I totally get it: desserts can be repetitive sometimes. While there’s a wide variety to choose from, you’re mostly faced with a version of the same old flavors, which are chocolate, caramel, and vanilla. Although they each taste decadent and heavenly, sometimes your mouth just wants a new flavor. And what better way to do that than with something that’s completely out of the ridiculously sweet spectrum?
The North Pole Lemon Cookies celebrate the tanginess of lemons and floral hints of the vanilla frosting to give you a dessert that’s not too sickly sweet and not too puckery sour.
If you want to make this dessert taste like it’s out of this world, the key is to find the best type of lemons. Not a lot of people are familiar with this, but different types of lemons produce different tastes and flavor profiles. In most cases, Meyer lemons are used in many desserts because they’re not very acidic. They also have sweet and floral tones that pair perfectly with many sweet treats, cocktails, and so much more.
Do you want to know why that is? It’s because Meyer lemons are technically a hybrid of a regular lemon and a mandarin orange that originated from China. That’s why they have deep yellow skin and pale orange pulp. The addition of the orange just adds a light, fragrant, and fresh flavor to the whole fruit.
As enchanting as this is, the Meyer flower only blooms from winter to spring. So, if you decide to make the North Pole Lemon Cookies during these months, be sure to be on the lookout for these lemon varieties. If not, a regular lemon mixed with sugar and vanilla extract will work just as well to create this delicious delicacy.
PrintNorth Pole Lemon Cookies
Reach for the stars with the North Pole Lemon Cookies. This fruity, tart, and slightly sugary delight is a great way to take your taste buds on a journey outside the ordinary.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies 1x
- Category: Bakery
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon lemon extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 large egg
- 1 (16-ounce) tub of vanilla frosting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, vegetable oil, milk, salt, lemon extract, lemon zest, and egg.
- Using a cookie scoop, shape the dough into 1 1/2-inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the cookies are set but not brown.
- Let set for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
- Top with vanilla frosting and serve.
What’s your favorite type of lemon to use in a cookie recipe like this?