Lemon Meltaways

Total Time

Prep: 15 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling

Makes

about 5 dozen

Updated: Aug. 25, 2023
Both the cookie and the frosting are spiked with lemon in these melt-in-your-mouth goodies. Your family won't be able to get enough of this lemon butter meltaway cookie recipe. —Mary Houchin, Lebanon, Illinois
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • FROSTING:
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 to 3 drops yellow food coloring, optional

Directions

  1. In a bowl, beat butter and confectioners' sugar until blended. Beat in lemon juice. In a small bowl, whisk flour and cornstarch; gradually beat into butter mixture. Divide dough in half; shape each into an 8-in.-long roll. Wrap in plastic; refrigerate 2 hours or until firm.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°. Unwrap and cut dough crosswise into 1/4-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.
  3. Bake 8-12 minutes or until firm. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
  4. For frosting, in a small bowl, beat butter and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Beat in lemon zest, lemon juice and, if desired, food coloring. Spread over cookies.

Test Kitchen Tips
  • Cornstarch needs just a few minutes of boiling to thicken a sauce, gravy or dessert filling. If it cooks too long, the cornstarch will begin to lose its thickening power. Carefully follow the recipe for the best results.
  • Go for freshly squeezed lemon juice when preparing this summery sipper. Bottled lemon juice, which is from concentrate, won’t provide the same bright, fresh flavor.
  • Check out 55 of our most impressive cookie recipes.
  • Nutrition Facts

    1 cookie: 49 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 25mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.