Lemon Meltaways Cookie Recipe

Delightful Lemon Meltaways Cookies…easy to make, and they’ll melt in your mouth! They’re cookie perfection made with just a few simple ingredients you have in your pantry. But be warned–you won’t want to stop eating them! 

I’m pretty much obsessed with anything lemon.  I have a whole collection of lemon recipes, both sweet and savory, and it’s one of my very favorite flavors. All I have to do is see the word “lemon”, and I totally want to try the recipe. That’s what happened a week ago, when a friend shared a recipe via e-mail. AND it was for Lemon Meltaways, which, come on now, how can that be resisted? Not very well!

I made them, LOVED them, my kids loved them, and they now have a permanent place in my recipe book. Now anyone I make them for loves them too! Whenever I’m in the mood for lemon, this is one of my go-to recipes. We make them often, and now I’m excited to be sharing them with you today. I don’t think you’ll be able to resist them either! So I’m adding the beware button…because once you make them and eat one, it’s awfully hard to stop!

Lemon Meltaways Cookie Recipe

Fast & Easy Lemon Cookie Recipe

This isn’t a typical cookie recipe, nor is it a typical lemon cookie recipe, which makes me love it that much more. No beaters or electric mixer are required for this delightful recipe–just mix up the ingredients, which takes all of about 5 minutes. Tops. That’s my favorite kind of cookie, especially when I really want homemade cookies, but not a lot of time.  

After rolling the dough into two logs, it does require refrigeration, but I love that too, because you can prep ahead of time if you need to. (You can even freeze the dough for later, which is a time-saver.) I whipped up the cookies the night before I needed them, and the next morning it was super easy to slice, bake, and glaze them. They only require about an hour in the fridge though, so if you need them faster, that works too!

You’ll need:  (complete recipe card at the bottom of the post)

• Butter
• Powdered Sugar
• Flour
• Cornstarch
• Lemon Juice
• Lemon Zest

For the glaze: 

• Powdered sugar
• Butter
• Lemon juice
• Lemon zest

It’s a simple recipe, with simple ingredients, yet they’re packed with buttery, lemon-y flavor that you won’t be able to resist.  

The cookies are light, crisp, and perfect for spring and summer, although I love them the whole year. I know exactly how they got the “meltaway” part of their name. The cookie isn’t super sweet, and allows you to really taste the butter flavor. The lemony glaze adds the sweetness, and a little more tartness, to make the combination absolutely perfect! They’re a melt-in-your-mouth consistency, with a bit of a shortbread feel But they’re definitely lemon-y in flavor, and when combined with the tart lemon glaze, the result is nothing less than fantastic.

Perfect cookies for giving! 

These would be delightful at any party, wedding shower, baby shower, BBQ…or anywhere, really. Package them up and deliver to a friend or neighbor, and they will love you forever. Typically lemon might be thought of as a spring or summer cookie, but they’re good all year long, even the holidays. Add these beauties to a holiday cookie plate, for take them to a cookie swap, and they’re sure to be a hit. 

Another fun way to package them up is when the dough is rolled into a log. I like to roll it up into wax paper, leaving a couple inches on each end, then tying a ribbon in to each side. It’s perfect for the holidays! (or anytime.)

Recipe Tips

• Use softened butter:  This is an important step! If the butter is too hard or melted, then it will affect howthe cookie shapes in the oven, and how the dough mixes up. 
• Fresh lemon is best! If it’s at all possible, I highly recommend using fresh lemon.  It gives the brightest flavor, and really makes a difference.  I’ve definitely used the lemon juice in a bottle when that’s all I had, and the cookies are still really yummy.  But the flavor is a bit different when using fresh lemon. 
• Slice carefully.  If they cookieslices are too thin, they’ll bake faster, and possibly be on the crunchy side. If they’re too thick, they’ll take longer to bake.
• Don’t overbake! This is pretty much the cardinal rule for all cookies, and it’s the same in this case, especially if you want them to melt in your mouth. Unless you like really crunchy cookies!

Freezing Cookie Dough 

Yes, you can freeze both the dough and the cookies!  It’s always nice to have extra in the freezer to pull out whenever you need it.

• Once you’ve made the dough and rolled it into logs, wrap well in plastic wrap, then in a gallon freezer bag.   
• When you’re ready to bake, remove from freezer and let thaw in the refrigerator.  Slice and bake as directed, then add the glaze.
• They’ll last in the freezer up to 3 months.

Freezing Baked Cookies

Freezing cookies is easy too! 

• Once the cookies are baked and cooled, place them in a freezer-safe container or bag and place in the freezer. 
• When you’re ready to use them, thaw completely, then make and add the glaze. 

Storing Baked Cookies

• Store these cookies in an airtight container for 3-4 days, or in the fridge for 4-5 days.  

Favorite Kitchen Tools

• Lemon zester
• Baking sheets…heavy duty, stainless steel
• Whisk
• Mixing bowls

*Originally posted June 23, 2014. Updated June 2020.

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• Best Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
• Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars
• Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies
• The Yummiest Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

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