Iced Lemon Cookies

This is one of my favorite cookies! My friends would agree I am a lemon flavor freak. There’s just something that’s so refreshing when lemon is added to just about anything. 

These cookies are packed with a lemony flavor! Not only are these lemon cookies incredibly soft and delicious, but they’re also easy to make with a few simple ingredients!

I first came up with this recipe because just like me my dad loves that lemony flavor. He also is one of my biggest fans when it comes to my cookies, actually he’s probably my biggest fan in everything I do. To create this recipe, I took my butter sugar cookie recipe and switched a few things up to give it that burst of lemon. 

Here’s a couple lemon tips:

• I recommend zesting the lemon first, then juicing it.
• Use a zester or Microplane grater to scrape off tiny bits of peel, but beware! The spongy white layer underneath the peel, also known as pith, is very bitter, so avoid grating down too far. 
• To get the most lemon juice out of your lemon, roll it on the counter firmly with your hand, then cut it in half, and squeeze out the juice.

Let me give you some advice. Run, don’t walk to your kitchen. Make these cookies today!

Ingredients

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 & 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp, about ½ a lemon,  lemon zest
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 whole lemon

Lemon Glaze

• 1½ cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp heavy cream or milk
• ⅛ tsp salt
• Lemon zest for topping

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. 

In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, sugar, and lemon zest with an electric mixer for 1-2 minutes.

Add in the vanilla extract, lemon juice and egg, beat again to combine.

In another bowl, whisk together all your dry ingredients. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, mixing by hand with a spatula until combined.

Use a cookie scoop to form balls, place the cookies 2 inches apart on a parchment lined baking sheet. 

Bake for 11-13 minutes or until the edges have a faint golden color.

Allow the cookies to cool a cooling rack. Cool completely before adding the glaze. 

Make the glaze by whisking the powdered sugar with the lemon juice, salt and cream until smooth.

Once the cookies are cool, dip the tops in the glaze by turning time upside down and gently lift them out, turn them over and return them to the cooking rack or a sheet of parchment. 

Sprinkle lemon zest over the top and let dry.

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Lemon Loaf

This Lemon Loaf recipe is full of lemon flavor, moist, dense, and rich. It’s a perfect snack, dessert or even Breakfast Bread.

The lemon loaf cake itself is perfectly lemony, and the lemon glaze boosts the lemon flavor even more. Lemon lovers will be in their glory! 

I actually prefer this loaf after it has sat overnight, this allows the fresh lemon/sugar mix to have a chance to soak into the cake, which gives it more flavour and makes it even moist. But don’t let it sit for too long because there’s a fine line between when a loaf is moist, then all of a sudden it’s dry.  So moral of the story, let it sit overnight and enjoy it the next day.  Honestly, this loaf is so good so you’ll probably finish it in one day, a slice or two for breakfast with your coffee, one for a sweet mid-day snack and then a few slices with vanilla ice cream after dinner! 

Lemon Loaf Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ½ teaspoon lemon extract 
• Zest of 1 large lemon
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/4 cup buttermilk — sour cream works too

Lemon Icing Ingredients

• 1 cup powdered sugar, add more until desired consistency is reached
• 2 tablespoon lemon juice,  add more until desired consistency is reached
• 2 tablespoon cream or milk, add more until desired consistency is reached

Lemon Loaf Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. 

Grease and flour an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan, or line with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda & salt.

In a separate bowl beat together the butter and sugar until fluffy – this will take at least 3 minutes.

Mix in the eggs 1 at a time. 

Then mix in the vanilla extract, lemon extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice.

With the mixer on low speed, mix in about 1/2 of the flour mixture followed by about 1/2 of the buttermilk. 

Turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Repeat the process with the rest of the flour mixture and buttermilk.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 50-60 minutes. 

Cool the loaf fully before icing (otherwise, the icing will melt through the cake and run off the sides).

*It will be done when an inserted toothpick comes out clean and the top feels firm to the touch. 

*If after about 30-40 minutes the top is browning too much, place a piece of aluminum foil over top and continue baking.

Lemon Icing Instructions

In a medium bowl whisk together the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and cream/milk until smooth. Add in more powdered sugar or cream as needed for desired consistency.

Remove the cooled loaf from the pan and drizzle or pour over top.

Fish with a White Wine Key Lime Butter Sauce

The Keys  is one of my favorite vacation spots. It tugs at my inner pirate and pulls me in with its beautiful sunsets, fun bars, and good times. After I leave, I can’t wait to get back. It’s my to-go destination for a laid-back and adventurous vacation. The Keys are a state of mind as much as a place. So there’s no surprise the Keys has its own unique cuisine too.

This recipe is inspired by one of my boyfriend, Brian’s favorite Keys dishes from Lazy Days on Islamorada. It has all the fresh flavors of the Keys. Fresh fish crusted with panko bread crumbs, sautéed, topped with fresh diced tomatoes, roasted red peppers, scallions, and fresh grated parmesan cheese with a drizzle of key lime butter. 

Fish Ingredients

• 4 (4-ounce) fish fillets, such as snapper, flounder or cod. 
• 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 ripe tomato, seeded, chopped small
• 2 scallions, finely sliced (green and white parts)
• 1/4 cup roasted red pepper, diced 
• ½ lime
• 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• Salt & Pepper to taste. 

Instructions

Prepare and keep warm white wine Key lime sauce before cooking fish.

Rinse fish and pat dry with paper towels.

Spread bread crumbs in a baking pan or pie plate. Press fish into crumbs on both sides to coat well. Place fish in a baking pan and refrigerate for 30 minutes. 

In a bowl, stir together the chopped tomatoes, roast peppers, scallions. Squeeze half of a lime, salt and pepper and stir to combine. Refrigerate until right before serving.  

Heat a nonstick griddle or cast-iron griddle over medium heat. Once hot, add oil. 

When oil is heated, add fillets, cooking in two batches. Cook each fillet 5 to 7 minutes per side, depending on thickness of fish.

Sprinkle each fillet with chopped tomato, scallions and roasted red pepper salsa; sprinkle grated cheese over top. Spoon white wine-Key lime sauce over and serve hot with white rice.

White Wine Key lime sauce Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 shallot, chopped roughly or green garden onion
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1/4 cup chicken stock (note we tried it without the chicken stock and it was still good)
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons freshly grated lime zest 
• 1/3 cup Key lime juice 
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat; add shallot and saute for about 1 1/2 minutes. Add white wine and bring to a boil; boil for 3 minutes or until reduced by half. Spoon shallot from pan and discard. Add chicken stock and cook for 2 minutes.

Add butter and cook over medium-low for 3 minutes, swirling pan or whisking gently to combine. Remove from heat and whisk in lime zest and Key lime juice. Keep warm over low heat while the fish is cooking. Serve warm.

This recipe pairs great with Scout & Cellar 2018 CHE FICO PINOT GRIGIO RISERVA. 

www.scoutandcellar.com/whiskawaykitchen