Zesty Lemon Frosted Cookies (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ For the Cookies

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 2 tablespoons lemon zest (about 2 lemons)
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
06 - 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
07 - ½ teaspoon baking powder
08 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
09 - ¼ teaspoon salt

→ For the Lemon Frosting

10 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 3 cups powdered sugar
12 - 2 tablespoons lemon zest
13 - 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
14 - 1-2 tablespoons heavy cream (optional, for consistency)

# Instructions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg, lemon zest, and lemon juice until fully combined.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until a dough forms.
04 - Roll the dough into 2.5 cm (1-inch) balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets, about 5 cm (2 inches) apart. Flatten each ball slightly with your fingers or the bottom of a glass.
05 - Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers may appear soft, but they will firm up as they cool.
06 - Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
07 - In a medium bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the lemon zest and fresh lemon juice until smooth and creamy. If the frosting is too thick, add heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, until reaching desired consistency.
08 - Once the cookies have cooled completely, spread or pipe the lemon frosting onto each cookie. Optionally, top with a sprinkle of extra lemon zest for garnish.

# Notes:

01 - Allow cookies to cool completely before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.