Lemon Sugar Cookies

For the longest time I have wanted a zester/mircoplane and yesterday I finally found one on sale at Home Goods.  I was so happy in the store people were giving me weird looks, but that's ok because I now have a zester!!  I have been saving up recipes that need a zester and this was my first choice.  I love sugar cookies and I love lemons, so this recipe was a no brainer.  While making them, I loved how my kitchen smelled, like fresh lemons.  I had a serious problem keeping my fingers out of the cookie dough.  I think I ate about 4 cookies worth of dough, which normally I don't do, but I couldn't resist with these.  Needless to say, I was very excited to take them out of the oven, but I was patient and let the cookies cool.  I ate one faster then you can say "lemon sugar cookie!"  A little later, when I was taking pictures, I took a bit out of one for effect, but then couldn't resist taking another bite, and by then end of the photo shoot the cookie was gone. All I can say is good thing I went on a run today...

Lemon Sugar Cookies - Adapted from My Baking Addiction 

Yield about 3 dozen depending on size

Ingredients:

1 Cups Butter, unsalted and room temperature

1 1/2 Cup Sugar

1 Egg

1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla

Zest of 1-2 large lemons, I would recommend at least 1 1/2

4 Tablespoons of Fresh Lemon Juice

2 3/4 Cups Flour

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

Extra sugar for rolling cookies

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. In a small bowl, combine all the dry ingredients and whisk together. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of your mixer, cream the butter and sugar until smooth.
4. Beat in the egg, vanilla, lemon juice and zest. Mix until fully incorporated.
5. Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms.
6. Roll tablespoon size balls of dough in the extra sugar.  Place on cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
7. Bake 8-10 minutes or until very lightly browned.
8. Let cool, then ENJOY!