Lemon Almond Star Cookies

Cookies with lemon zest, ground almonds, and a tangy lemon glaze. 

These cookies are perfect for tea time, cookie exchanges, gifts, or just for your own personal enjoyment!

Every year, my street exchanges baked goods around the holiday. We drop off some sort of yummy treat on everyones doorstep, and receive tons of sweets from our neighbors (enough to last us well past December 25th :)). What better way to spread Christmas cheer than with cookies and other sweet treats.

This year we chose to make Lemon Almond Star cookies to pass out. These cookies are so good! The lemon zest adds a great natural lemon flavor, and the lemon glaze on top is the perfect addition. The almond notes balance out the zesty lemon flavor perfectly. Not only are these cookies delicious, they are super easy to make and a great holiday activity. You can sit down and decorate them any way you want. I chose to make them into stars to suite the Christmas holiday, but they can be made into any shape or size. Try making them in the summer too!



Roll out the cookie dough on a well floured surface so that it doesn't stick. Flour your rolling pin periodically too.


I use a baking stone for all of my cookie making, it helps them cook evenly without making the bottom too crispy (I find that baking sheets make the bottom of the cookies too crunchy sometimes). I highly, highly recommend getting a baking stone.



For these cookies, a thin layer of glaze will do. The lemon glaze adds a great flavor but doesn't need to be applied as thickly as you would frosting.

Lemon Almond Star Cookie RECIPE: 

COOKIES:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons lemon juice
4 teaspoons half-and-half cream
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
3 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup finely ground almonds
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt

Cream butter and powdered sugar. Add eggs, one at a time. Beat well. Blend in lemon juice, cream, and lemon peel. Combine and gradually add flour, almonds, baking soda, and salt. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours or until firm*.  On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into stars with a cookie cutter. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.

*It is best to refrigerate your dough before you roll it out so that it is easier to work with and your stars keep their shape when you transfer them to the baking stone/baking sheet.

GLAZE:
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Optional: food coloring (if you want to dye your glaze)

Stir powdered sugar, corn syrup, and lemon juice until smooth. Add food coloring if desired. Spread over cookies. Allow to harden overnight.



Like I said before, we gave these cookies out to our neighbors in festive little baggies and dropped them off at their doorstep. Above is the finished product :).