Ann's Lemon Drop Cookies

Ann Orton

Probably the only recipe I've actually developed from scratch after I tried a similar cookie at the restaurant in the Huntsman Cancer Center. Repeated efforts to obtain the recipe from the Cookie Tree failed, even for the newspaper I worked at, so I worked until I created something very similar.

4 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. lemon extract
Finely chopped zest of one lemon
1 (6 oz.) pkg. lemon drops, coarsely crushed (I use a ziploc bag, a hammer and the back porch to crush the lemon drops. It doesn't work well with Lemonheads so keep looking for legitimate lemon drops)

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
Juice of one lemon

Cream sugar, shortening and eggs; add flavorings. Stir in dry ingredients, lemon zest and crushed lemon drops. Roll into balls, flatten slightly and bake on parchment-lined baking sheet at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Let sit on pan 1-2 minutes then brush lightly with glaze and cool completely. Makes 4-5 dozen cookies.