There are recipes born from the simplicity of the ingredients and the desire to bring something genuine, fragrant, and capable of immediately evoking a sense of home to the table. The almond and lemon cookies belong to this category: small crumbly, bright, and delicate treats that smell of citrus and recall afternoons spent kneading calmly, letting the kitchen fill with comforting aromas. These cookies do not need elaborate presentations: their scent alone tells the whole story.
Their magic lies in the meeting of two ingredients that seem made for each other. The almonds, finely ground into almost a flour, offer a soft and slightly rustic texture, while the lemon, with its grated zest and fresh juice, brings a bright note that makes every bite lively and surprising. To complete the dough, only a few essential elements are needed: eggs, sugar, a little all-purpose flour, and a hint of baking powder to give the right lightness. It’s a simple combination that can transform into something special.
These cookies are perfect in any season but have a particular charm in the colder months when the lemon’s scent seems to bring a ray of sunshine and the sweetness of almonds warms the atmosphere. Before baking, a light dusting of powdered sugar creates that white crust that cracks during baking, drawing small irregular crevices: a detail that makes them even more inviting and hints at their crumbly texture.
Preparing them is a simple, almost meditative gesture: mix the ingredients, form small balls, and let the oven do the rest. The result is a tray of golden, fragrant, and irresistible cookies, perfect to enjoy with a cup of tea, to gift, or to serve as a sweet treat at the end of a meal. A recipe that celebrates the beauty of simplicity and carries with it all the freshness of lemon and the sweetness of almonds.
I love preparing these little cookies to accompany a coffee or tea break, here are some tasty ideas:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 20 cookies
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Fall, Winter, and Spring
Ingredients for Almond and Lemon Cookies
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups almonds
- 3/4 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 lemon (zest and juice)
- as needed powdered sugar (for the coating)
Tools
- Hand Blender
Preparation of Almond and Lemon Cookies
Finely chop the almonds and set them aside.
Pour the eggs and sugar into a bowl and mix until uniform.
Add the lemon zest and 2 tbsp of juice. Mix carefully.
Add the chopped almonds, mix, and then add the flour and baking powder. Mix thoroughly with a spoon or spatula to form a uniform dough.
Take a sheet of parchment paper and roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/2 inch. Cut out stars with a cookie cutter.
Gently lift the stars and coat them in powdered sugar, then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
You can also roll the dough into balls and roll them in powdered sugar before placing them on the baking sheet. It’s a much quicker way to make almond and lemon cookies.
Bake in a preheated oven at 340°F for about 10-12 minutes. Once ready, let them cool before serving with a steaming cup of tea.
Almond and lemon cookies keep well for several days in an airtight container.
