Back by popular demand, it’s a month of recipes inspired by musicals! I first did a musical month in July, when I wrote about meringues inspired by the show Wicked, and four other recipes from musicals that I love. I’ll be starting this month with one of the most beloved musicals ever.
Did anyone else watch The Wizard of Oz every year at Christmas? That movie had it all – an orphan hero, a quest to return home, fantastic sidekicks and an over-the-top evil villain. No matter how many times I watched it, there was always something new. Thanks to Judy Garland’s lovely voice, Roy Bolger’s graceful dancing and Margaret Hamilton’s amazing portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West, it really has stood the test of time.
Despite all the great songs from this show, the one everyone remembers is “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. When Dorothy wistfully sang about travelling over the rainbow, she spoke to all of us who wanted to make our dreams come true:
“Someday I’ll wish upon a star
“Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me.”
These dreamy lyrics inspired me to bake Lemon Drop Cookies. I love lemon desserts, and these cookies are one of my favourite new finds. If you bake them, your troubles truly will melt away.
Lemon Drop Cookies
(adapted from One Lovely Life)
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
zest of 2 lemons
1 egg
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cup four
1 cup lemon drop candies, crushed (some bigger pieces, some smaller)
1/4 to 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine sugar and lemon zest. Cream sugar mixture with butter. Beat in egg, lemon juice and vanilla. Stir in flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add crushed lemon drops and stir until just combined.
Chill dough in the refrigerator about 30 minutes.
Place powdered sugar in a shallow bowl. Form cookies by rolling heaping teaspoonfuls of dough into balls and rolling in powdered sugar.
Place cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. (Note: these cookies spread, so don’t crowd the cookie sheet.) Bake at 350 degrees for 9-10 minutes, or until edges are set and centres are just slightly soft. Allow cookies to cool on cookies sheets for about 3 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Makes 24 cookies.
Beth I love your recipes inspired by music are beauty and amazing:)love these:)
What an interesting cookie, Beth. Never have seen one made with lemon drops!
It sure would be nice if troubles could disappear just by eating one! 🙂
What a fun idea!!! Love these cookies!
Even though I love "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", I never picked up on the lemon drops bit.(Imagine that!) :0
What a tasty tribute to a beautiful song and movie!
I will always love that film, and these cookies look delightful.
Mmmhmmm. I need to settle in on the sofa, beneath a warm throw with a plate of these cookies beside me, and watch that movie …
I was so excited when I saw this in my blog reader…too cute! I just read the book for the first time this fall. Thank you for making me smile (and my stomach growl!) I hope you had a blessed Sunday and I wish you a warm and peaceful week.
The cookies look so yummy. And…yes…we watch THE WIZARD OF OZ each year. 🙂
NEW FOLLOWER
Elizabeth
http://silversolara.blogspot.com
I love anything lemon..these look awesome!
I so love that this series has made a return! The recipes that you shared during the first go round were so fun to read about. This cookie looks like such a nice contrast to the heavy, chocolate dipped things we get bombarded with during the holidays. Great suggestion!
these look wonderful and what a lovely theme
Watched it every year. Even in college, we'd all watch it, and do all the dialog, so much fun! The cookies look amazing.
I just pinned this recipe to try soon. I can tell just by the look of them that I'd love them. They look thin enough to be slightly crunchy with a chewy center. Am I close? Add the lemon and I am happily planning to try them. Thanks!
First of all, hooray for musical-inspired recipes! And, Oh. My. GOSH!! There are real lemon drops in the cookies! Lemondrops were my favorite candy for the longest time after we sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow in choir in elementary school.
Lemon are my son's favorite cookies, and I can't blame him – they are rather addictive. By the way, I've never watched that movie at Christmas but I love that song :),
Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
Lemon Drop Cookies passed me by in that song too but I'll make amends.
All my hubby's troubles will fade away and they'll be "no place like home" when I bake these cookies. He loves all things lemony.
By the way a great idea for a post. I'm looking forward to seeing all the others and to have a good sing-a-long of course! ;D
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is one of my favorites. Your lemon drop cookies look fabulous and I can imagine how wonderful they must be with a good cup of tea!
these are so good, and that's coming from someone who shies away from lemon desserts. great cookies inspired by a great movie!
Mmmmmm….these must have an intense lemon flavor!!! I'd love if you'd link these up to the cookie blog hop on my site. Have a great week, Beth!
I love how you connect entertainment and baking! Lemon drop cookies are perfect 🙂
Lemon drop candy in cookies…I love lemon and I love the idea too.
For me, it's the Sound of Music that I love during Christmas and Easter. Now I have to make some crisp apple strudel!
Ooooo you use lemon drops–PERFECT!!!!
The lemon drop cookies look so delicate and wonderful for the holidays. I'm looking forward to following your musically inspired recipes;-)
Did I watch it every year? You're kidding, right! I had it memorized. And then hosted Wizard of Oz parties for all the Wizard of Oz actor-geeks out there in NYC. We knew every line. So a bright, lemony cookie just brings it all back. I had such a crush on Ray Bolger and the Scarecrow ornament hangs proudly on the tree.
Thank you for bring back that song and that musical. Now thes cookies are calling my name; I love lemon but have had lemon drops…perfect with my cuo of green tea.
Rita
I didn't watch "The Wizard of Oz" at any particular time of year, but I do enjoy it! These cookies would definitely melt anyone's troubles away. How about sending some to CA? 😉
Yum! I'm going to show my husband your blog, Beth. He loves to bake.
I love lemon flavoured baked goods too Beth. The cookies sound sensational. Our holiday season treat was always The Sound of Music, but I do remember the Wizard of Oz with fondness 🙂
Oooh, I missed the last month of musical theme, I'll have to check it out! Love the idea!
Love the cookies Beth and Wizard of Oz!
I bet these cookies would make any troubles melt away. I love lemon cookies and these seem like the perfect one to add to my collection. 🙂 I also love the Wizard of Oz and Wicked! I sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow at least once a week as I cook dinner, off-key and belting it out, but at least i am enjoying myself.
I really enjoy your musical inspired recipe posts. Yes, I remember watching the Wizard of Oz at Christmas time. That made it extra special because we would wait all year to see it. Your cookies sound delicious. I love all things lemon.
I've been a fan of musicals since high school, so I can't wait to see what other recipes you post in this series! And, I'm a fan of lemon desserts. These cookies sound great.
Count me in as one who used to watch the Wizard of Oz on a yearly basis. I always enjoyed the caution that "the first part of the movie is in black & white; once Dorthy gets to Oz, the movie is in color."
Great cookie recipe. Lemon is one of my big favorites, too, so I always am on the search for more lemon recipes. And I'll bet the lemon drops add a nice crunch factor. Thanks for this.
I love that these were inspired by by the Wizard of Oz! Lemon desserts are some of my favorite!
I love lemony cookies..they really seem to melt in your mouth! These look amazing and I love where the inspiration came from. I haven't watched that movie in forever!
How neat that these cookies have actual lemon drops in them! I love lemon and I love the Wizard of Oz too!
What a fun cookie with the lemon drop candies in it! YUM!
Oh, how I used to look forward to "The Wizard of Oz" every year. My mom used it as leverage to get me to do my chores:)
Your cookies look great! I love lemon drops!
Beth, they do look light enough to float with the clouds. Beautiful.
If you have a moment, would you link them up to Bake With Bizzy. It is the second or third post.
Oh these look so delicious. I love all things lemon. The Wizard of Oz is one of my all time favorites. After all, I am from Kansas so it hits close to home. 🙂
I love any kind of lemony dessert or sweet treat, possibly even more than chocolate, so I can't wait to give these a try.
Thanks for dropping by my blog today – hopefully you'll visit again soon.
Sue 🙂
I've never been one to watch wizard of oz every christmas but I know exactly what you mean – and I think it would make a fine christmas movie – and I love that top photo of the tea and biscuit – the surface of the tea has a dreamlike quality that is very wizard of oz
Please stop by My Sweet and Savory f or an award.http://sweetsav.blogspot.com/2011/12/chocolate-truffles.html
I love lemon-everything & love that these cookies were inspired by 'somewhere over the rainbow' – an all-time favorite.
I like the new look of your blog (which should tell you how long it has been since I've read your posts outside of google reader!)