Welcome to a delightful journey of flavor with my Crinkle Lemon Cookies! Bursting with the zesty freshness of lemon and the rich nuttiness of almond meal, these cookies are a true testament to the magic that can happen in a kitchen. With just a handful of simple ingredients, you can create these heavenly treats that are perfect for any occasion.
Easy lemon cookies
I made these delicious lemony crinkle cookies. The recipe is so simple and it also happens to be gluten-free! Win-win.
With only 5 ingredients, you can whip these cookies up in a short time and indulge in this lemony sweet treat. The cookies are parve (non-dairy) and are a great fit for your Shabbat dessert too.
The main ingredient in these cookies is an almond meal (ground almonds). Combined with sugar, zest of lemon, and egg whites, you get the batter for the cookies. In order to get crinkles on the cookies, you roll each cookie in powdered sugar. Very simple to make and a very tasty outcome. The baking time is short, just like most of my cookie recipes, and you need to let the cookies cool a bit before munching.
You might wonder how there is so little liquid in the recipe but the 2 egg whites are enough to unify the batter and you don’t need to add any additional liquids.
These cookies are perfect for Passover too because they are gluten-free and the lemon-fresh taste is perfect for spring.
Recipe yields approximately 30 cookies depending on the size you make them.
Tips to ensure your cookies turn out irresistibly delicious:
Fresh Ingredients
Use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. Ensure your almond meal is blanched and finely ground, and use fresh lemons for the zest.
Accurate Measurements
Precision matters in baking. Use accurate measuring cups for dry ingredients like almond meal and sugar. This ensures the right balance of flavors and textures.
Zesting Lemons
When zesting the lemon, be careful not to include the bitter white pith. Use a fine grater or a microplane to get just the outer, flavorful layer of the lemon peel.
Room Temperature Eggs
Allow your egg whites to come to room temperature before incorporating them into the batter. Room temperature eggs mix more easily and evenly, resulting in a smoother batter.
Mixing the Batter
Mix the sugar, almond meal, lemon zest, and egg whites until you achieve a unified batter. Be careful not to overmix, as this can affect the texture of the cookies.
Wet Hands for Rolling
Wet your hands slightly when rolling the cookie dough into balls. This helps prevent the dough from sticking to your hands, making the rolling process easier.
Evenly Coated in Powdered Sugar
Roll each cookie ball generously in powdered sugar to achieve that classic crinkle appearance. Ensure each cookie is evenly coated for a consistent look and taste.
Cooling Process
Allow the cookies to cool at room temperature before indulging. This helps them set and develop their final texture and flavor.
Storage
To keep the cookies fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. If you're not consuming them all at once, you can freeze the cookies for longer shelf life.
FAQS
While almond meal provides a unique texture and flavor to these cookies, you can experiment with using all-purpose flour as a substitute. Keep in mind that the results may differ in terms of taste and texture.
Fresh lemon zest is recommended for the best flavor. Pre-packaged zest may not provide the same level of freshness and citrusy aroma.
Yes, you can freeze the cookie dough. Form the dough into balls and place them on a baking sheet. Freeze until solid, then transfer the dough balls to a sealed container or bag. When ready to bake, let them thaw slightly and coat in powdered sugar before baking.
Store the baked Lemon Crinkle Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. Adding a piece of bread to the container can help keep the cookies soft.
The recipe calls for granulated sugar, but you can experiment with other sugars like coconut sugar or even a sugar substitute. Keep in mind that this may alter the taste and texture of the cookies.
Yes, you can make the cookie dough ahead of time and refrigerate it until you're ready to bake. You can also bake the cookies in advance and store them in an airtight container.
The crinkle effect is achieved through the interaction of the cookie dough and the powdered sugar coating during baking. Ensure the cookie balls are generously coated in powdered sugar, and they are placed on the baking sheet with enough space between them. Additionally, the crinkling effect may vary based on factors like humidity and altitude.
Other cookie recipes to try:
Make these lemon crinkle cookies today!
Follow my easy-to-follow instructions to whip up these Crinkle Lemon Cookies in no time. The sweet aroma that fills your kitchen as they bake is a promise of the delightful experience that awaits. So, preheat your oven, gather your ingredients, and let's embark on a journey to create cookies that are not just a treat for the taste buds but a celebration of simplicity and indulgence. Get ready to savor the joy of each bite – these Crinkle Lemon Cookies are meant to be enjoyed one delicious moment at a time!
Lemon Crinkle Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 cups almond meal (blanched ground almonds)
- 1 cup sugar
- zest one lemon
- 2 egg whites
- ½ cup powdered sugar (for coating)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 170°C / 325°F with the fan.
- In a bowl, mix the sugar and almond meal.
- Add the lemon zest and egg whites.
- Mix until you get a unified batter.
- With wet hands, roll small balls of the batter.
- Place the powdered sugar in a small bowl or a plate.
- Roll each cookie ball in the powdered sugar.
- Place the coated cookies on a baking pan.
- Bake for 12 minutes.
- Cool at room temperature.
- Have a cookie and enjoy each bite!
Sara
tasted pretty good but we did not get any "crinkles"
Did you flatten the balls before baking? It doesn't say so in the directions so we didn't and they came out looking exactly the way they went into the oven, just round balls covered in powdered sugar.
Also, the coloring was very different. Your cookies are a very light color, like what you would get using regular flour. What kind of almond flour/meal did you use?
Renana
Hi Sara, Thanks for you comment!
I didn't flatten the balls before baking. The cookies don't grow much, just get crinkles. Do you have a convection oven? I bake it with fan on, which could get hotter than without it. Also its short baking time so try baking for a few more minutes to see if the crinkles appear. I used blanched ground almonds, I will edit the ingredients to mention it, this could be the reason mine are lighter than yours.