lemon snowflakes

Meatless cookie recipes aren't hard to come by (hehe), but these were too good not to share.

From America's Test Kitchen "Christmas Cookies" magazine.

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups sugar
4 teaspoons grated lemon zest (from 2 lemons)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
4 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup powdered sugar

1. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Mix granulated sugar and lemon zest until well blended. Add melted butter, oil, lemon juice, egg and yolk, and vanilla and mix until pale and thickened, about 30 seconds. Transfer to bowl with flour mixture and stir until incorporated. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill until dough is firm, at least 1 hour.

2. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and place powdered sugar in a small bowl.

3. Working with 1 1/2 tablespoons dough at a time, roll into balls, roll in powdered sugar, and space 2 inches apart on prepared sheets. Bake until cookies are cracked and set on top but look moist within cracks, 10-12 minutes. Let cookies cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 45 minutes.