Oh, honey, you want to know about them lemon drop cookies? Made with lemon cake mix, no less? Well, sit yourself down, let me tell you. These cookies, they ain’t your fancy bakery stuff. They’re simple, easy like Sunday morning, and tasty as all get out.
Now, you take that box of lemon cake mix. Yep, the one from the store. Don’t need nothin’ special. That’s our base. It is yellow and sweet. It already tastes like lemon. And you need eggs. Big ones are best. And some oil, just regular cooking oil, nothing fancy. The oil, it makes them soft, you see. If you don’t like oil, use butter. Melted butter is ok.
Mixing it up
You dump that cake mix in a bowl. A big one, so you got room to work. Then, crack in them eggs. One, two, just like that. And pour in that oil. Now, this is where the magic happens. You gotta mix it. Mix it real good. Some folks use them fancy electric mixers. I just use a spoon. A big wooden one. Get all them lumps out. You want it smooth, like a baby’s bottom. Mix it till it looks like the sun.
It will be like a dough. Not too runny. Not too stiff. If it’s too dry, add a little water. If it is too wet, add some flour. Just a pinch! Not too much. Just get it right. It sticks to your fingers, then it is right.
Some people, they like to add a little extra somethin’. A splash of vanilla, maybe. Or some lemon zest. If you got a lemon, grate some of the yellow skin. That’s the zest. It makes it more lemony. Don’t add the white part. It is bitter. I think it tastes just fine without, but it’s up to you.
- Lemon cake mix
- Eggs
- Oil or butter
- Vanilla (maybe)
- Lemon zest (if you’re feelin’ fancy)
Now, you gotta let that dough sit for a bit. Just a little while. Let it rest. Like me after a long day in the sun. Ten, fifteen minutes. That is enough. It lets all them flavors get to know each other. Makes the cookies better, I swear.
Bakin’ time
While it’s restin’, heat up your oven. Around 350 degrees, give or take. Every oven’s a little different, you know. Like people. Some run hot, some run cold. Just keep an eye on them cookies. You want them to bake slow.
Get your cookie sheet out. Now, some folks like to grease it. With butter or that spray stuff. I just use a piece of that parchment paper. Keeps them from stickin’. Easier cleanup, too. Less work for these old hands.
Now, you take that dough and make little balls. Not too big, not too small. Like a little bigger than a marble, maybe. Roll them in your hands. They don’t have to be perfect. These ain’t city cookies. They’re country cookies. They’re supposed to be a little rough around the edges. Just like life.
Place them on the cookie sheet. Leave some space between them. They’ll spread out a bit when they bake. Like a gossip’s story, they grow and grow. Then, pop them in the oven. Bake them for about, oh, 10-12 minutes. Could be more, could be less. Depends on your oven. And how you like them.
The wait
When they are done, they will be golden brown. Like the crust on a good pie. Let them sit on that cookie sheet for a few minutes. They are hot. Very hot! Like the sun at noon. They will be very soft when you take them out. They will get harder as they cool down.
Then move them to a wire rack. If you have one. If not, just put them on a plate. Let them cool completely. This is the hard part. Waitin’. But it’s worth it. Trust me.
If you want, after they are cool, you can put some lemon glaze on top. That is very easy. Just some lemon juice and some sugar. Mix it up and put it on top of the cookie. It makes them shiny. And more lemony.
These lemon drop cookies, they’re good with a cup of coffee. Or a glass of milk. Or just by themselves. They’re good anytime, really. Morning, noon, or night. Kids love them. Grown-ups too. Even that grumpy old man down the street, he can’t resist them. They make him smile. A little bit.
They are good for a party. Or just for yourself. When you want something sweet. Something easy. Something that reminds you of home. These cookies, they taste like home. Like sunshine and lemon. And a little bit of love. That is the secret ingredient. Always a little bit of love. Make you feel good, these lemon drop cookies with lemon cake mix will. Make you feel real good.
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