Extra Special Lemon Drop Cookies

These have a really lovely lemony taste and are also nice and chewy. Everyone loves these. Adapted from ohfransson.com.

• Ready In: 29 mins
• Yields: 4 dozens

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup  one stick unsalted butter
• 1⁄4 cup shortening
• 1⁄4 cup cream cheese
• 3  cups granulated sugar
• 3  lemons, zest of
• 3  egg yolks
• 1  tablespoon lemon juice
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1  dash salt
• 1 3⁄4 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. In the bowl of a mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, shortening and cream cheese at medium speed until smooth, about two minutes.
3. In the bowl of a food processor, combine granulated sugar and lemon zest. Pulse several times to combine.
4. Add two cups of lemon/sugar combination, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt to the mixer bowl and beat for several minutes to combine.
5. Add eggs yolks, lemon juice and vanilla and beat to combine. Turn mixer to slow speed and gradually add flour.
6. Roll dough into 1” balls, roll balls in remaining lemon/sugar mixture and place 2” apart, on a baking sheet fitted with parchment paper or a silpat. Bake 12 – 14 minutes until just barely browned.
7. Note: The key to make these cookies lemony special is combining granulated sugar and lemon zest in a food processor. This sugar is used both in the dough and to roll the cookie in before baking.