As promised, here are some pictures of Maui taken from my phone. My vacation is drawing to a close and I’m trying to eke out as much enjoyment out of each day as I can. Parting with the fine sand and warm ocean water will be hard and I’ve tried to make the most of my stay by lingering on the beach as long as I can each day. If you know of anyone accepting applications for a beach bum job please let me know–I think I’m fully qualified!
A hint of a rainbow and if you look closely you will also see a whale spout on its left. This is DT Fleming beach on our morning walk.
I’ll miss the morning jogs along the beach, floating around in the water and watching the sun set behind Lana’i. Hopefully, I’ll be sharing the same kind of post (and pictures) at this time next year.
As for this last recipe of the year, I was quite undecided about what type to share. Should I go healthy or sweet? We’ve all indulged a bit over the holidays; you may not even want to see another cookie for a while…or at least for the first few weeks of the year.
But I couldn’t resist–I had to end the year on a lemony note. I baked these cookies before I left for vacation and I loved them so much I haven’t stopped thinking about them since. A little bird told me that the lucky recipient of these cookies liked them just as much as I did and that they’re all gone. Good. It means I’ll have an excuse to bake another batch as soon as I return.
But a note about these particular cookies. In my haste to bake them I accidentally used baking soda instead of baking powder. I couldn’t figure out why they flattened out so much as they baked until what I did dawned on me. It’s a good thing I didn’t discover my mistake until after I tasted them or I would have missed out. These are the most lemony cookies I’ve ever tasted with the perfect chewy texture.
So they’re flat as wafers. I didn’t mind one bit (just make sure to use baking powder per the instructions). I think I’ve found the perfect lemon cookie recipe. Never mind that America’s Test Kitchen calls these Lemon Snowflakes. In my book it would be a shame to only bake these during the holidays–I’ll be enjoying these year round.
Happy New Year!
Lemon Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups 7 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 1/4 cups 8 3/4 ounces granulated sugar
- 4 teaspoons grated lemon zest plus 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 large egg plus 1 large yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
-
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together in medium bowl. Place powdered sugar in a small bowl and set aside.
-
Process granulated sugar and lemon zest in food processor until finely ground, about 30 seconds. Add melted butter, oil, lemon juice, egg and yolk, and vanilla and process until pale and thickened, about 30 seconds. Transfer to bowl with flour mixture and stir until incorporated. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill until dough is firm, about 1 hour.
-
Roll 1½ tbsp. dough into balls, toss in powdered sugar, and space them 2 inches apart on prepared sheets. Bake the cookies one sheet at a time until the cookies are cracked and set on top but still look moist within the cracks, about 10 to 12 minutes. Be sure to rotate the sheet halfway through baking.
-
Let cookies cool on sheets for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Recipe Notes
This recipe is from America's Test Kitchen
How fitting, we both have lemon posts up! 🙂 I love anything lemon so these cookies look like winners. Hope you’ve had a relaxing vacation! Happy New Year!
May I just say, every time you posted a pic from Maui on facebook I was swooning over them! Thank you for sharing! These cookies sounds fabulous – love baking with lemon!! Have a Happy New Year!!
You paired one of my fav vacation spot with one of my fav cookies 🙂 We visited Maui for our honeymoon!
Maui look beautiful! I would love to be there right now. Those lemon cookies look declicious too!
Sometimes mistakes turn out to be fortuitous and we learn something new from them. Your holiday sounds wonderful. It’s always hard going back home.
Hi Jean and Happy New Year! Your photos are beautiful and making me want to lay on a warm beach. Sigh. The cookies sound delicious and definitely something to be enjoyed year round.
beautiful pictures!! And these lemon cookies look so good!
Gorgeous seascapes and wonderful cookies!
Happy new Year!
Cheers,
Rosa
Once I fully recover from my cookie coma I will have to try these. I would apply for the job too!! Maybe next year if you are there, I can be a stowaway. Hope you are all relaxed and suntanned. Happy New Years.
-Gina-
Lemon is a favorite flavor of mine. I adore theses little beauties your trip looked wonderful!
I believe you when you say these chewy cookies are delicious. They look pretty irresistible to me. They kinda turned out like lemon-y crackle or crinkle cookies!
What a great vacation, so gorgeous! I am sure you came home relaxed, and ready to go!
I loved seeing all of your photos on FB and instagram – so wished that I was there, since it was so chilly here. These lemon cookies look and sound simply divine! Anything with lemon is a winner!!! Just might have to whip up a batch soon! 🙂
Girl, did you hit the lotto?! Every time I turn around you are at another awesome vacation spot! 🙂 Lucky! Pass me some cookies! ;-D
Another fabulous recipe!! Liv would love those cookies too… looks like I’ve got dinner and dessert from your last few posts! I’m always somewhat amazed how nice some of my phone shots turn out. I showed your shots to my husband and hopefully he will take a hint…. We have no travel plans for the forseeable future and that always makes me a little lost.
Love lemon cookies 😉
Gorgeous photos from Maui!!!
I have a few lemons on the tree…maybe this bit of inspiration is just what I need;-)
I’ve loved seeing your trip photos even though I am pretty jealous:-) These cookies look nice and refreshing!
Maui… Nice! This just reminds me of our honeymoon in June… To Seychelles, marvelous place!
I like cookies and I always look for nice recipes, this past December I made many cookies and it is tradition I have also made lots of give-aways. I will try your lemon cookies!
Ciao.