Description

Lemon Snowball Cookies are delightful, tender treats bursting with bright lemon zest and a buttery crumb that melts in your mouth. These soft, pale cookies are coated with a generous dusting of powdered sugar, making them perfect for a refreshing twist on classic snowball or Russian tea cakes, ideal for any occasion or teatime indulgence.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar (plus more for coating the cookies)
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
Grated zest of 3 small lemons
2 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to get it ready for baking the cookies.
Cream Ingredients: In a stand mixer or using electric beaters, cream the softened unsalted butter with 1/2 cup powdered sugar, salt, vanilla extract, and the grated lemon zest until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take about 1-2 minutes.
Add Flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the creamed mixture and mix until the dough just begins to come together. Finish mixing by hand to ensure all ingredients are evenly incorporated without overworking the dough.
Shape Cookies: Take about 1 tablespoon of dough for each cookie and roll it into a ball. Place each ball on an ungreased baking sheet, spacing them about an inch apart to allow slight spreading.
Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. The cookies should remain pale and soft to the touch when done; avoid overbaking to maintain their tender texture.
Cool and Coat: Let the cookies partially cool on the baking sheet to firm up slightly before transferring to a cooling rack. While still slightly warm, roll each cookie in powdered sugar. Once completely cooled, give them a second coat for a delicate, sweet finish. Sift the powdered sugar beforehand if it is lumpy for an even coating.

Notes

Do not overbake the cookies; they should be pale and soft when removed from the oven to ensure a tender texture.
Using fresh lemon zest adds bright, natural lemon flavor without adding moisture to the dough.
Make sure to sift the powdered sugar used for coating to avoid clumps and achieve a smooth, snowy finish.
These cookies are best enjoyed within a few days stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
The lemon juice from the zested lemons can be saved for use in another recipe for zero waste.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Lemon snowball cookies, lemon cookies, snowball cookies, powdered sugar cookies, lemon zest cookies, soft lemon cookies, lemon desserts