Snack: Poppy-Shaped Lemon Cookies

Buttery cookies get a jolt of citrus flavor and a delicate glaze of royal icing in this take on the timeless lemon-poppy seed combination.

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Lemon

Health benefits of Poppy-Shaped Lemon Cookies

Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form.

Ingredients

2 stick unsalted butter
3/4 c. confectioners' sugar
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 tbsp. finely grated lemon zest
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 c. all-purpose flour
salt

Instructions

Make the cookies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat butter, sugar, vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice until combined. Beat in flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Wrap dough in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.
Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface, and roll out to a scant 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out about 18 cookies using 2 sizes of flower cookie cutters (one 3-inch and one 3 3/4-inch; fancyflours. com). Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Bake until edges just start to brown, 14 to 18 minutes. Let cool completely.
Decorate the cookies: Transfer each batch of tinted icing to a separate pastry bag fitted with a small round tip (you can use as many colors as desired). Pipe an outline of icing around the edges, then "flood" each cookie with more icing to cover. Immediately pipe a circle of small dots in the center of each cookie using a different-colored icing. Drag dots to outer edges using a toothpick to create thin lines. Repeat with remaining cookies and icing. Transfer cookies to parchment-lined baking sheets, and let dry completely, about 30 minutes.
Once cookies are set, pipe a large dot in the center of each cookie using the same tinted icing as the small dots. Gently sprinkle poppy seeds around large dot. Let dry completely. Looking for more dessert ideas? Check out our homemade chocolate chip cookie recipes, apple pie recipes, and chocolate cake recipes.

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