Delightful Buttermilk Cookies

The dough is extremely soft. I recommend refrigerating the dough for a couple hours or use the scoop drop method. For more flavor double the lemon zest. These cakey soft cookies are best the day they’re made.

From “Gourmet” Magazine (January 2008)
Makes 3 dozen

For Cookies:
3 c all purpose flour
1 t grated lemon zest
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 c granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 t vanilla
2/3 c well-shaken buttermilk

For Glaze:
1 1/2 c confectioners sugar
3 T well-shaken buttermilk
1/2 t vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in middle. Butter 2 large baking sheets. Whisk together flour, zest, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

Beat together butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in vanilla. Mix in flour mixture and buttermilk alternately in batches at low speed, beginning and ending with flour mixture, until smooth. (I chilled the dough in the fridge for about 20 minutes at this point)

Drop level tablespoons of dough about 1 1/2 inches apart onto baking sheets. Bake, 1 sheet at a time, until cookies are puffed and edges are golden, 12 to 15 minutes per batch. Cool cookies on sheets 1 minute, then transfer to racks.

Whisk together all glaze ingredients and brush onto tops of warm cookies (I did two coats of glaze). Let stand until cookies are completely cooled and glaze is set.