Italian Lemon Cookies

Name: Italian Lemon Cookies
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 3 dozen
Cuisine: Europe, Italian
Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened; 1/2 cup sugar; 3 large eggs, separated, room temperature; 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest; 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour; Colored sugar

Total Time Prep: 30 min. + chilling Bake: 15 min./batch

Yield 3 dozen

Test Kitchen Approved

Bright, light and full of citrusy flavor, these zesty Italian lemon cookies are a real treat. Top them with the simple colored sugar called for in this recipe, or switch it up with a glaze or frosting for a richer cookie.

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
3 large eggs, separated, room temperature
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Colored sugar

Directions

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg yolks and lemon zest. Gradually beat in flour. Refrigerate, covered, 1 hour or until firm enough to shape.
Preheat oven to 350°. Shape level tablespoons of dough into 6-in. ropes. Shape each rope into an S, then coil each end until it touches the center. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Whisk egg whites; brush over cookies. Sprinkle with colored sugar.
Bake until bottoms are brown, 12-14 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Nutrition Facts

1 cookie: 94 calories, 6g fat (3g saturated fat), 29mg cholesterol, 47mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.

Christmas wouldn't be the same without my grandmother's cookies. A plate full of these light and zesty cookies is divine! —Elisabeth Miller, Broadview Heights, Ohio

Recipe Creator