Lemon Snaps Recipe
by Sandra Merville Hart
A character in Book 1 of my “Spies of the Civil War” series, Avenue of Betrayal, bakes lemon cookies in the story. This talented cook earns the praise of soldiers far from home when she serves these delicious lemon cookies at parties. I’m sharing a recipe that’s over a century and a half old to show the way Rebecca, my character, prepared them in the novel.
The original 1877 baker who shared this cookie recipe is Mrs. E. L. C. of Springfield.
Ingredients
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar
10 tablespoons butter
2 lemons
½ teaspoon lemon extract
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
Dissolve ½ teaspoon of baking soda into 2 teaspoons of hot water. Set aside.
Cream together 1 cup of sugar and 10 tablespoons of butter. Stir in the prepared baking soda.
Mrs. C. simply said to flavor with lemon. I added the zest of 2 lemons, the juice of 1 lemon, and ½ teaspoon of lemon extract to the batter.
Mrs. C. was another one who advised adding “flour enough to roll thin.” I used 1 ½ cups of flour, blending into the wet ingredients a little at a time.
Lightly flour the counter and rolling pin and then roll out the batter. Cut into desired shapes.
Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray or line with parchment paper. The cookies flatten while baking so allow room between them. Bake cookies at 350 degrees about 9 – 11 minutes.
Delicious! Wonderful lemony flavor really came through. Guests loved the texture and flavor. If you like lemony desserts, this is the cookie for you.
Though the original baker left out a few important details, I’m happy to say that I only had to make this recipe once—and the cookies were a hit!
I’d definitely make these again.
I’d love to hear if you try it.
Sources
Compiled from Original Recipes. Buckeye Cookery and Practical Housekeeping, Applewood Books, 1877.
