Lemon Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon extract
• Zest from 1 lemon
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• Small pinch of fresh nutmeg (a few grates of a whole nutmeg against a microplane)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup white sparkling sugar

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line 3 cookie sheets with a sheet of parchment paper.

2. 2

   With a mixer, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes on high).

3. 3

   Add eggs to the butter and sugar mixture and mix to combine.

4. 4

   Add lemon juice, lemon extract and lemon zest and mix again.

5. 5

   In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt. Whisk until ingredients are well combined.

6. 6

   Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until combined.

7. 7

   Place the white sparkling sugar in a small, flat bowl.

8. 8

   Using a small cookie scoop, measure out and form a ball of dough with your hands. Then roll each dough ball in the sparkling sugar, coating well. Place the coated dough balls on the prepared cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart. (about 12-15 per pan)

9. 9

   Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the cookie sheet(s) from the oven but leave the oven on. Carefully press down on each cookie with a flat-bottomed glass so that the cookie flattens a bit and the outer edges of the cookie crackle a little. Bake for 2 additional minutes. Baking multiple pans at once may extend baking time.

10. 10

    Carefully remove each cookie to a wire rack to cool completely.