Shortbread Cookies With Lemon Curd Filling -

Name: Shortbread Cookies With Lemon Curd Filling
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: ½ cup unsalted butter; ⅓ cup granulated sugar; ½ teaspoon lemon extract; ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup all-purpose flour; ½ cup lemon curd; 1 cup powdered sugar; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1 teaspoon milk; lemon zest ((for garnish))

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Finding the right cookie recipe to prepare may seem like a challenge, but this recipe for Shortbread Cookies With Lemon Curd will blow you away. Not only is it a simple, stress-free recipe, but it’s one that will leave you with delicious, melt-in-your-mouth cookies that will keep everyone coming back for more. If you like enjoying a lemon bar from time to time, then you’ll enjoy cookies with a lemon curd filling!

Are you looking for a flavorful cookie recipe to try? If you’d like to prepare something different from the usual sugar or chocolate chip cookie, these Shortbread Cookies with Lemon curd are worth preparing. They have a light, sweet taste with the perfect lemon icing spread on top, making each bite even better than the first one. You can easily assemble these cookies within 25 minutes and have them ready to bake and enjoy in little to no time.

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Why This Recipe Works

So easy to make
Stores and freezes well
Perfect for lunch boxes
Can use either store-bought or homemade Lemon Curd

Suggested Equipment

Ingredient Notes

(Complete ingredients and amounts in recipe card below.)

Lemon Extract – Some lemon extract add to the cookies witll enhance the lemon flavor. If you’re feeling adventurous, try making your own homemade lemon extract.
Vanilla Extract – Vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor.
Lemon Juice – Use fresh for the best flavor. Lemon juice balances out the sweetness of the powdered sugar in the icing.
Lemon Curd – Lemon curd can be purchased in a jar, usually found in the jams and jelly aisle of the grocery store. You could also use lemon pudding or if you are feeling particularly creative, try this recipe for homemade lemon curd. Easy and delicious.
Lemon Zest – The perfect finish for that puckery lemon taste.

How to Make Lemon Shortbread Cookies With Lemon Curd

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until combined.
Add the vanilla and lemon extracts and beat again.
Add the flour to the wet ingredients and mix together until a dough forms
On the prepared parchment sheet roll out balls of dough about 1.5 x 1.5 inch round to put on the baking sheet.
Slightly flatten each cookie with the palm of your hand.
Then use your thumb to press an indentation in each cookie to fill with lemon curd filling.
Fill each hole in the unbaked cookies with lemon curd filling.
Place in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies are firm and barely browned.
While the cookies are in the oven, make the lemon icing by adding the powdered sugar, lemon juice and milk to a bowl and mixing together until smooth.
Transfer to a piping bag.
Once the cookies are out of the oven, snip the end of the lemon frosting piping bag and drizzle the glaze over all the cookies.
For extra flare and more lemon-y flavor zest a lemon over the top of all the cookies.

cream butter and sugar — Cream butter and sugar

mix in extracts — Cream butter and sugar

Scoop and roll dough into balls — Scoop and roll dough balls. Lightly flatten eah ball.

Make thumbprints into dough balls — Scoop and roll dough balls. Lightly flatten eah ball.

lemon shortbread cookies with icing drizzle

Recipe Notes

If you don’t have a piping bag for your icing, you can use a Ziploc bag, fill it with the icing, and snip off the tip. You could also simply use a fork to drizzle the cookies.

How to Store and Freeze Shortbread Cookies With Lemon Curd

These tart/sweet cookies can be stored in a covered container on your counter for about five days.

To freeze these cookies, store in a single layer in a covered container in the freezer for about three months. You can place sheets of parchment paper between layers. Simply bring out and thaw when you want to enjoy them.

row of lemon filled shortbread cookie with slices of lemon

Shortbread Cookies With Lemon Curd Filling

Tender, lemon shortbread cookies filled with a tartly sweet lemon curd.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Cookies, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: lemon,shortbread,cookies,lemon curd

Prep Time: 25

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 35

Servings: cookies

Calories: 132kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Cookie

½ cup unsalted butter
⅓ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon lemon extract
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup lemon curd

Lemon Icing

1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon milk
lemon zest (for garnish)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until combined.
Add the vanilla and lemon extracts and beat again.
Add the flour to the wet ingredients and mix together until a dough forms
Roll out balls of dough about 1.5 x 1.5 inch round and place on the baking sheet.
Slightly flatten each cookie with the palm of your hand.
Use your thumb to press an indentation in each cookie to fill with lemon curd filling.
Put the lemon curd filling in a piping bag and cut the tip. Fill each hole in the unbaked cookies with lemon curd filling.
Place in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies are firm and barely browned.
While the cookies are in the oven, make the lemon icing by adding the powdered sugar, lemon juice and milk to a bowl and mixing together until smooth. Transfer the icing to a piping bag.
Remove the cookies from the oven and cool on a wire rack.
Snip the end of the lemon frosting piping bag and drizzle the glaze over all the cookies.
For extra lemony flavor, top with lemon zest.

Notes

You can fill the cookies with the lemon curd, either before or after baking.

If you prefer not to use a piping bag, simply fill the cookies with the lemon curd using a small spoon and drizzle the icing on with a fork. You may need to thin the icing a bit with additional milk if too thick for this method.

Nutrition

What else are these cookies called?

Lemon Drop Cookies, Lemon Shortbread Cookies, Buttery Shortbread Cookies, Lemon Curd Cookies, Shortbread Cookies with Lemon Curd and Lemon Curd Thumbprint Cookies.

These cookies are similar to Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies, they are easy cookies to make and make the most delicious cookies. This recipe uses common ingredients, so making it should be super easy!

Can you use margarine instead of butter in these cookies?

You could use margarine instead of butter but the flavor will always be better with real butter.

Can I fill the cookies with lemon curd after the cookies are baked?

Yes, you can fill after the cookies are baked and cooled. Either way works well.