If you love lemon, then you're going to love this lemon curd cookie recipe. Shortbread-style cookies have a dollop of lemon curd for an irresistible cookie.
When I made these cookies I didn't expect to fall in love so quickly with these cookies. The lemon curd cookies melt in your mouth, they're not too sweet, and they're full of bright lemon flavor. The shortbread-style cookie has a lemon curd filling that makes for a delicious combo.
This cookie dough recipe was developed from my brown butter cookies dipped in chocolate I added cornstarch to make a softer shortbread-style cookie and took out the chemical leavening agent to keep a cookie that didn't rise to keep the lemon curd in place while baking.
Let's get to the recipe
Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter. The butter should be softened to cool room temperature, not fully room temperature. This will help it cream with the sugar.
- Granulated Sugar. The sugar will cream with the butter to create tiny air pockets for baking.
- Lemon. You'll just use the zest of the lemon to help infuse the lemon flavor into the dough. You can save the lemon juice for another recipe or some hot water with lemon juice, that is what I drink every morning.
- Large Egg. The egg should be at room temperature so it evenly incorporates into the rest of the ingredients. You can do this quickly by placing the egg in a bowl of warm water for 5-10 minutes.
- Pure Vanilla Extract. The little bit of vanilla extract warms the cookie dough.
- Salt. The salt balances out the sweetness while also enhancing all of the other ingredients' flavor profiles.
- All-Purpose Flour. You want to make sure to measure your flour as accurately as possible, too much or too little flour can drastically alter the cookie dough.
Baking is a science and to really achieve the best results I highly recommend investing in a kitchen scale. This OXO Kitchen Scale is the one I use and is also the number one recommended kitchen scale by Cook's Illustrated. Think about it -what one person scoops into a "cup" is completely different from what someone else scoops!
- Cornstarch. Adding some cornstarch to the cookie dough helps create a soft, tender cookie.
- Lemon Curd. The star of the show you can use homemade lemon curd or store-bought lemon curd. Key lime curd would be great too!
- Confectioner's Sugar. Once the cookies have baked dust them in powdered sugar. f
For ingredient quantities please reference the recipe card below. On the recipe card there is a button for US or M (Metric) measurements.
Instructions
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment or a large bowl with a handheld mixer, beat the sugar, butter, and lemon zest for a couple of minutes until you have a light fluffy mixture.
Scrape the sides of the bowl then add in the egg and vanilla extract and mix until fully combined.
Add in the flour, salt, and cornstarch and mix until just combined, be careful not to over-mix the batter.
Using a tablespoon scoop the dough into balls, and then using the back of a teaspoon or the handle of a wooden spoon or your thumb present indentation into the cookie dough, place them on the baking sheet lined with a silicone liner or parchment paper, two inches apart then add a half teaspoon dollop of lemon curd into each cavity, making sure not to overfill it too much.
Place the cookie sheets in the freezer and turn the oven on to 350F/180C. Let the cookies chill while the oven is preheating then cook the cookies for 9 to 11 minutes until just lightly golden brown on the sides.
Let cool for five minutes before transferring from the baking tray to a wire rack to cool completely then dust in confectioners sugar. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days.
How to freeze lemon curd cookies?
These cookies freeze gorgeously. Once the cookies are baked and completely cooled place them in a single layer with parchment paper between layers in a freezer safe container. Freeze for up to a month for the best tasting cookies. Thaw at room temperature for a couple of hours before enjoying.
Can you double
You can most certainly double the recipe or even triple it to make lots of cookies for a party! In the recipe card below you can just press the 2X button or the 3X button to double or triple the ingredient quantities. Keep in mind it will not adjust the amount in parentheses. I highly suggest using a scale to weigh your ingredients versus cups.
Baking is a science and to really achieve the best results I highly recommend investing in a kitchen scale. This OXO Kitchen Scale is the one I use and is also the number one recommended kitchen scale by Cook's Illustrated. Think about it -what one person scoops into a "cup" is completely different from what someone else scoops!
More lemon recipes
One of the most simple recipes but yet so elegant and delicious is this lemon olive oil cake recipe. Or my lemon ricotta cake!
If you've got more lemon curd to use up then make this lemon curd cheesecake - seriously delicious!
This lemon cream pie shocked my friends- they devoured it so quickly!!
★★★★★ Please let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a star rating and comment below!
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PrintRecipe Card
Lemon Curd Cookies
If you love lemon, then you're going to love this lemon curd cookie recipe. Shortbread-style cookies have a dollop of lemon curd for an irresistible cookie.
- Total Time: 41 minutes
- Yield: 36-40 Cookies 1x
Ingredients
- 8oz (1 Cup) Unsalted Butter, cooled to cool room temperature
- 150 grams (¾ Cup) Granulated Sugar
- 1 Medium Lemon, zested
- 1 Large Egg, at room temperature
- 1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
- ¼ Teaspoon Salt
- 281 grams (2 ¼ Cups) All-Purpose Flour
- 2 Teaspoons Cornstarch
- 4oz-6oz (½-¾ Cup) Lemon Curd, homemade lemon curd or store-bought
- Powdered Sugar, optional
Instructions
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment or a large bowl with a handheld mixer, beat the sugar, butter, and lemon zest for a couple of minutes until you have a light fluffy mixture. Scrape the sides of the bowl then add in the egg and vanilla extract and mix until fully combined. Add in the flour, salt, and cornstarch and mix until just combined, be careful not to overmix the batter.
- Using a tablespoon scoop the dough into balls, and then using the back of a teaspoon or the handle of a wooden spoon or your thumb present indentation into the cookie dough, place them on the baking sheet lined with a silicone liner, two inches apart then add a half teaspoon dollop of lemon curd into each cavity, making sure not to overfill it too much.
- Place the cookie sheets in the freezer and turn the oven on to 350F/180C. Let the cookies chill while the oven is preheating then cook the cookies for 9 to 11 minutes until just lightly golden brown on the sides. Let cool for five minutes before transferring to a wire rack to call completely then dust in confectioner sugars. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days.
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Chill Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 11 Minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
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Barb says
used 1-1 gluten free flour and it was the best cookie ever. Better than regular cookies.
Elizabeth Waterson says
Thank you so much for the lovely review Barb!! So pleased you enjoyed the cookies!! Take care. XX Liz
Cyndi Olsen says
I made these! They are delicious! Thx!
Elizabeth Waterson says
Hi Cyndi- thank you so much for the lovely review! So glad you enjoyed the cookies so much!! Take care. XX Liz
Lori Jankowski says
Made this recipe for the first time today, September 10th, 2023. I followed the recipe precisely; I had homemade Lemon Curd from Farm-to-Family so I used that. After trying one cookie, I would say delicious! The cookie part was perfect, and the dollop of lemon curd was a nice tangy bite! Will definitely make this recipe again! Thank you, Elizabeth, for sharing all your incredible delights with your followers!
10/10
Anonymous says
Karen says
Can I make these ahead of time and freeze them?
Elizabeth Waterson says
Hi Karen, These cookies freeze gorgeously. Once the cookies are baked and completely cooled place them in a single layer with parchment paper between layers in a freezer safe container. Freeze for up to a month for the best tasting cookies. Thaw at room temperature for a couple of hours before enjoying. Please report back if you try the recipe! XX Liz
Lia says
Was so delicious an easy will definitely make this again!!
Elizabeth Waterson says
Thanks so much Lia! So glad you liked the cookies!! Thank you for the lovely 5-star review, I truly appreciate it! XX Liz