Pink Lemonade Snowballs

What's more refreshing than a glass of lemonade on these hot days?  Here in the Pacific Northwest, we may have temperatures reaching 90-degrees by Monday, and taking the time to hydrate will be necessary...and a couple of cookies wouldn't be bad either.

As a kid, my siblings and I would spend a lot of time outside in the summer and drinking enough fluids was one thing my mother always stressed.  She would tell us "heat stroke" stories and the importance of knowing the signs.  For some reason, I was particularly susceptible to the heat; mom said it was because of my dark hair, but scientifically that doesn't really make sense.  However, we listened to her.

These lemonade cookies came to mind as something that would be refreshing, especially with a tall glass of lemonade or as I made today, an Arnold Palmer!  I used a couple of products by King Arthur Flour, but honestly, I think you could also substitute powdered lemonade. 

Pink Lemonade Snowballs
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperatures
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
zest of one lemon
1/2 tsp. Strawberry flavoring (optional, but really good)
3 T Lemon Juice Powder (or processed powdered lemonade)
2 cups King Arthur all-purpose flour
1 cup finely ground pecans 
3 drops Red Food Coloring Gel

2 cups Confectioners' sugar + 1 T Lemon Juice Powder to roll cookies in

Preheat oven to 350-degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar, salt, vanilla extract and lemon zest together.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.  Add the Lemon Juice Powder and Strawberry flavoring, if using, and mix again.  Add the drops of red food coloring gel to obtain the shade of pink you desire.

Stir in the flour.  Scoop up the dough and roll in your hands to form a 1 1/2-inch round ball.  Set on the baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between the cookies.  Bake for 11 minutes.  

Allow to cool slightly on the baking sheet, then, transfer the cookies to a rack to cool for 5-7 minutes, or until they're easily handled.  Roll in the prepared confections' sugar and lemon juice powder.  Let cool thoroughly, then, roll in the sugar mixture again.

Enjoy them with a tall glass of lemonade, (Sweet) tea [if you're from the South], or a combination like an Arnold Palmer, which is my hubby's favorite.

Rosie loves to watch me bake or actually do anything...she is my little shadow.  I hope she's up for a new adventure when we move at the end of July to North Carolina.  Enjoy!