Lemon Poppy-Seed Cookies

I saw these cookies on the web one day and thought I needed to give it a try. I didn't get the recipe that day, but it nagged at me and I copied the recipe. It came from Martha Stewart's website. These cookies are incredibly tasty and if you know anyone that loves lemons you definitely need to have these.

Lemon Poppy-Seed Cookies

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, plus 3 1/2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest (2 to 3 lemons)
2 sticks butter
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 lg egg
2 tsp vanilla
1 Tbs poppy seeds, plus more for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bring lemon juice to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat; cook until reduced by half. Add 1 stick butter; stir until melted.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Cream remaining stick butter and 1 cup sugar on medium speed in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix in egg and lemon butter. Mix until pale, about 3 minutes. Mix in vanilla and 2 teaspoons zest. Mix in flour mixture and poppy seeds.

Stir together remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons zest. Roll spoonfuls of gough into 1 1/2-inch balls; roll them in sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Press each with the flat end of a glass dipped in sugar mixture until 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle with seeds.

Bake until just browned around bottom edges, 10 to 11 minutes. Transfer to wire racks; let cool completely. Store in an airtight container up to 1 week.

I didn't make any alterations to the recipe. There's no need to! Give them a try.