citrus butter cookies

Citrus Butter Cookies

THESE are the cookies. The cookies I shamefully ate, one after another, as I sat engrossed by a movie I swore never to watch. Yes, it's true. Just like Twilight, these cookies will suck you in despite your best intentions. And then, after it's all said and done, you will wonder at your temporary insanity and wallow around in shame. And then you will desperately try to locate the second Twilight movie...because you really need to know what happens!

I don't know. Maybe it's just me. Apparently, Twilight and Citrus Butter Cookies are my Kryptonite. Things could be worse.

Warm Cookies + Citrus Glaze

Here's the thing about these cookies. At first glance, they look like regular ol' cookies. Yawn. But then you take a bite and they're totally not. In keeping with my recent citrus obsession, these cookies have a dose of orange, lemon, AND lime zest plus orange, lemon, AND lime juice. Plus, there's a healthy dose of citrus glaze all up in there for good measure.

If you don't have all the necessary citrus on hand, try making these with what you have around the house. I bet they would be awesome with just lime...but I'm kinda a limey gal. :) I dunno. If you try it, let me know.

Also, don't be discouraged if the dough is very sticky. I halved this recipe and my dough was verrry sticky. Like, I almost trashed the dough because it was so sticky. But I didn't and the cookies turned out wonderfully. So...have faith! You won't regret it...except when you are mourning your lack of will power in regards to these little devils. You've been warned.

In conclusion, seriously, does anyone know where I can find the second Twilight movie?!? I've already tried Netflix, Redbox, and OnDemand. This is just getting embarrassing. I'm a woman obsessed. Ugh.

Citrus Butter Cookies

Ingredients:
2 cups (4 sticks) salted butter, softened
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 whole large eggs, separated
4 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons orange, lemon, and lime zest (approx 1 tablespoon each)
2 tablespoons orange, lemon, and/or lime juice (2 tablespoons total)

Icing:
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons whole milk
2 tablespoons orange, lemon, and lime zest
juice of 1/2 lime
juice of 1/2 lemon
dash of salt
extra zest, for decorating

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter and sugar until combined. Add egg yolks and mix until combined (set whites aside for the icing.) Add the zest and the flour and mix until just combined, then add juice and mix until combined.

Scoop out heaping teaspoons of dough, then roll them into balls between your hands. Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 13 minutes. Remove from the oven and keep on the cookie sheet for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the pan with a spatula and allow to cool completely before icing.

To make the icing, combine 1 egg white with the rest of the icing ingredients. Whisk thoroughly until combined, adding either more powdered sugar or more juice until it reaches a pourable but still thick consistency.

Drizzle the icing over the cookies. If desired, sprinkle with extra zest before the icing sets.

Yields 36 cookies

Source: The Pioneer Woman