Aren’t these cookies pretty? I was leafing through one of my thousand holiday cookie magazines and saw these little beauties and knew that they would be next. These are not an overly sweet cookie. They are delicate and crumbly and full of lemon flavor. The icing really puts these cookies over the edge. They give the perfect sweet-tartness to the cookie. I also really love anything with a sprinkle on it. These white non-pareils really make this cookie look elegant and sophisticated.
According to Martha, these Lemon Wreath cookies are called Ciambelles. They are Italian cookies and the name refers to the wreath shape. Fancy, huh?
3 cups flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
2/3 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon lemon juice plus 1/2 cup lemon juice (from about 4 lemons)
2 sticks room temperature butter
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups confectioners sugar
Grate the zest and squeeze the lemon juice into a cup. You will only use a teaspoon for the cookie dough and the rest will be used for the glaze.
In a food processor, pulse together the sugar and lemon zest. If you do not have a food processor, just rub the zest and the sugar together in your fingers to release the oils.
Cream together the butter and lemon sugar until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla and one teaspoon lemon juice.
Add the flour, salt, and baking powder.
And there you have a beautiful cookie dough.
I used an ice cream scooper to scoop out about a Tablespoon of dough. Take that piece of dough and roll into a 4-inch log. Bring the ends together and pinch together to form a wreath.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 15 to 18 minutes. Let the cookies cool completely.
Mix together the confectioners sugar and the remaining lemon juice. Whisk until smooth.
Dip the cookie into the icing.
Let the icing drip on a cooling rack. Sprinkle with the non-pareils.
Let dry.
Of course, I had to package my Lemon Wreaths. I used a plain white box and some gingham ribbon to secure the box. Then I found these pretty paper poinsettias and used a few glue dots to adhere them. 3 minutes? I think that so far, this packaging is my favorite. I love the sparkly paper flowers. It is simple and special at the same time.
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon lemon juice plus 1/2 cup lemon juice (from about 4 lemons)
- 2 sticks room temperature butter
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 cups confectioners sugar
Instructions
- Grate the zest and squeeze the lemon juice into a cup. You will only use a teaspoon for the cookie dough and the rest will be used for the glaze.
- In a food processor, pulse together the sugar and lemon zest. If you do not have a food processor, just rub the zest and the sugar together in your fingers to release the oils.
- Cream together the butter and lemon sugar until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla and one teaspoon lemon juice.
- Add the flour, salt, and baking powder.
- And there you have a beautiful cookie dough.
- I used an ice cream scooper to scoop out about a Tablespoon of dough. Take that piece of dough and roll into a 4-inch log. Bring the ends together and pinch together to form a wreath.
- Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 15 to 18 minutes. Let the cookies cool completely.
- Mix together the confectioners sugar and the remaining lemon juice. Whisk until smooth.
- Dip the cookie into the icing.
- Let the icing drip on a cooling rack. Sprinkle with the non-pareils.
- Let dry.
I am Bree. I love to cook. Even more than I love to take pictures.
Well, it is settled. I will be freebasing these ASAP. They are adorable, and they look lemon-licious! Love it!!
awesome. Is there a support group for that?
Well those certainly do look fancy! And very delicious. And those little sprinkles!? We’re sold.
The Blue-Eyed Bakers recently posted..Cranberry- Pistachio & Ginger Blondie Cake
thanks Ladies!
Beautiful post from beginning to end! I really think I need to make these cookies! Seriously. You describe them perfectly! Someone will be very thrilled to receive that beautiful box of cookies:)
Sue recently posted..Play Dough Cookies
thank you Sue! You are sweet.
They look wonderful! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Tracy recently posted..Pumpkin Bread
my pleasure Tracy!
Those look so pretty, and I love the way you described them. They look like they melt in your mouth!
mickey
mickey recently posted..Mini Raspberry Tarts
they were scrumptious. Thanks Mickey!
These look so pretty with that glaze on them and I bet they taste fantastic. I’m always up for a good lemon cookie. Beautiful packaging too.
Lisa recently posted..12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies 6 – Apple Brownies
thanks Lisa.
Those cookies sure are delicious! I just love how you wrap up all the yummy goodies. Very pretty and creative. Thought it was worth a Tweet.
Daisy recently posted..Eco Friendly Holiday Lights- Which Should You Buy And How Should You Use Them
thank you Daisy! I appreciate the tweet.
Those look so good and pretty and fun to make. Great photos.
thank you Katrina!
I love anything with lemon! My husband’s family is Italian and these do look like something I remember his Aunts making. Can’t wait to try them. I love looking at you photos and seeing how many tools you use that I also own! I see the Batter Bowl is a favorite of yours. I use mine ALL the time. Thanks for sharing-
Tanya recently posted..Ignite Your Smile Part 3- Bring Happiness To Others
I love my batter bowl!
I love these! They look so fresh and light…and I love the packaging too!
thank you Tracy!
I received your blog from a friend and I love it! My husband and I are foodies that LOVE to cook so we really enjoy your beautiful pictures! I made these cookies last night with my boys (ages 2 and 3) and they we’re great. The only change we made was colored sprinkles. The boys wouldn’t have it any other way! Thanks again!
so glad that you liked them. Even happier that you made them with your children!
Thanks for sharing these! I baked them today and they were delicious. I couldn’t get them in the nice wreath shape as it’s too hot (30 deg C) here so the dough was too soft even after I refrigerated it for half an hour. But it’s great as a cookie still. Not too sweet and really heavenly with the icing. I couldn’t resist eating a few while icing them.
It is so strange for me to picture making Christmas cookies in that kind of weather! I am so glad that you liked them.
[...] Lemon Wreaths [...]
I made these today for a cookie exchange tomorrow night. The flavor is great but mine were a little dry. I didn’t over bake them, I even took them out around 14 minutes. I think I might have over mixed them since I couldn’t use my stand mixer and the hand mixer was having a hard time with the dough. Hope they are a hit even being a bit dry!
Sara recently posted..Say What Josie Duggar
Sorry that they were dry…
[...] Christmas I pulled myself away from a whirlwind of editing to make her Lemon Wreath cookies. And. Oh. My. Goodness. They were divine! And pretty! My family was a little astonished [...]
Me and my roomate bake all the time, but we usually give most of our baked goods away to save our waistlines but when I made these…I think we gave away one. My roomate even declared that they would be served at her wedding haha. So thanks, they are awesome.
lol… glad that you liked them so much.
[...] Week 6 Twelve Weeks of Christmas: Tweet [...]
How many cookies does this recipe make?
2 dozen?