These cookies just scream… SPRING, but they are really good at any time of year! Lemon shortbread cookies baked, then filled with fresh lemon curd. These recipes are each great on their own, and together… AMAZING!
I see flowers blooming and the bright colors popping up everywhere.
It’s SPRING!
I just love that we turned the clocks ahead and there is more daylight.
Our tree blooms early and it’s so pretty. I look forward to it blooming all year.
Dwarf Avondale Red Bud Tree
I just love it, the only thing I wish is that it would bloom longer!
What is your favorite party about spring? Is it all the flowers, the time change, the warmer weather?
Yep, it’s all of the above for me!
That and well lemons, really I get them all year from my mom’s Meyer Lemon Tree….and I always feel so lucky that she gives me so many delicious lemons. But this time of year it makes me want to turn everything LEMONY!
Do you have a favorite LEMON recipe, feel free to share it with me!
I love lemon curd and seem to make it every time I have egg yolks from making Italian Buttercream Frosting. It’s Win-Win!
Shortbread is a favorite of mine too, so making it a little lemony was inevitable.
Filling lemon shortbread with lemon curd was a pretty good idea, so go….
It’s going on my “List”
you know….the list of things to make again and again….real SOON.
You will bake the shortbread cookies first, then fill them with they are cooled.
Dust them with some powdered sugar and you’re ready to enjoy them!
Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
If you are looking to make these ahead of time or freeze them, I’d make the cookies, bake them, and freeze them separately from the filling. Make the filling at the time of serving (or a day or so ahead of time) then completely defrost the cookies, then fill them.
And if you’re looking for something else to put the lemon curd on, it’s great on these cream scones.
try my other fruit curd recipes:
BE SURE TO PRINT THE 2 Recipes below to make these, one for the cookies, one for the lemon curd.
- 1 cup butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon extract
- 2½ cups flour
- ¼ cup powdered sugar to dust on finished cookies.
- Beat butter with sugar, mix in lemon extract.
- Add in flour and blend together. You can use your hands if necessary.
- If the dough gets too warm from your hands you can chill it for 10 minutes.
- You can line the mini cupcake papers in a mini cupcake pan if desired. You don't need to spray the pan if you aren't using paper liners, they remove nicely.
- Use a 1 tablespoon scoop to portion out the dough, and press it into mini muffin/cupcake pans. Press it with a tart shaper, or the end of a rolling pin, or back of a spoon.
- Bake at 300 degrees for 15 minutes.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely before filling them with lemon curd.
- 1 cup lemon juice (fresh squeezed)
- 1 cup sugar
- 6 egg yolks (whisked in a bowl)
- 10 tablespoons butter (cut into small pieces)
- In medium saucepan heat lemon juice and sugar until it simmers.
- Stir butter and heat until it melts completely into the mixture
- Slowly pour mixture over egg yolks while whisking constantly.
- Pour mixture into saucepan and heat until it thickens to coat the back of a spoon.
- Remove from heat and chill.
- When the cookies are baked and cooled, and the curd is cold, then you can fill the cookies.
If you like this or any other recipe at 
Jen @ Jen's Favorite Cookies says
Ooh, you’re always one step ahead of me! I was just dreaming of lemon shortbread today! Yum!
Sue {munchkin munchies} says
Beautiful cookies, Diane! They sound delicious!
Annie @ Annie's Cooking Lab says
Yum, those look amazing! I love lemon flavored desserts, especially in the spring!
Sue/the view from great island says
What kind of tree is that? What a color! I love anything lemon, but when you double the lemon I get really excited. Fabulous shortbread!
Diane says
Oops I just added the name: It’s a Avondale Red Bud it’s a dwarf tree.
Paula says
Love the photo of the lemon shortbread (which would get devoured around here). That tree is stunning!
Monet says
What gorgeous little cookie cups. I love how bright they look. And the tree is just lovely. Thank you so much for sharing!
Maria Tadic says
These are so cute and look so good. I love lemon and these look super yummy. My favorite lemon recipe are my vanilla scented lemon bars – yum! https://beanafoodie.com/spring-time-lemony-vanilla-bars/
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
These are gorgeous Diane! LOVE lemon! And spring. 🙂
Cookbook Queen says
This Spring, I am really looking forward to weather that is good for taking the baby for walks…I am getting stir crazy up in here!!
The shortbread looks so bright and yummy — perfect for Spring. I love that pretty sunny color!!
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
Oh so gorgeous! I love anything with lemon… or any citrus for that matter. These look lovely.
[email protected] says
I could spread lemon curd on everything-so I’m all over these!
Nutmeg Nanny says
Oh my, that tree is absolutely gorgeous! These little treats are too cute and look delectable 🙂
BusyWorkingMama says
Those look delicious! I am not at all a “sweets” fan but have a thing for lemon flavored goodies. And the redbud – beautiful! We have a plain old redbud in the yard but it hasn’t started to bloom yet.
Kim Beaulieu says
These look so good, I love all things lemon.
That tree is gorgeous.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
I love everything about spring, the food, the flowers the sunshine…
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
These are super adorable, Diane! Love the lemon curd filling! Pinned!
Kathleen says
Do you bake them with the lemon curd or fill after baking ?
Diane says
You bake the cookies first, then fill them when they are cooled.