English Lemon-Curd Cookies

Makes about 16 cookies
Prep: 30 minutes.
Refrigerate: 3 hours. Bake: at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.

Cookies Dough:

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup finely ground pecans

Lemon Curd:

1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup lemon juice
2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
2 egg yolks

Confectioners' sugar

1. Dough: Combine flour, salt and baking soda in bowl. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl until creamy. Beat in egg, lemon extract and vanilla until fluffy. Stir in flour mixture and pecans. Divide dough in half; shape into disks. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour.

2. Heat oven to 350 degrees. On lightly floured surface with floured rolling pin, roll half of dough 1/8 inch thick. With floured 3-inch fluted round cookie cutter, cut out dough. Place, 1 inch apart, on ungreased baking sheets. With floured 1 ½-inch round cookie cutter, cut out centers from half the cookies. Reroll centers and trimmings. Repeat with other half of dough.

3. Bake in 350 degree oven 12 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool on racks.
Store at room temperature or freeze.

4. Curd: Combine sugar, lemon juice, rind and butter in saucepan. Place pan in
skillet half filled with simmering water over medium-low heat. Whisk in yolks;
cook, stirring, until thickened enough to coat spoon, 15 minutes (temperature
should read 160 degrees); do not boil. Pour into small bowl; cover surface directly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate to chill, 2 hours.

6. Sprinkle confectioners' sugar on cookies with cut-out centers. Spread 1 tablespoon curd over each cookie without cut-out center; top with sugared cookie, pressing lightly to form sandwich.