Lemon Curd Butter Cookies (Printable)

Buttery thumbprint cookies filled with tangy lemon curd for a perfect sweet-zesty balance.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cookie Dough

01 - 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
02 - 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
03 - 1 large egg yolk
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
05 - 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Filling

07 - 1/2 cup (120 g) lemon curd, store-bought or homemade

→ Optional Finishing

08 - Powdered sugar for dusting

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
03 - Beat in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until incorporated.
04 - Gradually mix in the flour and salt until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
05 - Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart.
06 - Using your thumb or the back of a spoon, gently press an indentation into the center of each ball.
07 - Fill each indentation with about 1/2 teaspoon of lemon curd.
08 - Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden.
09 - Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
10 - Dust cooled cookies with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • That incredible contrast between buttery cookie and tangy filling hits a flavor profile you didnt know you needed
  • These look impressive but come together in under an hour, even if you are new to baking
  • The dough freezes beautifully so you can have fresh baked cookies whenever the mood strikes
02 -
  • Overfilling the thumbprints will cause the lemon curd to bubble over in the oven and make a sticky mess
  • The dough balls will spread slightly so give them that full 2 inches of breathing room
  • These cookies are fragile when warm so let them cool completely before trying to move them
03 -
  • Chill the dough for 30 minutes if your kitchen is warm—it will be much easier to work with
  • Try lime curd instead of lemon for something a little more subtle and unexpected

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