Lemon Crème Brûlée Cookies
Tender lemon sugar cookies finished with a glossy custard-like glaze and a crackly brûléed sugar top. Bright, creamy, and irresistibly crisp on top.
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Servings:
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 0.75 cup unsalted butter softened
- 0.75 cup granulated sugar
- 0.25 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon zest from about 2 lemons
- 2 tbsp egg yolks, lightly beaten about 2 yolks
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- 1.5 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2.25 cup all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 0.25 tsp baking soda
- 0.5 tsp fine sea salt
Lemon Custard Glaze
- 1.25 cup powdered sugar sifted if lumpy
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1.5 tbsp heavy cream
- 0.5 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract
Brûlée Sugar Topping
- 0.33 cup granulated sugar for torching
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment.
- Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and lemon zest until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Mix in egg yolks, heavy cream, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
- Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Stir just until a soft dough forms.
- Scoop 1½-tablespoon portions, roll into balls, and set 2 inches apart. Gently flatten tops.
- Bake 9–11 minutes until edges look set and centers are pale. Do not overbake.
- Cool on the sheet 5 minutes, then move cookies to a rack to cool completely.
- Whisk powdered sugar, lemon juice, heavy cream, and vanilla into a thick, glossy glaze.
- Spoon glaze over cooled cookies and spread to the edges. Let set 10–15 minutes.
- Sprinkle a thin, even layer of granulated sugar over each glazed cookie.
- Torch the sugar until amber and glassy. Alternatively, broil briefly, watching constantly.
Notes
Try swapping the vanilla in the glaze for 1/4 tsp almond extract for a bakery-style twist. Store cookies in a single layer at room temperature up to 2 days; for extra crunch, brûlée just before serving.
This recipe is an original creation inspired by classic Lemon Crème Brûlée Cookies flavors. All ingredient ratios and instructions are independently developed.