Lemon Chewies

I was at the library yesterday picking up a book and spotted another one that I couldn't go home without, The CookiePedia: Mixing, Baking and Reinventing the Classics by Stacy Adimando. I am a sucker for a cute cover design when it comes to cook books, just take a look in my book cupboard if you don't believe me! If the bright colors and whimsical design of the book isn't enough to draw you in, then the "encyclopedic" collection of around 50 cookies, with everything from traditional to fancy cookie recipes will. I immediately decided to make the Lemon Chewies first and in honor of my sister I tweaked the ingredients and made them vegan.  I was quite pleased with the results, a lightly sweet, soft lemony cookie that even my cookie obsessed toddler approved of; enjoy and happy baking!

Ingredients:

1 c flour, I used 3/4 c all purpose and 1/4 c whole wheat

1/4 c sugar

1/4 c coconut oil
2 Tbs honey (for truly vegan use molasses, agave or another plant based sweetener)
1/8 tsp lemon oil

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp flaxmeal

1 1/2 Tbs water

for glaze:

1/2 c powdered sugar
1 Tbs lemon juice, use a little more or less for desired consistency

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350º and line a baking sheet with parchment. In the bowl of your stand mixer cream together the coconut oil and sugar until fluffy, the mix in the lemon oil. In a small bowl combine the flaxmeal and water and let sit a minute to thicken and stir in the honey. In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, kosher salt and baking powder. Add the flax mixture to the creamed sugar and mix to combine, then add the flour mixture and mix until smooth. Scoop 1 tsp the dough and roll into balls, place onto the baking pan and flatten slightly. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until set and lightly browned. Remove carefully from the oven and cool completely. In a small bowl combine the powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth, but not runny – more or less lemon juice for your desired glaze consistency. Drizzle the glaze over the cookies and serve.

Yields 1 1/2 dozen cookies

Recipe adapted from Lemon Chewies in The CookiePedia by Stacy Adimando