Lemon Juniper Cookies

Juniper berries have been used as medicine for centuries and in the kitchen. Delicious and healthy juniper berries are usually added to sauces for game dishes, fish stock, sauerkraut, or pickled vegetables, but they are rarely used in baking. I have used juniper berries in a very unusual way: as a spice together with some pink peppercorns for these delicious lemon cookies. The ground juniper berries give these cookies a sweet, aromatic and completely surprising flavour - be sure to try them! They are particularly tasty for the holidays, but of course also all year round, and go wonderfully with coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

3 tbsp Erythritol (or sugar)
40 Juniper berries
120 g Butter, softened
120 g Erythritol (or sugar)
1/4 tsp Salt
1 Medium egg
1 ½ tbsp Lemon juice
1 tbsp Pink peppercorns, crushed
120 g Fine polenta
240 g White spelt flour
2 Organic lemons, cut into 2-3 mm thick slices

Finely grind juniper and erythritol in a coffee/spice grinder. Place 2 tbsp of this in a bowl, set aside the rest for coating and topping.
Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl, add the butter, erythritol, salt and the 2 tbsp of juniper sugar, cream together with a hand mixer. Add the egg, lemon juice and half of the crushed pink peppercorns, mix. Beat in the fine polenta and white spelt flour.
Divide the dough into 20 even portions and shape into balls. Roll each in the reserved juniper sugar, place on the prepared baking sheets. Press the balls flat, place a slice of lemon on each, sprinkle with remaining crushed pink pepper and the juniper sugar.
Bake each sheet in the center of the hot oven for about 20 minutes. Remove, cool slightly and leave to cool on a wire rack until the lemon slices are dry.

24 comments:

DEZMOND 22/12/24 13:05: Very unusual and interesting with that lemon on top. Under fine polenta you mean corn flour, or really polenta?
Angie's Recipes 22/12/24 14:17: Polenta...it's yellowish and looks like corn meal.
Christine 22/12/24 16:48: yummy
Federica Simoni 22/12/24 17:51: ma che meraviglia! Complimenti!
Tom 22/12/24 18:36: ..an unusual treat
Bill 22/12/24 19:55: New to me.
Ivy's Closet 22/12/24 21:40: Oh, so stunning. I would love to try them!
Diane 22/12/24 21:50: Now I wonder where I can find juniper berries here, interesting they look delicious. Happy Holidays, Cheers Diane
Citu 22/12/24 23:15: Gracias por la receta. Te mando un beso.
Cooking Julia 22/12/24 23:28: You have such a great imagination: those cookies are beautiful!
roentare 22/12/24 23:33: Wonderful treats before Xmas
Lowcarb team member 23/12/24 00:32: Many thanks for sharing this recipe.

All the best Jan
Brian's Home Blog 23/12/24 00:38: Oh, I really like lemon, yum!
My name is Erika. 23/12/24 02:22: I'm loving the lemon you added on the top. Does it make the cookies soggy or does the lemon dry out in the oven. These are super pretty to look at.
Lucimar da Silva Moreira 23/12/24 03:02: Biscoitinhos deliciosos adoro biscoito de limão bjs Angie.
Anonymous 23/12/24 05:44: These look amazing!
Tandy | Lavender and Lime https://tandysinclair.com
Margaret D 23/12/24 05:56: Looking good and they must be nice to eat, Angie.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
David 23/12/24 06:49: Angie, Really interesting and intriguing cookies! I suspect that I'd have to go on line to find juniper berries but I sure would like to sample a couple of these special cookies! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
Javier 23/12/24 10:23: Your cookies look delicious, like all that you cook!! Happy Holiday!!
eileeninmd 23/12/24 11:12: Hello Angie,
Your cookies look delicious!
Take care, have a wonderful day!
Angie's Recipes 23/12/24 11:55: They dry up during the baking and resting. The cookies won't be super crispy, but great!
David M. Gascoigne, 23/12/24 12:22: If one is hell bent on consuming Christmas calories this seems like a fine way to do it!
Carol @Comfort Spring Station 23/12/24 16:35: The cookies look amazing
Anonymous 23/12/24 17:34: When I saw these on Instagram, my first thought was, “little gin and tonic cookies!” Very creative, and I love the use of Juniper. Of all my friends, I’m the only one who ever uses it in cooking!