From “At My Grandmother’s Knee: Recipes & Memories Handed Down by Women of the South,” by Faye Porter. Makes 4 dozen.
Ingredients
2 sticks butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon lemon extract
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon lemon zest
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons buttermilk
Sugar for sprinkling
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter on medium speed for 1 minute, until light. Add the sugar and the lemon extract and beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and lemon zest and beat well. Mix the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Add the flour mixture and the buttermilk alternately to the butter mixture, beating well after each addition.
Drop the cookies by rounded teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets. Sprinkle with white sugar.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned on the edges. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Sprinkle with more zest if desired.
