Preheat your oven to 350℉. It’s important to get your oven nice and hot before the cookies go in, ensuring they bake evenly. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. This will prevent the cookies from sticking and make for easy cleanup.
Place the ground pecans in a shallow plate. This will make it easy to coat the cookie dough balls before baking. The ground pecans will add a lovely texture and flavor.
In the bowl of your KitchenAid Artisan 5 Quart Stand Mixer, add the butter, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed using the paddle attachment until the mixture is light and fluffy, which usually takes about 2 to 3 minutes. This step is crucial; you want to incorporate air into the dough for a lighter cookie.
Add the eggs and salt to the bowl, continuing to beat until fully incorporated. It’s important to ensure that everything is well mixed at this stage, as this will help the cookies come together beautifully.
Next, add the all-purpose flour and continue mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; you want the flour to be fully incorporated without developing too much gluten.
Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, making sure they’re uniform in size. Once rolled, dip each ball into the beaten egg white, then roll them in the ground pecans to coat. This gives the cookies a lovely nutty crust!
Place the coated balls on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of space between them. This space is crucial to prevent them from merging together while baking.
Using your thumb, press a well into the center of each cookie. Sometimes I like to use the bottom of a corkscrew for a perfect indentation. This well will hold the lemon curd later on.
Bake the cookies for 13 to 15 minutes, or until the edges start to turn golden. Keep an eye on them, as baking times may vary depending on your oven. You want them to be just set but not overbaked!
Once baked, remove the baking sheets from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the sheets for about 5 minutes. This will make them easier to handle. After that, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Finally, place a small dollop of lemon curd into the center of each cookie. This final touch adds that burst of flavor that makes these cookies irresistible!
