These lemon thumbprint cookies are tangy and easy to make. The finished cookies have soft centers, light chew around the edges and a pool of sharp lemon in the middle.
Soften the butter properly: You want butter that's soft enough to press a finger into easily, not greasy or melted, so it creams smoothly with the sugar.
Press deep thumbprints: Make the indents deep and wide enough that the lemon curd sits in a little well instead of sliding over the edge while the cookies bake.
Space them out: I recommend spacing your cookies 1 ½ to 2 inches apart. I could fit 6 comfortably on my 9 x 13-inch pan.
Don't overbake: Pull the tray when the edges are just turning lightly golden and the centers look set. The cookies will firm up more as they cool.
Let them cool on the tray first: Leave the cookies on the baking sheet for a few minutes so the structure sets around the warm lemon curd before you move them to a cooling rack.
Scan this QR code with your phone's camera to view this recipe on your mobile device.