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LunaCafe’s Triple Lemon Doodles

July 15, 2016 by Susan S. Bradley

These chewy Lemon Doodles have over-the-top lemon appeal. Fresh lemon zest, lemon oil, and a secret ingredient each play their parts in making these cookies one of my all-time favorites.

LunaCafe's Lemon Doodles with Northwest Bing and Rainer Cherries
In the pale light of the moon, many moons ago, I participated in a memorable dinner party in which each of the guests was assigned the preparation of part of the meal.

It was early July and the focus was on seasonal produce and fruit. I drew the dessert course and started looking through my cookbook library for the perfect idea.

However, as the day of the party drew near, the dessert had moved to the back of my mind. Instead, I was frantically scouring countryside farm stands for squash blossoms, as I had also decided to bring an appetizer and wanted to wow everyone with chèvre and herb filled, cornmeal crusted, deep-fried squash blossoms.

I finally wheedled my way into some gracious woman’s lush backyard garden, where she very kindly shared with me a basket full of the precious squash blossoms. (Nowadays, you can find squash blossoms at farmers markets in season, but back then, they were mighty difficult to obtain if you didn’t grow them yourself.)
Triple Lemon Doodles | LunaCafe


By the time I got back to the kitchen, there was little time remaining to prepare dessert. Plus, I didn’t have an idea. Frantically rifling through the Chez Panisse Menu Cookbook, I spied a recipe for Lemon Clove Cookies, which sounded intriguing. As I recall, the suggestion was to serve them with fresh-picked cherries, which I scored at a nearby roadside stand on the way to the party.

Triple Lemon Doodles | LunaCafe

I served the Royal Anne cherries whole in a large silver bowl, with crème fraîche and brown sugar for dipping and the Lemon Clove Cookies on a doily-lined, silver tray alongside. This simple seasonal dessert was understated elegance and a big hit.

Triple Lemon Doodles | LunaCafe

However, as good as the Chez Panisse cookie is, I later wanted to pair fresh cherries with an over-the-top lemon cookie in a chewy, rather than shortbread style. After a few rounds of testing, here is that highly addictive cookie. I think it will become one of your favorites.

Triple Lemon Doodles | LunaCafe

Triple Lemon Doodles

This chewy cookie has over-the-top lemon appeal. Fresh lemon zest, lemon oil, and Lemonade Kool-Aid each play their parts in making these cookies one of my all-time favorites.

3 cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon cream of tartar

1 cup unsalted butter, softened slightly but still cool (about 10 minutes out of the refrigerator)
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
½ teaspoon lemon oil (or 1 teaspoon lemon extract)
3 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest (from 2 large lemons)
½ teaspoon fine sea salt

Topping
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon unsweetened Lemonade Kool-Aid powder (about ½ small packet)

  1. In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Reserve for a moment.
  2. In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until just creamy, stop the mixer, add the sugar, eggs, vanilla, lemon oil, and half the flour mixture, and beat slowly until combined, about 1 minute.
  3. Slowly beat in the remaining flour, just until combined.
  4. Remove the dough from the mixing bowl, put into a smaller container, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to a few days.
  5. To make the topping, in a small bowl, combine the sugar and the Kool-Aid powder. Cover with plastic wrap and reserve.
  6. With a small ice cream scoop (or spoon), scoop 1 tablespoon of chilled dough, keeping 1 side of the ball flat and release on a sheet of wax paper. Repeat with the remainder of the dough.
  7. Completely coat each cookie ball with the topping mixture and place on an ungreased baking pan, about 2 inches apart. Flatten each cookie slightly. A large baking sheet will hold 12 cookies. Repeat with the remainder of the dough.
  8. Bake at 350ºF for 12 minutes, until cookies are starting to crisp and brown at the edges, but are still noticeably soft in the center.
  9. Remove from the oven and let cookies cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes before carefully removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
  10. Store airtight in a cool location.

Makes about 4½ dozen cookies.

SERVING NOTE   Although best eaten as soon as they are cool enough to handle, these cookies retain a chewy texture for 1-2 days after baking. They never last that long in our house. J

FREEZING NOTE   The dough freezes well, so I often form all of it into balls, arrange them on a baking sheet, side-by side, and freeze them. After they are frozen, I plop them into a freezer bag for storage. When you are ready to bake, just remove the desired number of cookies from the freezer, roll each one in the topping mixture, and proceed with the general directions, allowing the cookies to thaw for about 15 minutes on the baking sheet before baking. You may need to add a couple of minutes of baking time.

Variations

Triple Lime Doodles

  • Substitute lime zest, lime oil, and Lemon-Lime Kool-Aid for lemon zest, lemon oil, and Lemonade Kool-Aid.

Triple Lemon Clove Doodles

  • At Step 2, add ½ teaspoon ground cloves.

Triple Lemon Ginger Doodles

  • At Step 2, add 2 tablespoons finely minced, fresh peeled ginger.

Triple Lemon Doodle Thumbprints

  • At Step 7, after arranging cookies on a baking sheet and flattening each cookie slightly, make a small indent in the center of each cookie, and then fill the indent with a tiny dollop of black cherry jam.

 Copyright 2009 Susan S. Bradley. All rights reserved.

 

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Filed Under: Cookies Tagged With: cherries, chewy cookies, Chez Panisse, cookies, lemons

About Susan S. Bradley

Intrepid cook, food writer, culinary instructor, creator of the LunaCafe blog, author of Pacific Northwest Palate: Four Seasons of Great Cooking, and former director of the Northwest Culinary Academy.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Neli

    July 18, 2015 at 6:43 pm

    Ah, cherries! I love anything cherries . This cookies looks fantastic!
    Neli´s last blog post ..Comment on Peach Raspberry Crumble by Byron ThomasMy Profile

  2. Sabrina

    July 16, 2015 at 2:26 am

    I love lemon cookies so much and these look even more amazing because of the cherry filling! I bet these were a huge hit when you made them.
    Sabrina´s last blog post ..Cinnamon Roll Sugar CookiesMy Profile

  3. Alisa Fleming

    July 15, 2015 at 7:37 am

    These look amazing Susan and are such a clever twist – but I’d be tempted to eat those amazing looking balls of dough before they hit the oven!
    Alisa Fleming´s last blog post ..Strawberry Shortcake Donuts (Baked!)My Profile

  4. nibblesbynic

    July 15, 2015 at 4:22 am

    Since my last name is truly “MEYER” lemons, very special to me! The coho with the sweet cherry must be truly divine!

  5. emblog

    April 25, 2010 at 11:40 pm

    nice! thank you for posting this article. hope you have a nice day 🙂

  6. deeba

    September 3, 2009 at 7:51 am

    Elegant & addictive. What a delight! I would love a sweet finish like this! YUM!!
    .-= deeba´s last blog ..40 GARLIC CHICKEN AL MATTONE…& PAPER CHEF =-.

  7. sms bradley

    September 2, 2009 at 1:04 pm

    Thank you so much, Louise. You are very kind. 🙂

  8. Sophie

    August 28, 2009 at 8:13 am

    Your cookies look so adorable & fab!

    MMMMMMMMMMMM,….

    • sms bradley

      September 2, 2009 at 1:07 pm

      Thank you, Sophie! These cookies are somewhat addictive, so be forewarned. 🙂

  9. Kate

    August 24, 2009 at 8:21 pm

    I am so in love with lemon! These sound wonderful. I love the variations.
    .-= Kate´s last blog ..Chocolate Peanut Buddy Bars =-.

    • sms bradley

      August 25, 2009 at 6:30 pm

      Thank you, Kate. So happy you stopped by.

  10. Velva

    August 24, 2009 at 5:26 pm

    These look so amazing! The only thing missing is a good cup of coffee.
    .-= Velva´s last blog ..Deliciously Dutch Part II =-.

    • sms bradley

      August 25, 2009 at 6:38 pm

      Yes, Velva, delicious with a dark rich coffee or espresso. And also with a light fragrantg tea, such as jasmine or Earl Grey.

  11. petite nyonya

    August 24, 2009 at 10:17 am

    Lovely cookies and presentation!

    • sms bradley

      August 25, 2009 at 6:32 pm

      Thanks so much. We had some fun with the styling on these pics.

  12. lisaiscooking

    August 24, 2009 at 6:05 am

    I love lemon cookies, and these look like great ones! Delicious.
    .-= lisaiscooking´s last blog ..Flatbreads with Winter Squash, Cremini, and Camembert =-.

    • sms bradley

      August 25, 2009 at 6:37 pm

      Lisa, thank you! Do try and let me know what you think. Really love the chewy texture here.

Trackbacks

  1. Chewy Peanut Butter, Roasted Peanut & Chocolate Chunk Cookies says:
    February 11, 2014 at 6:35 pm

    […] LunaCafe’s Triple Lemon Doodles […]

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