Sweet Treat!

Do you ever get a craving that just won't go away until you satisfy it?  

For the past few months I have been wanting those lemon creme filled Girl Scout cookies: Lemon Chalet Cremes.  The problem with my craving is that our local GS's didn't have those cookies to offer this year.  Drats!  

I finally decided that I needed to try to make my own.

Fueled by a picture from the Internet...which I posted on Pinterest...I went in search of a tasty recipe.  Here's what I decided upon.  

Lemon-Butter Spritz Cookies

2 C butter, softened

1 1/4 C sugar

2 eggs

grated peel of 1 lemon

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 1/4 C all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

In large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in the eggs, lemon peel, lemon juice and vanilla. Combine flour and salt, gradually all to creamed mixture and mix well.  

Using a cookie press fitted with the disk of your choice, press dough onto ungreased baking sheets.  

Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until lightly brown around the edges.  Yields approximately 12 dozen.

Notes: I always add more flour (1/2 C), it seems my cookies need it based on my altitude.   Also, I increased the amount of the lemon juice in the recipe, using all the lemon juice and zest from one lemon except for a small amount that I set aside to use in the filling recipe.  

Lemon Buttercream Frosting

1/2 C butter, at room temperature

1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

pinch of salt

3 1/2 C Confectioners' sugar

1/4 C milk

1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

In a mixer bowl, cream the butter, lemon rind, vanilla and salt until light and for about 2 minutes.  Add confectioners' sugar alternately with milk until the mixture is creamy and smooth, beating well after each addition.  Beat in the lemon juice.  

Notes: I added extra powdered sugar and less milk...I wanted a thicker consistency for the cookie filling.  

Here's my result: 

Mmm!  I made these last Thursday night and then passed them out on Friday to anyone who crossed my path...my unknowing taste testers.  With the exception of my daughter, who said they were too lemony (what's wrong with that child?), everyone who sampled my treats seemed to really like the combination.

Definitely a repeat!