Lemon Meltaway Sandwich Cookies

These Lemon Meltaway Sandwich Cookies are little bursts of sunshine that encapsulate citrusy zestiness and velvety sweetness to create a symphony of flavor. One of our favorite cookie recipes.

These cookies are one of our best lemon desserts with two delicate, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies, infused with the vibrant essence of fresh lemons. With each bite, they crumble softly, releasing a burst of tangy citrus that dances on your palate. But that’s not all. Sandwiched between these heavenly cookies lies a creamy, luscious lemon filling, adding an extra layer of indulgence to every bite.

Meltaway cookies

Meltaway cookies are a type of delicate, tender, and crumbly cookie that literally melts in your mouth, hence the name “meltaway.” These cookies are characterized by their soft and almost powdery texture, which is achieved by incorporating a higher proportion of fat into the dough.

Meltaway cookies can come in various flavors, from classic vanilla to chocolate, lemon, or almond. They may also be rolled in powdered sugar or other coatings to add extra sweetness and texture.

Meltaway cookies with icing

These lemon meltaway cookies are made even more special with a creamy, delicious frosting spread on and sandwiched in between two delicious cookies. It’s the stuff dreams are made of!

You can use homemade lemon extract to add another layer of lemon flavor to your cookie dough. The first time I used it, I was skeptical, but as a certified lemon lover, I would totally recommend it along with your fresh lemon juice and fresh lemon zest in your recipe. It adds another dimension to your baked cookies as well as your lemon glaze. It’s even easy to make homemade lemon extract yourself. (And you can make homemade vanilla extract and other extracts too for when you are making other lemony treats besides this delicate cookie. 

Lemon juice vs lemon zest

Lemon juice and lemon zest are both derived from lemons but serve different culinary purposes due to their distinct flavors and properties.

1. Lemon Juice:
   • Lemon juice is extracted by squeezing the juice from the pulp of the lemon.
   • Lemon juice is highly acidic, which makes it useful for adding brightness and acidity to dishes.
   • It is commonly used in cooking and baking to enhance flavor in dishes such as marinades, dressings, sauces, beverages, and desserts.
   • Lemon juice is also used as a natural preservative due to its acidity, preventing fruits and vegetables from browning.
2. Lemon Zest:
   • Lemon zest is the outer, colored part of the lemon peel, typically removed using a fine grater or zester.
   • It contains the essential oils of the lemon, which provide a concentrated burst of citrus flavor and aroma.
   • Lemon zest has a more intense and aromatic flavor compared to lemon juice, with less acidity.
   • It is often used as a flavoring agent to add a bright, citrusy essence to dishes without adding extra liquid or acidity.
   • It can also be used to infuse flavor into oils, syrups, and spirits.

Sometimes one is used or the other in a recipe, or like in this recipe, we use them both to power punch the lemony flavor!

For more lemon ideas, check these out:

• Lemon Layer Cake
• Lemon Blondie Recipe
• Lemon Bar Cupcake Recipe
• Blackberry Lemon Crumb Bars
• Lemon Meringue Cookies
• Lemon Meringue Pie In a Jar

Lemon Meltaway Sandwich Cookies

Now let’s get going and make some of these amazing morsels!

Print Recipe

Lemon Meltaway Sandwich Cookies

Tender lemon cookies that melt in your mouth with creamy rich frosting sandwiche in the middle for the perfect flavor and texture bite!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time12 minutes mins

Total Time22 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cookies, lemon cookies, Lemon Meltaway Sandwich Cookies, meltaway cookies, sandwich cookies

Servings: 24

Ingredients

• ⅔ c + 2 Tbsp butter softened
• ½ c powdered sugar
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp lemon zest
• 1 ¼ c flour
• ½ c cornstarch
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp lemon extract optional

For the frosting:

• 1 ½ c powdered sugar
• 4 Tbsp butter softened
• ½ tsp lemon juice
• ½ tsp lemon zest
• 1/4 tsp lemon extract optional

Instructions

• Cream the butter and powdered sugar together. Add in the lemon juice, extract, and lemon zest and beat to thoroughly incorporate.
• In a small bowl, whisk the flour and cornstarch and salt together. Add it to the butter mixture and mix.
• Stretch out a piece of plastic wrap and scoop the dough into a log shape in the center of the wrap. Roll it up into a log about 1-2” in diameter and place into the refrigerator to chill for about 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Once chilled, remove and slice into thin pieces, about ¼” thick and place on a baking tray.
• Bake for 12 minutes. Place on a cooling rack to thoroughly come to room temperature before adding the filling.
• To make the filling, place the powdered sugar, butter, lemon juice, extract, and zest into a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until the frosting is smooth and creamy. For ease of filling, place into a frosting bag with any tip of choice.
• Turn the cookies over and pipe a swirl of frosting into the center of the cookie, staying just a little bit away from the edge as the frosting will be pushed out when the top cookie is placed on to create the sandwich. Repeat with all the cookies until you have them all matched.
• Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.