Lemonade Cookies!!

We are quite partial to lemon everything in this family and I had not yet posted a recipe for lemon cookies.  I actually have another one in the works, but these were requested first.  I call them lemonade cookies because to me, that is what they taste like.  A bit tart and tangy and a bit sweet in each bite and I hope you like them.

Lemonade Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp. grated fresh lemon zest (or 1 1/2 tsp. Penzey's Powdered Lemon Peel)
• 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature (I use Trader Joe's Organic)
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar PLUS 1 cup in a bowl for rolling cookies in
• 1/4 to 1/3 lemon juice, fresh (about 1 lemon worth)
• 1 tbsp. Vanilla Extract
• 1 tsp. Lemon Extract (If you do not have this on hand, omit.  Penzey's is fine.  If using Boyajian, reduce to 1/2 tsp.)
• 4 egg yolks at room temperature
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (I use King Arthur)
• 1 cup cake flour (King Arthur or Bob's Red Mill)
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. Cream of Tartar

Separately for glazing:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp. milk at room temperature
• 1 tsp. Lemon Extract

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, sift flours, salt, baking soda and Cream of Tartar, set aside.
2. In a stand mixer, combine lemon zest, 1 1/2 cups sugar and butter until creamy.  Scrape sides if needed.
3. Add lemon juice and mix.  Add vanilla and lemon extracts and mix.
4. Add egg yolks, one at a time and mix until just combined.
5. Add flour mixture in two parts to avoid flour/dust cloud and mix until just combined.
6. Scrape sides down, cover bowl and let dough chill for 1-2 hours or overnight.
7. When dough is chilled, transfer to a floured surface.
8. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare baking sheets with either parchment paper or Silpats.
9. Make 1 inch round balls and roll in 1 cup granulated sugar in a bowl or on a plate.
10. Place balls 3 inches apart on cookie sheet.
11. Smoosh balls to 1/4 inch thick disks.
12. Bake for 7 minutes, turn cookie sheets and bake for an additional 7-8 minutes.  The edges will brown slightly.
13. Transfer to a wire cooling rack and repeat until all cookies are made.
14. In a bowl, mix powdered sugar, milk and lemon extract with a fork.
15. Use fork to drizzle glaze onto cookies.  Let the glaze set for about 15 minutes before serving.

 Makes about 30 cookies.