Description
Zesty lemon bar cookie cups bring Mediterranean sunshine to dessert tables with creamy citrus delight. Crisp buttery cookie shells cradle smooth, tangy lemon filling that melts deliciously on the palate and leaves you craving another sweet bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup butter (softened)
- 1 14 cups sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 34 cups flour
Leavening Agents:
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Whisk together flour, baking soda, and baking powder in a mixing bowl to create a uniform dry ingredient base.
- Cream butter and sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, creating a smooth, aerated mixture.
- Incorporate egg and vanilla into the butter mixture, blending until fully integrated and achieving a consistent texture.
- Gradually fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, gently combining to form a cohesive cookie dough.
- Portion the dough into small, uniform balls and place them carefully into a mini muffin tin.
- Bake in a preheated oven until the edges turn golden brown, creating a delicate, crisp exterior.
- Immediately after removing from the oven, use the back of a spoon to press down the center of each cookie, forming cup-like indentations.
- Allow cookie cups to cool completely, ensuring they set and maintain their shape.
- Prepare lemon curd by whisking together butter, sugar, eggs, and fresh lemon juice in a saucepan.
- Cook the lemon mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent scorching and achieve a thick, smooth consistency.
- Once cooled, carefully fill each cookie cup with the vibrant lemon curd, ensuring an even distribution.
- Refrigerate the filled cookie cups to help the lemon curd set and enhance the flavor melding.
- Before serving, garnish with delicate lemon zest and a light dusting of powdered sugar for an elegant finish.
Notes
- Customize the sweetness by adjusting the sugar level in both cookie dough and lemon curd for personalized taste preferences.
- Ensure cookie cups are slightly underbaked to maintain a soft, chewy texture when pressed into muffin tin.
- Use fresh lemon juice and zest for maximum flavor intensity and bright citrusy notes.
- Gluten-free option: Replace wheat flour with almond or gluten-free blend for celiac-friendly version.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg