I have a new addiction. It’s called Pinterest. I am hooked. Every day I have to check out all the new pins my friends have posted, and every day I have to pin at least one photo of a beautiful food arrangement, a precious baby, a gorgeous kitchen, or a delicious recipe.
As I was going through the pin boards one morning, my eyes were drawn in closer by a slice of lemon; it was a slice of lemon atop of what looked like a crunchy shortbread cookie. That photo led me to a site of even more gorgeous photos and recipes. But, the site was in Russian.
What to do, what to do? Google Translate, of course!
Then, another issue followed; metric system units.
In all honesty, I can’t tell you what a ‘gram’ of anything is. I should know this since I went to school in Macedonia up until the 5th grade, but I forgot. To understand ounces, inches, and all that jazz, I had to give up on the other system in order to learn the new one.
Thank goodness for my Salter Kitchen Scale!
I made these cookies as soon as I could because I had to feed my curiosity; taste of a baked lemon slice. With the peel.
Am I alone in this? Have you eaten the peel of a lemon?
The verdict is that the cookies are amazing; sweet, crumbly, and citrusy. True taste of Spring.
But, I didn’t like the taste of the lemon peel. It was what I expected; chewy and bitter. I thought to put more sugar on it to see if that would help, but that was just too much sugar on top of sugar.
Next time, I think I am going to remove the lemon slice once the cookies cool down.
Lemon Cookies
You will need:
- 1 1/2 sticks butter, softened
- 2 eggs, divided
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 cups finely ground almonds or almond flour
- 1/2 cup superfine sugar or caster sugar
- 1 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 4 whole small lemons, with peel, washed, dried, and cut into very thin slices
- powdered sugar for sprinkling
Directions:
- Beat butter with one egg.
- Add almond flour, sugar, all-purpose flour, and lemon juice, and mix with the mixer on the lowest setting.
- Shape the dough into two logs, about 2 inches each in diameter, and put in the refrigerator for 3 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Slice each log into cookies, about 1/8 inch thick, and place on a lightly greased baking sheet.
- Beat the second egg and brush the top of each cookie with it.
- Place one lemon slice on top of each cookie.
- Sprinkle with sugar and bake for 12-15 minutes.
- If you like the tops of the cookies browned, put them under the broiler the last 5 minutes of baking.
- Cool and optionally sprinkle with powdered sugar.
I’m with you. I love lemons. I have them every day in my water. I love to make lemon desserts (you can tell from my blog) but I don’t think I’d like to eat a cooked lemon peel. Doesn’t even sound good but the rest of the cookie sounds great.
Oooh these would have caught my eye as well! How neat that they bake the lemon slice on top of the cookie. You would think that they would “candy” since you sprinkle sugar on them when they bake. I’m glad they still tasted great, adding this to my lemon cookie collection. =)
This is so unique. I ate peel of lemon and lime too. I like citric food .. but never thought it can be incorporated in cookies this way
The site you shared is really gorgeous .. beautiful pic , styling ! I would love to try these cookies .. just wondering if hubby will eat chunk of lemon with cookies !!
Absolutely love them! Lemon is my all time favorite flavor for everything. I use more than vanilla! Wonderful photos and cookies ! Great Post Kate!
MMM!! Love the almond flour in this one! And you know how obsessed I am with lemon lately… with a new bucket of lemons arriving from my dad this afternoon I think these just might have to go on my list.
As for pinterest, I’m loving it too! Love the organization and also seeing what others are liking at the moment!!
These cookies look great and I love lemon , you can remove the bitterness of lemon by boiling the slices in hot water and then dunking them in cold water .
Thank you for that tip!!
Lovely pictures! I can see how the lemon peel might be overboard- I’m in love with lemon anything but I usually need to tone down the lemon zest in most recipes. I”ll be giving these a try, with and without the peel, very soon!
I love lemons! When I was young(er), I always ate lemon wedges from everyone’s water glass! So good
.
Those cookies looks delicious! I’ve never used almond flour. It must give a great taste with the lemon!
i’m hooked on pinterest too
)
and those lemons look tempting. maybe if the slices are thinner or if they are boiled first, they would be easier to chew. i’ll have to try this. i like caramelized lemon or orange peels.
Hi Bojana!!
You can’t tell on that picture, but the slices were really really thin…I think I should have boiled them first and then baked them.
They look so good I love lemons and lemon cookies. I made some for Easter, they were actually lemon drop cookies, so yummy! I can add lemon with peel to my water, but I don’t like the bitter taste it adds to everything especially sweets. And as for the metric system units ROFL I’m the same. I finished elementary and 2 years of high school in Belgrade, but as soon as I started school here the other system was a history LOL Honestly I call my mom to help
Beautiful cookies! I’ve had my kitchen scale for less than a year and still wonder how I did without it.
I like the idea of putting a slice of lemon on top of each cookie! I bet it imparts so much lemony flavor! But like you, I’d probably remove the slice before serving because I don’t think I’d enjoy the taste of lemon peel!
It Looks great kate! bookmarked it.. thx for sharing the recipe
I have something for you , check my blog at http://c1tr4sinau.blogspot.com/2011/04/chicken-wing-in-szechuan-sauce-also.html
I’ve never seen a lemon cookie with a slice baked right on top! Unique idea, and sounds perfect for the Spring!
I saw your picture on food frenzy. These look so great and the photo is fantastic.
True taste of spring is what I need right now! These cookies are lovely…they look just as you described them…crumbly, sweet and citrusy.
Kate, we all love lemons at home
and we often eat them with the peels – just I usually slice the lemons really thinly – that way they taste just perfect – to us… And your cookies sound really great to me – mmmm!!!
Such a neat idea. And well done for you giving it a go. At least now you know for certain that the cookie would be better sans-lemon peel. Thanks for sharing!
I don’t think I could eat the lemon peel either. But other than that, these cookies sound phenomenal! And I just checked out that Pinterest site, and I think you may have me hooked!
I agree- totally addicted to Pinterest. It’s especially awesome when you find cool recipes like this one.
Kate, I adore the lemon peel and your cookies look just melt-in-the-mouth and zingy! My Granny used to sook a lemon without wincing so there must be something in the family
Thank you for visiting my site
. Your lemon cookies look gorgeous and delicious! I have a spot for cookies…just can’t resist them!
All of your cookies always look so good! Absolutely delicious.
I have the reverse problem with units
I get so confused by cups, etc, and always wonder things such as: so how many grams is a cup of beans? My biggest problem is when a recipe calls for a cup of a chopped ingredient… what about if my chopping is wayyy different from that person’s chopping? I’ve been getting used to it, but it’s still kinda confusing sometimes 
heheh I never thought of the chopping bit!
You are so right!
ooh! That lemon with the almond flour?! Yes please! My son and I would eat a whole handful of these easily! He loves lemon too!! ♥-K
These cookies sound soo delicious and lemony. I have a special place in my heart for lemon, too. It was my Mom’s favorite. I have to make these cookies soon, after the bake sale.
How interesting! I love roll cookies generally. I also love lemon, and cook with it a lot; I sometimes blanch thin lemon slices to reduce some of the bitterness of the pith…
I love your Pinterest idea! What a great idea. I’m picnicing tomorrow with my sister and her kids and I know these would be very, very popular. I’ll skip the lemon slice on your advice
So many delicious lemon recipes popping up and this is surely one of them. Great job Kate!
sounds like lemonade in a cookie! =)
btw, i’ve heard so much about pinterest but haven’t gotten into it b/c i just know i would get addicted!!
Have to check out Pinterests. it’s amazing where we can find inspiration. Being in Canada I am familiar with both measuring systems but a scale is an essential tool. I like the idea of having the peel in there. And love the caramelized look.
I can see why these would catch your eye…they’re gorgeous! Too bad about the lemon peel. I’ve never tried it, but it seems like it would be bitter. The cookies look so light and crumbly. Yum!
I love you…I mean….yea
These look incredible. Thanks for giving my stretchy pants even more of a work out 
Left an award for you over at http://forevernowandthen.com/2011/04/28/award/
Oh your lemon cookies look so good. Love the lemon flavor in cookies, so Spring…and the slices of lemon make the cookies look pretty, but if does not taste right…hope you have a wonderful week ahead Kate
I adore lemon and shortbread for that matter… and these cookies look stunning. The lemon slices on top are so unique and refreshing!
Those cookies look amazing! I would try blanching the lemon a couple of times before putting it on top of the cookie. It should take care of the bitterness….
MMM…lemon cookies sound perfect for spring! I imagine the peel was pretty bitter though. Maybe candied slices pressed on top when the cookies come out of the oven would be better/less bitter? Over all though, delicious.
Mmm I’ve had lemon flavored cookies before, but never a cookie with an actual slice of lemon in it! They look so interesting and delicious. I’m interested to see how the rind tastes… maybe I’ll do half of the batch with the lemon slice left on and half with them off to see. Thanks for sharing!
I do not know pinterest – is it? Must check out. I do know lemons – on my pasta, in my salads and in my baked goods and drinks. These do look like a taste of spring. As long as spring is not springing here – at least I can have a nibble of the season.
Gotta love lemon season!! These look so yummy and light. Perfect for dessert on a Spring night.
What gorgeous presentation love the lemon…. I could eat a ton of these!
Such delightful cookies here, absolutely perfect for spring!
What beautiful cookies!!! Love your photos. Definitely need to try these cookies!
Great and refreshing cookies! Love lemons in anything, even water! Nicely done!
Hi Kate! Thank you for visiting my site. I love lemons and these cookies look so delicious. It’s thick, crunch and soft at the same time… and you have beautiful pictures too! I just liked your fan page so I’ll never miss a recipe.
I have a facebook fan page too, if you are interested in Japanese food. Looking forward to your next post already~~~!
Uh, oh, a new site to check out…I’m not sure there is enough time in the day
What unique cookies…thanks for your honest opinion…I would have been wary about the lemon peel, too, but it certainly looks beautiful!
What an interesting cookie recipe! I can’t wait to try this. They look so yummy
wow those lemon cookies are really special!
These look so fantastic, love all that lemon! I’m a huge fan of cooking in metric, I find it’s more precise. But then again, I work in a chemistry lab and spend all day measuring in metric, so it’s second nature I guess!
that looks like such a fun site!
i have had these cookies in canada and they are AH-MAY-ZING! now, thanks to you, i have a recipe and i can make these all the time!
I thought I had seen it all but these cookies look incredible!!! Bookmarked!!!!
I am addicted to Pinterest too! The lemon cookies are lovely – cooking them with the lemon slices is such a pretty touch!
Cookies with lemon slices on top? Wow, I must try making these! Thanks for reminding me about Pinterest. I’m a bit challenged with technology and sometimes I just forget that there are great social sites like this!
Oh I bet they are simply amazing. Citrus desserts are a favorite of mine.
We love lemon desserts, so these sound wonderful! And perfect for springtime!
These look great! I am also obsessed with pinterest. I’m pretty out of control with it.
I’ve heard so much about Pinterest lately…I can see myself getting addicted to it super quick! I’ve never seen cookies made like this before…they look so good!
I guess this must taste fantastic. Love the lemon slices between the cookies and this is the first time I have seen cookies baked this way. Thanks Kate for sharing this
Elin
I’m becoming more and more addicted to Pinterest as well recently. It’s so easy to spend hours there hoping from one beautiful image to the next.
Yum, these look so tasty. Google translate has helped me on numerous occasions too!
I’ve had candies lemon peel with espresso in Sicily, but never straight lemon peel as you describe. Seems like it might be a biter even with the sweetness of the cookie, but I’m willing to try anything once! This is a wonderful recipe. Adam loves lemon anything and so does our friend David who is in for a surprise treat this weekend, I think. Thanks for all your research to bring us this one!
I love the peel from all citrus fruits! These cookies look fantastic!
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I love your photos of these cookies. It definitely sounds like an interesting recipe. And, I totally agree with you on loving pinterest. How easy to waste time away. I just don’t spend enough time on the internet already
I have tasted lemon peel, but not in such a large quantity! Maybe a bit too much for me too … But these cookies look gorgeous. Cooking has definitely gotten me more used to thinking in grams and liters, and they’re SO much easier than ounces. Couldn’t live without my kitchen scale!!! (Btw, has the book arrived? It should have come by Monday or Tuesday ….)
Yes, the book is here!! I got it at the beginning of the week… I love it! Thank you sooooo much! xo
I love lemon anything, but lemon cookies are irresistible to me. I love their, color, aroma and texture. Yum!
what an interesting cookie recipe. love the almond – lemon combo. thinking of trying them soon. thanks for sharing Kate
even tho I’m in Us for quite a while I still use the metric system when I’m cooking and transform it when I have to write a blog post. seems so complicated
OMG!! I have to make these… now!
Looks delicious!
I love the way that slice of lemon speaks to me… “Yes, you can eat me. I’m fruit! Healthy for you! Have two… or three!”
I have Meyer Lemons and those peels are quite edible. I will be making these.
I’m baking them right now! I also found this picture on pinterest and was frustrated when the site was in Russian. I translated the page but for some reason I couldn’t find the recipe….thus it was nice to find it right here, all ready for me.
I’m using myer lemons too as there peel is way less bitter….I’m quite excited to eat these I must say!
Hi Emily!!
Please let me know how they turned out… I wish I had Meyer lemons around here!
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I’m baking them this afternoon! They look delish! Do you know if there is any nutritional info available such as the fat, calories, carb count, fibre, etc?
Eeeek… I have no idea about the nutritional value of these cookies :/ I’m sorry.
Vitamin C!