Prep Lemons and Raspberries: Begin by zesting and juicing your lemons. Next, chop your frozen raspberries into smaller pieces, making sure not to puree them—that fresh raspberry flavor should shine through!
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, baking powder, and kosher salt until well combined. This will ensure that your cookies rise perfectly.
Make Cornstarch Water: In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch with a little water until smooth. This mixture will help bind your cookie dough and keep it tender.
Cream Butter & Sugar: In another large bowl, cream the unsalted butter (or vegan baking stick) with granulated sugar until it's soft and creamy. This step is key to achieving fluffy cookies!
Incorporate Wet Ingredients: Add the cornstarch water mixture, milk, and lemon zest/juice to the butter-sugar blend. Mix until all wet ingredients are fully combined.
Mix in Dry Ingredients: Gradually incorporate the dry mixture from step two into the wet ingredients. Gently fold in the chopped raspberries. Once mixed, freeze the dough for at least 1 hour to prevent spreading while baking.
Make Lemon Sugar: In a small bowl, whisk together granulated sugar and lemon zest. This vibrant mix will create the delicious, crunchy exterior for your cookies.
Scoop and Coat: Using a cookie scoop or spoon, form dough balls and roll them in the lemon sugar mixture until fully coated.
Bake: Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) and place the coated dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 15-16 minutes until the edges are lightly golden.
Reshape and Cool: Immediately reshape cookies with a spatula for uniformity. Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
Make Glaze: In a bowl, whisk together confectioners sugar, fresh raspberries, and a little water until smooth to create your optional raspberry glaze.
Glaze and Serve: Drizzle the glaze over your cooled cookies, allowing it to harden before serving.