Description
Lemon bar cookie cups blend zesty citrus with buttery shortbread in a delightful dessert. Classic Southern flavors merge seamlessly, creating a perfect treat you’ll savor with each sweet and tangy bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 2 ½ cups (313 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup (60 ml) fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- 2 tbsps (16 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
- Lemon zest or curls
Instructions
- Prepare Dough: Blend butter and sugar until fluffy, then integrate egg and vanilla. Softly incorporate flour, salt, and baking powder to form a uniform, pliable cookie dough.
- Shape Vessels: Roll dough into consistent spheres and position within mini muffin cavities. Gently press centers to craft cup-like formations with smooth, even edges.
- Initial Baking: Slide muffin tin into a 350°F oven. Bake cookie shells until peripheries transform to a pale golden tone, roughly 10-12 minutes. Remove and permit natural cooling, delicately reshaping indentations if necessary.
- Craft Lemon Curd: Whisk eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and zest in a saucepan over medium heat. Continuously stir until mixture thickens to a silky, custard-like texture that elegantly coats a utensil.
- Fill and Garnish: Once cookie shells have completely cooled, generously ladle lemon curd into each cup. Dust with a gossamer layer of powdered sugar and optional fresh lemon zest for a vibrant, sophisticated presentation.
Notes
- Choose Cold Butter: Use chilled butter for a flakier, more tender cookie cup texture, ensuring crisp edges and better structural integrity.
- Press Carefully: Gently press cookie dough into muffin tin using the back of a rounded measuring spoon or your fingertips to create even, smooth wells without tearing.
- Control Lemon Intensity: Adjust lemon zest and juice quantities to balance tartness, using fresh citrus for maximum flavor and brightness in the filling.
- Prevent Soggy Bottoms: Allow cookie shells to cool completely before adding lemon curd, preventing moisture absorption and maintaining a crisp, delicate base.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 27 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg