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    Home > Meal Type > Baking

    Melting Moments Cookies

    Updated: Dec 11th 2022 • Published: Jun 20th 2022 • 13 Comments

    Jump to Recipe SaveSaved! Pin Recipe
    5 from 14 votes
    Pinterest Image - Melting Moments Cookies with text overlay
    Pinterest Image - Melting Moments Cookies with text overlay
    Pinterest Image - Melting Moments Cookies with text overlay
    Pinterest Image - Melting Moments Cookies with text overlay
    Pinterest Image - Melting Moments Cookies with text overlay
    Pinterest Image - Melting Moments Cookies with text overlay
    Pinterest Image - Melting Moments Cookies with text overlay

    Melting moments cookies are a classic Australian cookie. These dainty cookies are so soft and buttery that they melt in the mouth. 

    They make the perfect cookie for afternoon tea or a party, as they look really impressive but are so easy to make. 

    Melting moments are filled with delicious buttercream, here, it is flavored with lemon, but you can mix it up with some of my favorite recipe twists.

    close up on a powdered sugar covered sandwich cookie

    People just love these melting moments cookies, and it is impossible just to have one. They are one of the most well known Australian cookies and are perfect with a cup of tea.

    Jump Menu

    • What are melting moments cookies? 
    • Ingredients
    • Recipe Adaptions
    • Recipe Tips
    • Storing your cookies
    • Making in advance
    • Recipe
    • Melting Moments Cookies

    What are melting moments cookies? 

    Melting Moments are small butter cookies made with flour, butter, and powdered sugar, sandwiched together with a delicate buttercream. They have a wonderfully buttery taste and a light melt-in-your-mouth texture. Traditionally they are filled with lemon buttercream, but there are so many variations on the buttercream.

    As they don't contain eggs, they are great for those with an egg allergy.

    powdered sugar falling on a rack of melting moments

    Ingredients

    • Butter: This needs to be soft room temperature butter. I recommend using unsalted butter and adding salt. But if you have salted butter, just add a tiny pinch of salt rather than the quantity in the recipe.
    • Powdered Sugar: Also known as confectioner's sugar or icing sugar, this gives the cookies the perfect texture and sweetness.
    • All-Purpose Flour: You want plain all-purpose flour for this recipe as you don't want the cookies to rise.
    • Cornstarch: Also known as cornflour, this is what gives the cookies the crumbly soft texture that melts in the mouth.
    • Salt: The measurements are for standard table salt; if using salted butter, just add a pinch of salt.
    • Lemon zest and juice: This is used to flavor the buttercream filling. Be sure to zest the lemon before you cut it to juice it. You can easily change the flavor of the buttercream. (see recipe adaptions below)
    close up on the buttercream filling of a melting moments cookie

    Recipe Adaptions

    You can change the flavor and or color of your buttercream to suit your tastes or party.

    • Swap the lemon juice and zest for the same quantity of orange juice and zest for an orange filling. 
    • Make a vanilla filling by replacing the lemon juice and zest with 1½ teaspoon of vanilla extract.
    • Add a nutty hit, and replace the lemon juice and zest with 1½ teaspoon of almond extract.
    • Make a chocolate filling by replacing ¼ cup of the powdered sugar with cocoa powder (¾ cup powdered sugar and ¼ cup cocoa powder). Leave out the lemon juice and zest, and add a teaspoon of vanilla extract. If the mixture is a little stiff, you can thin it with 1 teaspoon of water.
    • To make a coffee filling, leave out the lemon, mix 1 teaspoon of espresso powder with 1 teaspoon of water, and add that to the buttercream mixture.
    • Use a storebought caramel/dulce de leche to fill your melting moments.
    • If you wish to color the buttercream, use gel colors, so they don't thin down the mixture. You might need to sprinkle in a little extra powdered sugar if using liquid colors.  
    powdered sugar falling on a rack of melting moments

    Recipe Tips

    • Ensure your butter is soft but not melted.
    • Use an electric mixer to cream the butter and sugar together, but use a spatula to fold in the flour and cornstarch. If you use an electric mixer for the flour, you risk overmixing, which will give you tough cookies.
    • Lightly flour your hands when rolling the cookies into balls. This will ensure the dough doesn't stick to your fingers.
    • Line a biscuit sheet or cookie tray with parchment paper to ensure the cookies don't stick.
    • Bake the cookies on the lowest shelf of the oven to give you a crisp and smooth bottom.
    • When making the buttercream, use an electric whisk or stand mixer with a whisk attachment to really cream the butter, then add the powdered sugar and cream again until very light and fluffy. This will ensure your buttercream is light and delicate and will give you a very pale-colored filling.
    sandwiched cookies with flowers in the background

    Storing your cookies

    You can store the sandwiched cookies in an airtight container for up to three days.

    They will keep longer but the buttercream starts to harden and the cookie gets softer.

    These are delicate cookies, and while they are great for gifting a neighbor or friend, they aren't suitable for shipping as they are too fragile. 

    Making in advance

    If you want to make them in advance, store the unsandwiched cookies for up to a week. The buttercream will keep in the refrigerator for a week as well. Then bring it to room temperature before trying to fill the cookies.

    overhead of cookies on a white cooling rack with a yellow teapot

    If you make these Melting Moments Cookies, don't forget to come back and comment or tag me on social media.

    Any questions about the recipe? Use the comments section below.

    Enjoy x



    Pinterest button

    For more cookie recipes why not try:

    • Crispy Peanut Thins
    • Sprinkle Cookies
    • Subway White Chocolate and Macadamia Cookies
    • Subway Style Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • White Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Recipe

    close up on a single melting moment on a white cooling rack

    Melting Moments Cookies

    Claire | Sprinkle and Sprouts
    Melting moments cookies are a classic Australian cookie. These dainty cookies are so soft and buttery that they melt in the mouth. They make the perfect cookie for afternoon tea or a party, as they look really impressive but are so easy to make. There is no egg in these cookies, so they are great for those with allergies. Melting moments are filled with delicious buttercream, here, it is flavored with lemon, but you can mix it up with some of my favorite recipe twists.
    5 from 14 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Baking
    Cuisine Australian
    Servings 24 Cookies
    Calories 233 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    For the cookies

    • 1½ cup unsalted butter - room temperature - see note 1
    • 1 cup powdered sugar - see note 2
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour - see note 3
    • 1 cup cornstarch - see note 4
    • ¾ teaspoon salt - see note 5

    For the filling

    • ½ cup unsalted butter - room temperature - see note 1
    • 1 cup powdered sugar - see note 2
    • 1½ teaspoon grated lemon zest - see note 6
    • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
    • pinch salt

    Instructions
     

    For the Cookies

    • Preheat oven to 320ºF/160°C. (see note 7)
    • Line two biscuit/cookie trays with parchment paper.
    • Use an electric mixer or stand mixer with whisk attachment to cream the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
      1½ cups/340g butter
      1 cup/120g powdered sugar

    • Add the flour, cornstarch, and salt, and use a spatula or wooden spoon to incorporate them. (don't use the electric mixer as it can make your cookies tough)
      2 cups/250g AP flour
      1 cup/128g cornstarch
      ¾ teaspoon salt

    • Flour your hands, roll 2 teaspoons of the mixture into balls, and place about 1"/2.5cm apart on the prepared trays.
    • Flatten the cookies slightly.
    • Bake for 13-15 minutes until the cookies are lightly golden ( a pale straw color).
    • Remove from the oven and let them stand for 10 minutes before placing them on a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

    For the Filling

    • Beat the butter with an electric mixer or stand mixer with whisk attachment until it is light and fluffy; add in the powdered sugar and cream together until very pale and smooth. Add in the salt, lemon zest and juice and beat again.
      ½ cup/115g butter
      1 cup/120g powdered sugar
      1½ teaspoon lemon zest
      1 teaspoon lemon juice
      pinch salt

    • Add a heaped teaspoon of buttercream to the flat bottom of one cookie and light sandwich it together with another cookie. Press them together gently until the buttercream reaches the edges.
    • Dust with sifted powdered sugar when serving.
      extra powdered sugar

    Notes

    1. The butter needs to be soft, room temperature butter. I recommend using unsalted butter and adding salt. But if you have salted butter, just add a tiny pinch of salt rather than the quantity in the recipe.
    2. Powdered Sugar is also known as confectioner's sugar or icing sugar.
    3. You want plain/all-purpose flour for this recipe as you don't want the cookies to rise.
    4. Cornstarch is also known as cornflour.
    5. The measurements are for standard table salt; if using salted butter, just add a pinch of salt.
    6. Be sure to zest the lemon before you cut it to juice it. You can change the flavor of the buttercream to suit your taste/occasion. (see the bulk of post for adaptions)
    7. If you use a fan-forced oven, reduce the temperature to 285ºF/140ºC.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 233kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 106mg | Potassium: 17mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 473IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg
    For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Faaiza says

      July 18, 2022 at 12:42 pm

      5 stars
      I love a good melting moment and this one is perfection!! Yum!

      Reply
    2. Donna says

      July 18, 2022 at 12:39 pm

      5 stars
      I haven't had melting moments in years! I used to always buy them at the bake sales when we first moved to Aus. Was so excited to make my own at home, and they worked out perfectly!

      Reply
    3. Jennifer says

      July 15, 2022 at 2:38 am

      5 stars
      Loved these! I served them for a ladies tea and all the women wanted the recipe! What a hit!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        January 31, 2023 at 3:11 pm

        Oh that makes me smile 🙂
        Cx

        Reply
    4. laura says

      July 14, 2022 at 8:15 am

      5 stars
      Thes cookies really do melt in your mouth!

      Reply
    5. Rupali says

      June 28, 2022 at 9:02 am

      5 stars
      So far, I had only tried these from our local bakery. But these were so much better! The cookies were just so buttery, and melt-in-the-mouth! Such a lovely recipe. I am definitely making these again.

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        June 29, 2022 at 4:41 pm

        Oh I am o pleased you enjoyed them Rupali 🙂
        Cx

        Reply
    6. Donna says

      June 23, 2022 at 4:09 pm

      5 stars
      My ex's granny used to make the best melting moments, I wasn't sad to get rid of him, but I have been missing her biscuits ever since! These hit the spot perfectly and will definitely become a Sunday baking tradition in this house!

      Reply
    7. Sherry says

      June 22, 2022 at 11:26 am

      5 stars
      What a great tasting cookie recipe! I made your Melting Moments Cookies for a tea party that I had. Everyone loved them and asked me for the recipe!

      Reply
    8. Alex Bala says

      June 22, 2022 at 1:34 am

      5 stars
      These are so good! I had never tried them before, but they are absolutely one of my new favorite cookies to make. Thanks!

      Reply
    9. Mandy Applegate says

      June 21, 2022 at 9:38 pm

      5 stars
      I'd never heard of melting moments cookies before but gave them a go - I was SO pleased I did - they are delicious!

      Reply
    10. Cindy says

      June 21, 2022 at 8:43 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delightful! These were a huge hit with all!

      Reply
    11. Sachi says

      June 21, 2022 at 11:43 am

      5 stars
      I love these! Butter and lemon are such a great combination.

      Reply

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