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Lemon Thins

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on April 28, 2015

Time

1½ hours, plus 1 hour chilling

Yield

Makes 40 cookies

Lemon Thins

Ingredients

Cookies

1 ½ cups (7 ½ ounces/213 grams) all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons cornstarch ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon baking powder ⅛ teaspoon baking soda 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened½ cup (3 ½ ounces/99 grams) granulated sugar 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 large egg yolk 1 ½ teaspoons lemon extract

Glaze

1 cup (4 ounces/113 grams) confectioners' sugar 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 7 teaspoons juice, plus extra juice if neededPinch salt

Before You Begin

You will need at least two lemons for this recipe. If you do not have a 2-inch round cookie cutter, you can use a 3-inch round cutter, but you’ll need to increase your baking time by 1 to 2 minutes. A rasp-style grater (our favorite is the Microplane Classic Zester Grater) makes quick work of zesting lemons.

Instructions

    for the cookies

  1. Combine flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in medium bowl; set aside. Using stand mixer fitted with paddle, beat butter and sugar on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add lemon juice, egg yolk, and lemon extract and beat until combined.
  2. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in 3 additions until just combined, scraping down bowl as needed. Turn out dough onto counter and divide in half. Form each half into 5-inch disk, wrap disks tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
  3. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove 1 dough disk from refrigerator and knead dough for 3 to 5 turns to make more pliable. Roll into 10-inch circle, about 1/4 inch thick, on lightly floured counter.
  4. Using 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut 14 to 15 rounds from dough. Reroll scraps up to 2 times to similar thickness and cut out remaining 5 to 6 rounds to yield 20 cookies. Space cookies 1 inch apart on 1 prepared sheet.
  5. Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until edges are lightly browned, 12 to 14 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through baking. Let cookies cool on sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with second dough disk and second baking sheet.
  6. for the glaze

  7. Whisk sugar, lemon zest and juice, and salt together in bowl. Working with 1 cookie at a time, dip top of cookie into glaze, then drag top lightly against rim of bowl to remove excess glaze. Repeat. (If glaze thickens as it sits, add extra lemon juice as needed to maintain proper consistency.) Let glazed cookies set fully before serving, about 15 minutes.
Lemon Thins

Lemon Thins

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

1½ hours, plus 1 hour chilling

Yield

Makes 40 cookies

Ingredients

Cookies

1 ½ cups (7 ½ ounces/213 grams) all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder
⅛ teaspoon baking soda
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
½ cup (3 ½ ounces/99 grams) granulated sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 large egg yolk
1 ½ teaspoons lemon extract

Glaze

1 cup (4 ounces/113 grams) confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 7 teaspoons juice, plus extra juice if needed
Pinch salt

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

Cookies

1 ½ cups (7 ½ ounces/213 grams) all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder
⅛ teaspoon baking soda
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
½ cup (3 ½ ounces/99 grams) granulated sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 large egg yolk
1 ½ teaspoons lemon extract

Glaze

1 cup (4 ounces/113 grams) confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 7 teaspoons juice, plus extra juice if needed
Pinch salt

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

Cookies

1 ½ cups (7 ½ ounces/213 grams) all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder
⅛ teaspoon baking soda
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
½ cup (3 ½ ounces/99 grams) granulated sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 large egg yolk
1 ½ teaspoons lemon extract

Glaze

1 cup (4 ounces/113 grams) confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 7 teaspoons juice, plus extra juice if needed
Pinch salt

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

We wanted a thin and crispy delicate cookie packed with lemon flavor. We found that a combination of flour and cornstarch made for the most tender, crispy cookie. Rolling out the dough and using cookie cutters gave us the most consistent shape across cookies. Lemon juice and lemon extract impart a sour-sweet lemon tang, and a light lemon glaze enforces the citrus flavor.

Before You Begin

You will need at least two lemons for this recipe. If you do not have a 2-inch round cookie cutter, you can use a 3-inch round cutter, but you’ll need to increase your baking time by 1 to 2 minutes. A rasp-style grater (our favorite is the Microplane Classic Zester Grater) makes quick work of zesting lemons.

Instructions

    for the cookies

  1. Combine flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in medium bowl; set aside. Using stand mixer fitted with paddle, beat butter and sugar on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add lemon juice, egg yolk, and lemon extract and beat until combined.
  2. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in 3 additions until just combined, scraping down bowl as needed. Turn out dough onto counter and divide in half. Form each half into 5-inch disk, wrap disks tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
  3. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove 1 dough disk from refrigerator and knead dough for 3 to 5 turns to make more pliable. Roll into 10-inch circle, about 1/4 inch thick, on lightly floured counter.
  4. Using 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut 14 to 15 rounds from dough. Reroll scraps up to 2 times to similar thickness and cut out remaining 5 to 6 rounds to yield 20 cookies. Space cookies 1 inch apart on 1 prepared sheet.
  5. Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until edges are lightly browned, 12 to 14 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through baking. Let cookies cool on sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with second dough disk and second baking sheet.
  6. for the glaze

  7. Whisk sugar, lemon zest and juice, and salt together in bowl. Working with 1 cookie at a time, dip top of cookie into glaze, then drag top lightly against rim of bowl to remove excess glaze. Repeat. (If glaze thickens as it sits, add extra lemon juice as needed to maintain proper consistency.) Let glazed cookies set fully before serving, about 15 minutes.

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