homemade lemon pastry cremeslemon pastry cremes~ (n) My favorite girl scout cookie that they discontinued, flaky cookies dusted in powdered sugar with a sweet creamy lemon filling inside.

 

There are a few food items I would say I actually obsess over. Long lost food items from my childhood that cease to be in existence any longer. I have made many attempts to recreate these, some were disastrous ,   Some,  I have successfully re-created.

Lemon Pastry Cremes being one of them. (insert happy dance and several woo-hoos)

Lemon Pastry Cremes recipeFlaky cookies with flecks of tart lemon zest,filled with a buttery lemon filling and dusted with powdered sugar.

I know, it’s January and the last of the Christmas cookies and candy canes have successfully been purged from the house, and now it’s time to purge them from the waistline, and… just as we are detoxing and denying sweets…

THEY happen.

You know who I’m talking about… those sweet little girls peddling their $5 a-box cookies. (Are they $5? $7? They go up every year…) They get you as you go into the grocery store,  all the while you’re intent on getting your fat- free -dairy -free -lactose- free- soy -free-nut-free dairy replacement beverage to go with your extra fiber sugar free fibrous  bark bran flakes…

and they’re there.

You want to say: “I’m on a diet/gluten intolerant/allergic to cardboard”

But, instead you say: “Catch me on the way out” partially hoping you’ll both forget for your wallet’s sake and your hips as well.

But… it happens.

It’s easily justified, they are only sold once a year, and only for a week at that.

…. but,

they freeze well.

There’s new flavors this year.

It’s not January without Thin Mints and Caramel Delites.

So, you buy four cases.

It’s okay. I’m not judging.

I bet they would sell cases more if sales were not during peak “diet season”.

They ought to sell them at back to school time… that’s peak snacking season. Think about it: after school snacks, cookies for lunchboxes, a little treat for mom while the kids are in school, and… don’t even get me started on all the fall flavored cookies they could churn out.  Oh yes, pumpkin spice caramel delite…. I can taste it already….

That’s it. I’m sending a letter to the Girl Scouts.

Dear Madame, (I’m pretty sure it will be a woman in charge, just a hunch)

It has occurred to me that there is an error in your cookie marketing campaign. You are promoting and marketing your goods in the wrong season of eating. May I suggest that peak diet season be replaced with peak snacking season?

We are all embracing our cozy flannels and sweatpants during this season, and your sales of decadent treats will be consumed in even greater numbers, without fear of the extra poundage even showing until well into swimsuit season.

With all due respect,

The Domestic Mama

There.

Point made.

Now: allow me to channel my inner cookie seller and entice your to make these cookies:

 

 

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Using your grandma’s cookie cutter? Oh yes, you’re making granny proud.

_DSC3054_0129Finally putting your micro plane to use? Another bonus.

lemon pastry cremesSharing these with your favorite people?

Homemade is always better than store bought… everyone knows that.

lemon pastry cremes girl scout cookies

Author Michelle Keith/ The Village Cook

Ingredients

  • For the cookies:
  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • For the filling:
  • 1/2 stick butter softened
  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Combine all ingredients and spread between cooked cookies

Instructions

  • For the cookies:
  • Combine the butter, cream cheese and lemon zest.
  • Add the sugar and mix well
  • Add the flour and mix to form a dough
  • Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours
  • Preheat oven to 350
  • Roll out dough to 1/8" thick and place on a parchment lined baking sheet
  • Bake 7-10 minutes or until firm
  • Allow to cook and fill with lemon butter filling (recipe above)
  • Makes 24 sandwich cookies

lemon pastry cremes