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These cookies are what I call my signature cookies. I take them to all my book signing (I tell everyone one they are to bribe their stomachs so they will know how great my book is). This is an old-fashion recipe that is very rich and delicious. If you love lemon, you'll absolutely love these cookies. Be prepared thought, all your friends will want this recipe after they taste these delicious cookies.  I usually don't give this recipe out  (I want to sell books.) But for all of you, here it is.

This wonderful photo of my High Tea Lemon Cookies was send to me by Food Stylist, Kristine Duran-Thiessen, of Bronte, NSW Australia. Krisstine says "I hope you like this photo. It was taken by a wonderful photographer, Emma Reilly, who works for the big magazines in Australia. I needed to get some picture done to demonstrate how I style shoots, etc. This is a fabulous recipe! I've passed on your website to some friends already (the ones who I've made these cookie for), and everyone wants the recipes. They are to die for! I let the icing drop down the sides and garnished the tops with lemon zest for looks."

Check out more of Linda's favorite Cookie Recipes and Secrets To Making Perfect Cookies.

Don't forget to check out my American High Tea or Afternoon Tea Menu (with recipes) which includes these delicious High Tea Lemon Cookies.

High Tea Lemon Cookies

2 cups butter, room temperature*
2/3 cup powdered (confectioners) sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups cornstarch**
Lemon Frosting (see recipe below)

* Very important please read! You must use room temperature butter (not softened or melted butter). I get emails from bakers saying that their cookies turn out all crumbly. It usually turns out that they have not used room temperature butter. I, personally, make these cookie every year for our Spring Teas. The recipe is correct. These cookies are always the favorite at our teas. NOTE: If you live in a high humidity area, check out comments below.

** Yes, this is correct - use 1 1/2 cups cornstarch.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, beat butter until creamy looking. Add powdered sugar; mix until light and fluffy. Add lemon zest and vanilla extract; beat well. Add flour and cornstarch into butter mixture and mix well until well combined. NOTE: At first the dough will look dry - but don't worry, as the dough slowly comes together as you mix it and the butter melts into the dry ingredients.

Do not refrigerate this dough, as the butter will harden hard and make the dough unmanageable for rolling. Using your hands, roll cookie dough into 1-inch balls. Place onto ungreased cookie sheets and bake 15 minutes or until bottoms are light brown. Remove from oven, carefully remove from baking sheet, and cool on wire racks (when warm the cookies are delicate). When cool, spread Lemon Frosting onto top of cookies.

Yields 6 dozen cookies.

Lemon Frosting:
This recipe makes enough for a double batch of cookies.

1/3 cup butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/3 to 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 cups powdered (confectioners) sugar

In a medium bowl, combine butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, and powdered sugar; stir until well mixed. NOTE: Additional lemon juice may be needed to get the frosting thin enough.

NOTE:  After making many batches of Lemon Frosting, I now thin the frosting with additional lemon juice or water and dip the top of the cookie into it. This technique is much faster and easier.