
Can I Freeze These Cookies?
Answer: The best way to freeze these cookies is unbaked. Follow the instructions through step 8, but do not fill with lemon curd. Roll the dough, flatten, and indent each ball. You can then put on a plate to flash freeze the dough for 10 minutes. Once hardened you can place in a freezer-safe bag and store for up to 1 month. You do not need to defrost the dough before baking the thumbprint cookies with lemon curd.
Recap for Lemon Thumbprints Cookies
These Thumbprint Cookies with Lemon Curd are the perfect lemon treats for any occasion. When you want to bake cookies other than chocolate chip cookies for a party, bake sale, or cookie swap, try making these cookies.
You’ll be amazed at how light and tender this cookie is, with the perfect amount of lemon flavor. And with the icing drizzle on top, these lemon cookies have a great balance of sweetness and tartness. It’s the perfect recipe for lemon lovers looking for the combination of sweet buttery cookies with a lemon curd filling.
More cookies to try: Oatmeal Raisin
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