Lemon Sandwich Cookies

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Delicate, melt in your mouth cookies have a layer of homemade lemon curd in the middle of them for a sweet and tart taste of spring.

A plate with 3 lemon sandwich cookies stacked on top of each other.

Spring is here, the flowers are starting to bloom, and the sun in finally shining.  I opened the windows, went into the kitchen, and decided to get to work baking.

I wanted to make something bright and sunny like the weather outside and no cookie is brighter then a lemon cookie.

Some people use lemon extract to make lemon cookies and that’s a great way to do it, but I like to use fresh lemon.  Using just a bit of fresh lemon juice and lemon zest gives a buttery cookie the perfect amount of tartness.

Ingredients:

  • butter (I like to use salted)
  • powdered sugar (this is what gives the cookies their melt in your mouth texture)
  • fresh lemon juice
  • lemon zest
  • all purpose flour
  • salt
  • vanilla extract
  • lemon curd (you can use store bought but I prefer my homemade version)

A plate of cookies with lemon curd and frosting on top.

The cookies are easy to whip up and can be made a day in advance.  If you are making your own lemon curd I suggest making the lemon curd and cookies one day then filling the cookies the next day.

These cookies have both lemon zest and lemon juice in them which gives the cookies a slightly tart flavor.  However, with the addition of the powdered sugar there is enough sweetness in the over all cookie.

What is Lemon Curd?

Lemon curd is a fruit spread that is often used in desserts.  It’s made from egg yolks, sugar, lemons, and butter.  It packs a ton of sweet and tart citrus flavor which is why it is so popular in desserts.

How do I zest a lemon?

When zesting a lemon make sure to only getting the bright yellow part of the lemon and not the white pith inside as it is very bitter.   The best way to do this is to use a microplane.  Rub the lemon back and forth over the microplane, turning the lemon as the lemon zest comes off.  Do this until all the zest is off the lemon.

Can I use a different type of curd?

Of course!  I’ve made these cookies with lemon curd and with lime curd.  You could also use any variety of citrus fruit curd in these cookies.  Orange, grapefruit, or lime would be good choices.

How do I store the Lemon Sandwich Cookies?

I like to store them in the refrigerator because of the lemon buttercream and curd filling.   I usually wrap each sandwich cookie in plastic wrap and then place in an air tight container in the refrigerator. You can eat them cold right out of the refrigerator or let them sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before enjoying.

A plate of butter cookies with a lemon near them.

Instead of simply making a batch of lemon cookies I wanted something different.   My inspiration came from a jar of homemade lemon curd that I had in the refrigerator.

I thought that a lemon curd buttercream would taste amazing as a filling inside of a filled cookie.    It was really easy to make.  I whipped up a buttercream frosting recipe then added half a cup of lemon curd and blended it together.

 

More Lemon Recipes:

The first time I made these cookies I’m not really sure what happened.  They were supposed to be round and beautiful but they turned out the have more of a jagged edge.   Surprisingly I really liked the jagged edge of the cookie and thought it looked great as part of a sandwich cookie.

Pin Image:  A plate with 3 lemon sandwich cookies stacked on top of each other, text title, ingredients for the cookies.

This time when I made the cookies they were a little jagged at the edges so I took a glass and gently swirled it around the cookie to make a smooth and even edge and cookie.  They looked great!

The sweet and lemony cookie melted in my mouth.   When it was stuffed with the fluffy sweet and tart lemon buttercream it made for a delightful summer snack.

A hand holding a lemon sandwich cookie with a bite out of it.

If you’ve tried my Lemon Sandwich Cookies or any other recipe on Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you! You can FOLLOW ME on:

Bright Lemon Flavored Sandwich Cookies

Lemon Sandwich Cookies

Yield: 12 cookies
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Bright and buttery lemon cookies filled with a sweet and tart lemon buttercream filling.

Ingredients

For the cookiea:

  • 1 c. butter
  • 1/2 c. powdered sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • 2 c. flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

For the Filling:

  • 1/2 c. butter
  • 2 c. powdered sugar
  • 1/2 c. lemon curd

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. In a medium bowl cream the butter and powdered sugar. Stir in the lemon juice and the lemon zest.
  3. In a small bowl combine the flour and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and stir until a dough forms. Stir in the vanilla.
  4. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and place on a cookie sheet.
  5. Gently push down on the cookie with the bottom of a glass. Then dip the glass in sugar and place it back on the cookie to flatten it. Repeat with remaining cookies.
  6. Bake for 8-9 minutes or until the edges begin to brown.
  7. Remove from oven, allow to cool for 2 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. To make the buttercream beat the butter until smooth. Add in the powdered sugar and mix well. Stir in the lemon curd.
  9. Set out 12 of the cookies, flat side up.
  10. Place the filling in a zip top baggie. Snip off the end and pipe the filling onto each of the 12 cookies. Place another cookie, flat side down, on top of the filling to make a sandwich cookie.

Notes

Cookie Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker. Filling recipe is a Hezzi-D Original Recipe

 

 

A hand holding a lemon sandwich cookie.

15 Comments

  1. Oh my goodness, these cookies look like the answer to my cookie craving! Thanks so much for sharing your delicious recipe and I also love that they are jagged on the edge – it gives them character!

  2. These cookies look fabulous! I am all for baking and cooking, so these look like a lot of fun to do! Thanks for sharing this recipe, I’m totally going to try this out this weekend!

  3. oh my goodness this is one delicious looking cookie, I have never made cookies before though I have always wanted to. I do love the lemon flavour it is just so right for spring. Thanks for the recipe, looking at the pictures now I am utterly hungry lol.

  4. I LOVE lemon sandwich cookies–these look awesome!

    I stopped using extract after discovering lemon oil. Fresh zest is definitely preferable, but lemon oil is wonderful to have on hand for times you don’t have lemons. 🙂

  5. These cookies look great and I love that they are different–we had a cookie exchange over the holidays and I wish I would have had your recipe for then–I have to pin this for future use. So tired of the same old same old cookies. You make it easy to follow along and for those of us who need it easy you achieved that-so thank you for sharing. Can’t wait to try them!

  6. I love lemons and this looks much easier than the lemon brownie thing I tried to make last year. Disaster….This is just in time for spring too.

  7. I love lemon they make such a springy dessert!! These cookies look and sound amazing for spring cookies. I never would have thought of a frosting on cookies like this before it sounds like an amazing combination.

  8. I love this time of year because all the lemon flavoured things pop up again and I love it! These cookies look and sound so delicious. Thank you for sharing the recipe, I really want to have a go at making some for myself for one of our family picnics 🙂

  9. I think the lemon buttercream is fantastic. I would eat it by the spoonful. These are perfect for the spring season and are like the warmth of the sun on a spring day.

  10. The lemon curd buttercream was inspired, Heather! Love it! Also, the rough edges are perfect on a homemade cookie. If they look too perfect, folks think you’ve bought them.

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