This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our privacy policy.
Girl Scout Cookie season is in full swing and I’ve been hit up by my nieces to buy all sorts of classic favorites. Hands down, Samoas (or Caramel Delights as us old timers call them) are my all time favorite. The chocolate and coconut combo can’t be beat. And while these will always hold a dear place in my heart, there is a newer cookie that has grabbed my attention called Savannah Smiles. Have you tried these? They’re lemony, tender, dusted in powdered sugar and all around fabulous. So fabulous that I fear they may edge out my long-time favorites. I can’t help myself. When January rolls around, I get positively enthusiastic about citrus.
Well, I had a half a dozen Meyer Lemons sitting around after making my Meyer Lemon Scones for Jamie’s baby shower, I figured I would try my hand at making a similar cookie at home. These Meyer Lemon Meltaways are just what I was hoping for. They’re dainty, sweet and citrusy, and while I’m a coffee lover to my soul, I actually preferred nibbling on these little cookies with my night time cup of tea. Lemon cookies and tea over chocolate and coffee? I don’t even know myself anymore.
I used my beloved Meyer lemons to make these cookies, but you could easily use regular lemons in their place. You could even go wild and mix up the citrus all together: limes, grapefruits, oranges. They would all yield deliciously sweet results.
Meyer Lemon Meltaways
Ingredients:
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup of confectioner’s sugar, divided
zest of 3 Meyer lemons (about 1 1/2 tablespoons)
3 tablespoons fresh Meyer lemon juice
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons corn starch
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cream together butter and 1/3 cup of confectioner’s sugar, in the bowl of a stand mixer fit with the paddle attachment, on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add Meyer lemon zest, Meyer lemon juice and vanilla extract and beat until incorporated. The mixture may seem to separate briefly, but simply keep mixing until it comes together and becomes creamy.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch and salt. With the mixer on low, gently add dry ingredients, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating briefly between each addition, until all of the flour mixture is incorporated.
- Divide dough in half and roll each half into a 1 1/2 inch diameter log. Wrap each half in parchment paper and chill in the refrigerator for about 1 hour or until firm. You can alternatively freeze the rolls for about 30 minutes.
- Remove dough from fridge, unwrap and slice into 1/4 inch thick slices. Place on parchment lined baking sheets and bake for about 13-14 minutes or until cookies are just turning golden, but still a bit soft to the touch. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for about 10 minutes.
- Place remaining confectioner’s sugar in a gallon size zip top bag. Add about 3-4 cookies at a time to the bag, seal the bag and toss gently to coat the cookies in the sugar. Remove cookies to a wire rack to finish cooling.
- Store cookies in an air tight container for up to 1 week.
Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart
All images and text ©Follow Jamie on Instagram. We love to see what you're baking from MBA! Be sure to tag @jamiemba and use the hashtag #mbarecipes!
I have made these and I used lemonade koolaid and mixed it with the powder sugar and put it in a ziplock bag shook and stored them in a tite container they came out great
So happy to hear you enjoyed the lemon meltaways, Alisha! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback!
-Jamie
I made these cookies today and they turned out delicious. We can’t get Meyer lemons here but we have one kind with a thin peel and a very fruity taste. I look forward to these locally grown lemons every winter season. They were just perfect for the cookies. I will bake them again very soon. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
You’re so welcome, Julia! I’m really glad you liked them!
I made these today and found them to be delicious! I used Meyer lemons and added more 10x sugar. Mine did not look like the picture either. My guess is you made them thicker than 1/4 inch. This is a keeper!
I’m so glad you liked them, Nancy!
Can gluten free flour be substituted? If so, would it be the same amount?
Sylvia-
Thanks so much for stopping by. I have not attempted this recipe with gluten-free flour, so unfortunately, I can’t attest to the final result. If you give it a try, I’d love to hear about it.
-Jamie
Hi there, I made these last night, they were delicious! However they don’t really look like the picture at all. There was no powdered sugar coating once I took them out of the oven, it just melted right into them, and they were very flat as well.
However, I have never seen my mother (who usually hates sweets) eat cookies like she ate these, and I liked them too! It’s definitely getting filed in the “make again” folder.
Thanks!
Avery
Avery-
I’m glad you enjoyed the cookies. Thanks for visiting.
-Jamie
I JUST made these cookies, and am eating them as they are out of the oven. the flavor is pretty good, but I feel like it wasnt sweet enough to balance the tartness of the lemon. Also the outside was quite dry and flaky, so the texture wasnt consistent or that appealing.With baking I know there are a lot of variables and techniques that make a difference, so am curious what other peoples’ experience was and if they had consistent texture through out or turned out as soft and appealing as the photos..or if there are any tips that would help. I love lemon based desserts!
Hello! These look amazing, I cannot wait to try them! Is there a recommended temp for baking that I missed in the recipe? And to pre-heat or not preheat…?
Kat-
Preheat the oven and bake at 350 degrees F. I hope this helps.
-Jamie
I can’t wait to try this recipe! I love the Savannah Smiles cookies too. Lemon is one of my favorite flavors. Thanks so much for sharing!!
these look amazing! you’ve inspired me to bake my own meltaways…maybe lime and lavender? thanks for sharing!
Mondo-
That sounds like a great combination, thanks for visiting!
-Jamie
I am really craving citrus right now and these would be a delicious fix!
Julie-
Thanks so much for stopping by, have a wonderful day!
-Jamie