Although my sisters and I eventually outgrew the prefilled Easter baskets too (harsh realities of our 20s), I certainly believe that, at any age, everyone deserves a little springtime treat. A fresh twist on classic jam thumbprint cookies, which in my family are rolled in crushed walnuts and filled with strawberry jam, lemon thumbprint cookies take the same lightly crispy, buttery shortbread and give it the springtime citrus treatment. In celebration of a new season and the return of sunshine, let’s fill our baskets and pile our plates with bright lemon coconut thumbprint cookies.
Lemon Thumbprint Cookies – Simple and Elegant
These lemon coconut thumbprint cookies are a demonstration of beautiful cookie simplicity (as are these Carrot Cookies).
The cookie dough is only five ingredients, yet results in a richly flavored, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookie base (similar to these Strawberry Lemon Cream Cheese Bars).Rather than fuss with making lemon curd from scratch, I used lemon pie filling. Feel free to swap in homemade lemon curd if you prefer.Coconut, lemon’s tropical sidekick, is the perfect halo to surround our thumbprint cookies.
How to Make Lemon Coconut Thumbprint Cookies
With shredded coconut that toasts into a golden, lightly crunchy shell around the buttery cookie, and lemon filling that offers a bright, glossy burst of citrus, every bite of these old-fashioned thumbprint cookies is like a fresh drop of spring.
The Ingredients
Butter. A shortbread cookie is only as good as the butter used. Reach for a high-quality butter for this recipe if it’s available to you. This is one recipe where it’s well worth the added expense.Sugar. Sweetens the shortbread base and makes them tender. (For more lemon + shortbread, try my Lemon Bars.)Flour. No special flour required. Everyday all-purpose flour is all you need for these simple thumbprint cookies.Almond Extract. Add subtle almond flavor to the cookie dough that pairs beautifully with the lemon and coconut (as in this Almond Flour Cake with Lemon).Lemon Pie Filling. Makes these cookies as easy as a springtime breeze to prepare and equally as easy to eat. (If you love lemon, don’t miss my Lemon Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting.)Coconut. Sweetened shredded coconut balances the buttery cookies and bright acidity of the tart lemon filling.Egg White. Acts as “glue” to adhere the shredded coconut to the outside of each cookie.
The Directions
How to Store Thumbprint Cookies
To Store. Store leftover thumbprint cookies in an airtight container for up to four days.
Although I don’t think the Easter Bunny will be stopping by this Sunday, I’m more than content with lemon coconut thumbprint cookies as my spring treat spread.
More Delicious Lemon Desserts
Lemon Poke CakeFluffy Lemon Poppy Seed CakeGrammy’s Lemon Cream Pie
