Tuesday, May 4, 2010

LEMON POPPY-SEED COOKIES


Lemon plays an important role in almost everything I bake. It always adds that much needed kick in every recipe; including everyday savory meals (I know you are all surprised to hear that I don't actually eat cake for dinner...). A squeeze of lemon and a pinch of zest will liven up any dish.

Lemons are actually a really great way to alkalize and balance your body's natural PH, so it's always great adding it to your water, squeezing it in salad dressings or marinades, or of course, adding it to your cookies and cakes for a vitamin C boost. ;)

My favorite desserts always seem to be the lemony ones.
After making the lemon-syrup tea cake, my appetite for lemony treats will forever be incurable, but these cookies have thankfully kept me going.


If you're passionate for all things lemon, you will love these.
These cookies are perfectly sweet, crisp and delicate with a wonderful zesty tang. The poppy seeds add a lovely crunch and finish off the cookie very well.


This dough is a lot wetter than most cookie dough. I think it may help to refrigerate the dough for a couple of hours before rolling into balls. I didn't do that, I just worked gently with it using a cookie scoop and dropping the dough in the sugar mix and gently rolling it around.
Lemon Poppy-Seed Cookies: (adapted from Martha Stewart Living, August 2004)
(Makes approx 30)
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 3 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds (plus extra for sprinkling)

Pre-heat oven to 375F. Bring the lemon juice to a simmer in a saucepan until reduced by half. Add 1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter, stir until melted. Set aside.




In a large bowl, cream together the other 1/2 cup (stick) of butter with 1 cup of the sugar with an electric mixer. Add the egg and melted lemon butter. Whisk for about 3 minutes until it becomes pale. Mix in the vanilla and 2 teaspoons of the lemon zest.

Sift in the flour, baking powder and salt, fold gently and then add the poppy seeds.



In another bowl, stir together the remaining sugar and lemon zest. Take spoonfuls of the cookie dough and roll it in the sugar/zest mix. Place 2 inches apart on a parchment lined baking sheet. Press each cookie flat with the flat side of a glass dipped in the sugar/zest mix. Sprinkle with more poppy seeds.



Bake in the oven for 10-11 minutes at 375F until the bottoms have browned lightly.
Allow to cool fully on a rack.



Check out some of my other Lemony Posts:
Lemon Cream Cake
Lemon Tarts
Lemon-syrup Tea Cake

32 comments:

  1. what pretty lemon-poppy cookies. In my case I couldn't live without lemons, parsley and chocolate

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  2. I love anything and everything lemon and these cookies look so delicious, light yet so lemony. Perfect cookies! These would be snapped up one after the other here. Hmmm.... maybe I'll bake them for husband to bring into the office this week. He'll be so happy!

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  3. I'm having my weekly lemon and olive oil shot as we speak, I too am a lemon fan and poppyseeds are just a match made in heaven.

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  4. Lemons=sunshine! These look so perfectly delicious, I could eat dozens at once.

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  5. Those cookies looks delicious. Unfortunately for me, my little family is not a big lemon or citrus fans. I'm so itching to bake those cookies of yours. :(

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  6. This would pair perfectly with a cup of hot tea. Thanks for the wonderful recipe.

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  7. These look so yummy! I adore anything lemon, too. And the poppy seeds make them so pretty! Great photos.

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  8. I wonder who was the genius who first put lemon and poppy seeds together? Perfection.

    These look great, so light and crispy!

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  9. oh yum, these look so good! I am on such a lemon kick recently! I've added lemon to so many desserts and meals that my husband is starting to get overwhelmed. Now I have another lemon dessert to add to my list! :)

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  10. I love lemon poppyseed muffins but have never had cookies, these look beautiful and delicious.

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  11. Thos cookies look light as a feather and delicious, so delicate!

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  12. Oh, gosh. These look *so* good. I'm totally craving a lemon dessert now. So it's only 9 a.m. - no matter!

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  13. Very beautiful-looking cookies! Such a perfect combination of lemon and poppy seed! Must be very delicious! ;)

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  14. I'm craving lemon like crazy these days! I had this superb lemon tart in France and my appetite for lemon has been insufferable ever since! I might make a lemon cake this week..

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  15. Your lemon cookies look so pretty and I am sure they taste amazing! I love lemon as well and its fabulous freshness ...

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  16. I am a lemon lover and can't wait to try these cookies!

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  17. What pretty little cookies, I bet they taste a bit like sunshine :D
    Have a wonderful weekend ahead.
    *kisses* HH

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  18. i would definitely kill myself if there was no butter! these cookies look gorgeous and i love a lemon poppy seed combo! yum!

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  19. What pretty cookies and I LOVE lemon. I agree with you and Jamie 100%!

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  20. These look so good, and I totally agree about how sad the world would be without lemons, butter and sugar.

    I want to make these cookies AND your lemon tarts!

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  21. those look so good! i love lemon poppy-seed muffins but i've never had cookies like this.

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  22. What a perfect little afternoon tea accompaniment! I also love lemon cookies and cakes and go through a ton of the yellow treasures every week (so much so, that my compost bin smells like lemon pledge!)

    These are delightful!

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  23. I love lemon poppy seed anything, but these look scrumptious!

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  24. A pucker & pop cookie! What's not to love!

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  25. These really look delicious. I found your blog by chance but your recipes kept me here. I'll be back often to see what else you have been cooking. I hope you are having a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

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  26. These are lovely. Perfect for a picnic!

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  27. So know what you mean about lemon - I've tried to prevent my blog becoming a site of lemon only recipes by (actually, also ginger now I come to think of it) not posting all the lemony stuff I cook, hehe. Still lots of lemon stuff there though...Love the look of the lemon cake as well as these cookies.

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  28. These look delightful! Thanks for sharing...they look like they'd be perfect paired with a cup of tea.

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  29. Those pictures are so pretty! I love anything lemon so these would be perfect. They look easy to make too.

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  30. these look divine :) your blog is great.. thanks for finding mine :)

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