Lemon Americans from the heart

Today we’re baking little lemon “Amerikaner” cookies with hearts for Mother’s Day! With this simple and delicious recipe, we’re joining the tasty blog parade for Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day is just one week away! A wonderful occasion to join forces with some creative food and baking bloggers and create a colorful, culinary potpourri to celebrate mothers – and all those who hold a special place in someone’s heart.

For this Mother’s Day blog parade, my little ones and I are baking heart-shaped Amerikaner! But not just any kind – fruity lemon Amerikaner in the shape of hearts! A juicy delight for both eyes and taste buds 😉

If you and your little ones would also like to bake something delicious for Mother’s Day, be inspired by the wonderful creations of my fellow bloggers:

• Vanilla Mandarin Bundt Cake by Meine Torteria
• Strawberry Almond Cakes by Whatinaloves 
• Strawberry Rhubarb Tartlets by lebe, liebe, backe 
• Heart-Shaped Letter Cake by Loui Bakery
• Strawberry Custard Swirls by Küchentraum & Purzelbaum 
• Lemon Blueberry Cake with Violets by culirena
• Light Strawberry Curd Roll by Back Bienchen
• Piñata Cake: Strawberry Vodka Surprise Cake von Miller’s Bakerina
• Strawberry Butterflies by Feiertaeglich 
• Chocolate Vanilla Cupcakes with Strawberries by Kleid & Kuchen 
• Lemon Cake with Heart by Biskuitwerkstatt 
• Black & White Heart Cookies von Küchenstübchen 
• Tropical Love Buttercream Cake von Sabrinas Herzrezepte 
• Strawberry Mousse Cake by Vanillig
• Brownie Strawberry Cake by Ninas Backstübchen
• 15-Minute Mother’s Day Tiramisu von Katrininthekitchen 
• Rose Cookies by Lindenthalerin 
• Prinzregent Cake with Fondant Heart by Backwolke

Recipe for Lemon “Amerikaner” with Hearts

This lemon Amerikaner recipe is not only wonderfully refreshing, but also super easy to bake with kids. The trickiest part is piping the dough into heart shapes. If you handle that step, your little ones can spend more time decorating the tasty treats.

Ingredients for approx. 10 Lemon Amerikaner 

Dough

• 75 g soft butter
• 40 g sugar
• 1 pinch of salt
• 2 eggs
• 250 g flour
• 1/2 packet of baking powder (7 g)
• 1 organic lemon (approx. 80 ml juice & zest)

Decoration

• 100g powdered sugar
• Lemon juice 
• Red & pink liquid food coloring from GoodBake*
• sugar sprinkles (I used these))

Discount code for your purchase at GoodBake: With the discount code “LIA12” you save 12% on your purchase from Goodbake.

Baking accessories

Scale, mixing bowl, mixer, piping bag with round tip, rubber spatula, baking tray, parchment paper, pen or pencil, cooling rack, small bowl, spoon or pastry brush, toothpick

 Preparation

These Amerikaner are made in no time: piping the dough takes about 15–20 minutes, and after 10–12 minutes in the preheated oven, your heart-shaped treats are ready to go. Then it’s time to decorate with love.

Baking Lemon Amerikaner

• Before making the batter, prepare the parchment paper: To get nice heart shapes, you can trace hearts using a small template (e.g., a slightly larger heart cookie cutter).
• Then begin with the dough: Zest the lemon (only the yellow part – the white pith is bitter) and squeeze out the juice.
• Beat the soft butter until creamy in a mixing bowl.
• Add the sugar and continue beating until the mixture is light and fluffy.
• Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.
• Mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the flour mixture and lemon juice/zest alternately in small portions and mix into a smooth batter.
• Line the baking tray with the parchment paper (the drawn side should face down to avoid coloring the dough).

• Fill the dough into a piping bag with a large round tip (or alternatively, use two tablespoons to place small mounds of dough on the tray and shape them into hearts – they may be a bit uneven, but this technique is easier for children). 
• Hold the piping bag about 2 cm above the tray and pipe the dough with even pressure. (Watch out! Leave enough space between the cookies as they will spread while baking.)
• Finally, moisten your fingers lightly with water and flatten the small corner of dough that appears when you lift the piping bag.
• Bake the mini Amerikaner at 180°C (top and bottom heat) for about 10–12 minutes. They should be lightly golden and not too soft to the touch.
• After baking, immediately remove the lemon Amerikaner from the paper and let them cool completely on a rack.

Decorating the Lemon Amerikaner

While the cookies are cooling, you and your little ones can prepare the icing.

• Sift the powdered sugar and mix with a few drops of lemon juice and food coloring until you have a thick glaze. (Mini tip: Start with just a few drops of lemon juice and increase slowly – otherwise the icing can become too runny!) If you want to use several colors, divide the white icing into separate bowls and color each as desired.
• Use a small spoon or pastry brush to spread the icing on the smooth underside of the cookie (the side that was in contact with the baking tray). (Mini tip: Marbled icing also looks beautiful – in [this post] you can learn how to create a marbled effect for your lemon Amerikaner.)
• Add a few lovely sprinkles to the icing – and your lemon Amerikaner for Mother’s Day are ready!

My little ones and I wish you lots of fun baking and a wonderful & “delicious Mother's Day!

Yours, Lia

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Have you baked the recipe?

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