These Lemon Blueberry Cookies are layered shortbread cookies flavored with fresh lemon and blueberries. These Spring cookies are perfect as a snack or for a party!
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The inspiration for these lemon blueberry shortbread cookies are from these violet cookies. I wanted to incorporate spring flavors, so I added fresh lemon juice and zest, as well as homemade blueberry sauce.
I love making shortbread cookies, as evidenced by the amount of shortbread cookies here. My favorite being my Lemon Meltaway Cookies, which I also did in a grapefruit version. Another shortbread-esque confection that sparked my love for tender cookies are Pumpkin Spice Alfajores.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- These cookies keep their vibrant color through the double baking method.
- The layers are defined and naturally-flavored.
- The lemon and blueberry are punchy and come through beautifully.
- The impressive design is easier than you think and made without a ton of special equipment!
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour gives structure to the cookies
- These are sweetened with powdered sugar, which keeps them tender
- Fresh blueberries and lemons flavor the cookies
- Egg yolk and white (separated) binds the cookie and “glues” the layers
- Unsalted butter provides flavor and binding
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions and variations
Here’s how to customize these to your taste:
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- No blueberry — flavor these with just lemon and use food coloring to color these any way you like
- No lemon — omit the lemon completely and consider increasing the vanilla extract to make up for the omission of lemon juice
- No food coloring — color these solely with the blueberry sauce
- Different shape — use any cookie cutter shape you have on hand
- Dairy free — use dairy-free butter instead of dairy butter
This recipe has not been tested with any substitutions or variations. If you try any, please let me know how it turned out by commenting below!
How to make layered cookies
Step 1: Divide the dough into four equal parts.
Step 2: Add blueberry sauce to the dough ball that will be the darkest color, repeat with three of the dough balls in varying amounts to create three shades of purple blue.
Step 3: Wrap and chill each dough ball for at least two hours.
Step 4: Roll out each chilled dough and layer together with egg white “glue” in between before punching out with a cookie cutter.
Hot tips
- Cut up a large gallon plastic bag or other thin plastic packaging into sheets to roll the dough between.
- The blueberry sauce can be made days ahead and stored in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- To cool the blueberry sauce quicker, spread thin in a deep shallow bowl or a sheet pan and place in the freezer for 5-10 minutes.
- Chill the dough until solid to prevent spreading in the oven.
Recipe FAQs
Store shortbread cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days.
This is not recommended as the recipe has not been tested without the egg.
Yes, just use 3 tablespoons more cake flour than what is called for in all-purpose flour.
More recipes you'll love
Lastly, if you make this Lemon Blueberry Cookies recipe be sure to leave a comment or give it a rating. I love to see when people make my recipes, so please tag me @youthsweets on Instagram if you post!
📖 Recipe
Lemon blueberry cookies
Ingredients
Blueberry syrup
- 1 cup blueberries (150g)
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest (zest of 1 lemon)
- ½ cup granulated sugar (100g)
- 1 pinch citric acid optional
Lemon blueberry cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter (225g) room temperature
- ¾ cup powdered sugar (150g)
- 1 large egg divided
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest (zest of 1 lemon)
- 3 ⅓ cup all-purpose flour (420g) sifted
Instructions
Do Ahead
- Get the butter out of the refrigerator the night before or a few hours before you plan to bake to let it come to room temperature.
- The blueberry reduction can be made a few days ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Make the blueberry reduction
- Stir together all of the ingredients for the blueberry syrup in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove from heat.
- Add to a blender or use an immersion blender to blend the blueberries. Strain through a sieve back into the saucepan.
- Return the saucepan to a low boil and cook for 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The blueberry sauce will thicken to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and cool completely*.
Start the cookie dough
- Combine the unsalted butter and powdered sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low until fully combined.
- Add the egg yolk and half of the egg white (saving the rest for later), vanilla, salt, lemon juice, lemon zest. Mix to combine.
- Add in ⅓ of the flour at a time, mixing in between, just until combined.
Color the dough
- Divide the dough evenly into 4 balls. Set aside one ball (this will be the plain lemon layer).
- To the first ball, start by adding two tablespoons of blueberry sauce and knead it in with your hands (I used gloves to prevent staining my hands). This will be the darkest layer. Add blue/purple food coloring to boost the color.
- To the second ball, start by kneading in 1 ½ tablespoons of the blueberry sauce. Adjust with more or less sauce and/or food coloring according to how you want the color.
- To the third ball, add ½ to 1 tablespoon of the blueberry sauce. Adjust with more or less sauce and/or food coloring according to how you want the color.
- Wrap and chill each dough ball for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator.
Assemble the cookies
- Roll out each dough to ⅛-inch thick between sheets of parchment or thin sheets of plastic.
- Mix in a splash of water to the reserved egg white. This will be the “glue” between the layers.
- Starting with the plain lemon layer, brush a thin layer of “glue” on top. Add the next lightest blueberry dough layer on top. Brush the top of this layer with the “glue”. Add the next darkest blueberry dough layer on top of that. Brush with the “glue”, and finish by adding the darkest blueberry dough layer on top.
- Gently press and smooth together the layers to remove any air bubbles.
- Punch out the cookies using the cookie cutter of your choice. I used a 2-inch flower cutter.
- Place the cookies 1-inch apart on a baking tray lined with parchment paper or a silicon mat.
Bake the cookies
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Place the tray in the freezer to freeze solid while the oven preheats (ideally for about 10 minutes).
- Bake for 7 minutes, remove the tray and wait 5 minutes. Return the tray to the oven, turn it off and let it finish in the oven for 20 minutes. This method helps retain the vibrant colors.
- Cool completely on a wire rack before serving or storing.
