Home · Recipes · Cookies Lemon Honey Cookies Author: Maryanne CabreraPublished: Feb 6, 2012Updated: Jul 6, 2021 View Recipe19 ReviewsThis post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy. These Valentine’s Day Lemon Honey Cookies are sweetened with honey powder and frosted with royal icing. I hated Valentine’s Day during my emo teenage years. I couldn’t understand why a boy like Chris Carrabba from Dashboard Confessional wasn’t outside my window serenading me with silly love songs on his acoustic guitar. Thank goodness those days are long gone. As you get older, you realize it is just another day. That is, until you meet someone that gives it meaning. I’m very lucky to have two Valentines this year. I guess it makes up for all my lonely teenage Valentine’s Days. (More on the two boys in later posts.) February 14 may be a commercial driven fabricated holiday, but its a day I still look forward it and enjoy celebrating. Who cares if its all about chocolates, roses, hearts, and hard to get dinner reservations? It is also a day when it’s okay to make a fool of yourself for the sake of love. I’m all about that. And more importantly, its an excuse to call in sick, watch sappy romantic comedies and bake these lovely lemon honey cookies! How to Decorate Lemon Honey Cookies with Royal Icing Prepare three colors of royal icing; white, pink and hot pink.Pipe white royal icing around the edges of each cookie to form the border. Pipe white icing into the middle of the cookie, allowing it to run to the edges of the border.While the white icing is still wet, pipe random sizes of dots and lines using the pink and hot pink icing. Using a toothpick, quickly swirl the colors together until you get your desired look.Let cookies dry completely. This may take anywhere from 2 hours to overnight. Other Valentine’s Day Favorite Treats Nothing says I love you like a box of glazed letter donuts! Spell out your message using donuts for the ultimate Valentine’s Day sweet treat. This 4-ingredient lava cake is a great dessert to share with loved ones. And lastly, this strawberry prosecco jelly is an easy no bake dessert you can make ahead of time! Lemon Honey Cookies Lemon infused sugar cookies sweetened with honey powder and frosted with royal icing. Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Ingredients3 cups all-purpose flour3/4 teaspoon baking soda1/2 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt3/4 cup (6 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature3/4 cup granulated sugar1/4 cup honey powder*finely grated zest from 2 lemons1 large egg, room temperaturejuice from 1 lemon, about 2 Tablespoons3 Tablespoons whole milkRoyal Icing: (makes about 1 cup)1 1/2 Tablespoons meringue powder2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar1/4 cup warm waterlemon oil, vanilla extract, or almond extract, if desiredpastel pink and electric pink gel-paste food coloring, as needed Instructions Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter, sugar, honey powder, and lemon zest. Add egg and combine.In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice and milk. Set aside.Alternate adding flour mixture and milk mixture into the creamed butter. Start and finish with the flour. Mix until just combined.Turn dough out into a lightly floured surface. Divide dough into three disks. Plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour, or overnight.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line sheet trays with parchment paperOn a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out desired shapes using a floured cutter. Transfer cut outs to prepared sheet trays.Bake for 13-15 minutes until the edges are golden brown. Let cool on sheet for a couple minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.Royal Icing: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine meringue powder, confectioners’ sugar, and warm water. Also add extract, if using any. Mix on medium speed until mixture is fluffy and has thickened.Add water to thin out icing to desired consistency. Add water 1 teaspoon at a time. (*Note: To test consistency, drizzle a little of icing onto a bowl. A ribbon should remain on the surface for about 5 seconds.)Divide royal icing in half. Keep one half white. Divide the remaining half into two. Color one pink and the other hot pink. Transfer royal icings into piping bags or parchment bags. To decorate, follow photos and directions above. Author: Maryanne Cabrera Did you make this recipe?Show us on Instagram! Tag @littleepicurean and hashtag #littleepicurean.
Tina says: February 6, 2012 Lovely cookies. It is nice to come across something that is lighter instead of the traditional chocolate for Valentine’s. The swirls do ad a wonderful appearance to these and the lemon/honey combo sounds delicious.Funny how our feelings about Valentines changes as we get older! Have a great afternoon. Reply
bananamondaes says: February 6, 2012 These are such lovely cookies. I love Valentines too now I have someone. Although he gets so excited he gives me my gifts early! Reply
the little epicurean says: February 7, 2012 Thanks! Aw, how lucky?! That’s so sweet. He’s definitely a keeper!
Maggie says: February 6, 2012 Congrats on the Liebster award! Such an honor to be recognized. Your cookies are gorgeous…a perfect valentine’s treat! Reply
the little epicurean says: February 7, 2012 Thank you, Maggie! Yup, I hope to make some again and package them for friends :)
Ambika says: February 6, 2012 Lovely cookies!! Congrats on the award, such a beautiful space you have here :) Reply
the little epicurean says: February 7, 2012 Thanks, Lindsey! I read some of your blog posts and I LOVE ramen. I live in LA and I’d be more than happy to volunteer on your ramen tours. lol
janet@fromcupcakestocaviar says: February 7, 2012 These are adorable!! I don’t if I’d want to eat them or save them :-P Reply
the little epicurean says: February 7, 2012 Thank you, Janet! Take a picture of the cookies and then eat them!
Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes says: February 7, 2012 Those cookies are absolutely gorgeous! Thank you so much for including Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes in your picks- I truly appreciate it :) Reply
the little epicurean says: February 11, 2012 Thank you! And you are very welcome. I enjoy reading your blog :)