The open call for meyer lemon poachers still stands. No one has yet taken me up on the offer...except for the opossums who keep leaving mangled up lemons in the middle of our weed garden. I'm here to tempt you to come collect a basket of lemons by pulling out the blow torch to make these lemon meringue s'mores. Note: my blow torch has a holster so I look pretty rad.
I'm considering setting up the card table in the front yard as a lemonade stand while I sit in a lawn chair and write my dissertation all afternoon. I'll just sip homemade lemonade and wait for folks to stop by for a cup. You'd stop for a glass of ice-cold lemonade if you saw a woman in her late twenties typing at a computer with a pitcher of lemonade and a scribbled sign on the sidewalk in front of her house, right?
This is a much more passive sales strategy than the lemonade stand of my childhood. During her toast, my maid of honor revealed a few of our super effective lemonade stand tactics. For starters, we maximized our production by selling cups of whatever Crystal Light flavor my mom stocked in her cabinets that week - cutting out the precious lemon-squeezing time.
We then hit 'em hard with our in-your-face advertising techniques by holding a 6-foot long hand-drawn sign that read "CRYSTAL LIGHT FRUIT PUNCH" across the road to block traffic and maximize reach to all potential customers. Our rock-solid security measures involved freezing to resemble a statue when "scary cars" drove by. If you're thinking about going into sales, we're alive and here to attest to the efficacy of this security strategy.
Finally, as true co-founders, we divvied up all profits right down the middle, tossing any remaining pennies into the "penny tree" across the street with a solemn vow that neither of us would ever dip our fingers into the tree.
Guys, what I'm trying to say is that I'm HIGHLY qualified to run a lemonade stand. Since the weather's turning cooler, maybe a lemon meringue s'mores stand would be more popular - complete with a front yard campfire. I've got a wealth of ideas that will make writing my dissertation less monotonous, but alas, my fantasy as a s'mores entrepreneur will have to wait. If for no other reason than I ate all the s'mores.
These lemon meringue s'mores are one of my proudest moments yet - a toasted lemon meringue marshmallow with a thin caramelized shell sandwiched between two shortbread cookies spread with a thin layer of meyer lemon curd. The gluten-free shortbread cookies are crisp buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. They're good enough to eat alone as tea cookies, and even better when topped with lemon curd and marshmallows. Cue the excitement of a girl who made her s'mores without chocolate as a kid.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup white rice flour
- ½ cup gluten-free oat flour, I make my own by finely grinding gluten-free oats in a food processor
- ½ cup sweet rice flour
- ¼ cup Bob’s Red Mill tapioca flour, or corn starch
- 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS
Shortbread Cookies {gluten-free}
- Preheat the oven to 300°F.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the white rice flour, oat flour, sweet rice flour, tapioca starch, xanthan gum, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Slowly add the powdered sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
- Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter, beating until it comes together in a ball.
- Divide the dough into two balls. Wrap them in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Working with one ball at a time, roll out the dough onto a lightly floured surface until it is about ¼-inch thick.
- Use a pastry wheel or a knife to cut 2-½ inch squares. Carefully transfer each square to a parchment-lined baking sheet, 1 inch apart. Rework any leftover scraps back into the dough as you would with sugar cookies. Repeat until you have 24-30 cookies.
- Use a skewer to poke 5 evenly spaced holes in the top of each cookie.
- Bake the cookie sheets side-by-side for 16-18 minutes, or until they spring back when lightly touched in the center (they'll crisp up as they cool).
- Turn oven off. Open the oven door and let the cookies rest until the oven is cool, or at least 20 minutes. Store in an airtight container for up to one week.
S'mores
- Spread about 2 teaspoons of lemon curd on one cooled shortbread cookie.
- Using either a fire or the flame from a gas stove, roast a marshmallow. (See notes below).
- Press the roasted marshmallow between the lemon curd covered shortbread cookie and another shortbread cookie. Devour instantly.
Christie -
Yum! E was just asking for shortbread cookies. I tried from a gluten-free mix once, and they just weren't worth the work. I'm sure yours are!
xxChristie
PS - those ugly little boogers always eat our tangerines. I guess we're lucky they leave the lemons alone!
Sarah Menanix -
Awww - I hope you do make these! They literally MELT in your mouth. Send me some too please:)
I wish I had a tangerine tree!!! Jealoussssss.
Carla (@charliesue) -
1. I adore you. YOU ARE THE CUTEST.
2. I had smores this weekend and we couldn't use regular graham crackers because we were in gluten-free company and basically I had a mouth of toasty marshmallow with some chocolate poked in which doesn't SOUND that bad, but when you compare it to this FANTASTIC DELICIOUSNESS I can't even properly EXPRESS how sad my experience was.
Sarah Menanix -
The feeling is SO mutual, my lovely friend.
I mean, you really can't go wrong with toasty marshmallows, but NEXT TIME you know you've got a gluten-free alternative:) Maybe we should make s'mores at our slumber party (see me enticing you here??)
rachel -
wow what a great idea! lemon meringue pie is my all time fav!
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks Rachel! I'm a huge lemon meringue pie fan too!
Katie | lovely letters -
What a story! This is too precious and it makes me wish there were home videos of the statue posing to share.
Thank you for this incredible and original s'mores recipe. LOVE the summery twist!
xx Katie
Sarah Menanix -
There are so many other more embarrassing home videos of my childhood. I was an....eccentric child. Haha. Thanks lady!
Chris @ Shared Appetite -
1) You rock! These are so creative and such a cool take on s'mores!
2) My wife would love me extra if I made these for her. She LOVES lemon meringue everything.
3) Thanks for including my s'mores sundae!
4) I'm pinning the heck out of this
5) Do you do mail order for meyer lemons?! hahahaha... I'd seriously take you up on it!
Sarah Menanix -
1. Blush
2. You should definitely make them for her! Brownie points. Or....s'mores points?
3. Thank YOU for the s'more inspiration!
4. Wahoo! Thanks!
5. Unfortunately I don't offer delivery. Pick-up only. BETTER COME TO CALIFORNIA!
laura -
these look so delicious! I love lemon flavoured stuff, and these smores look fantastic
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you, Laura! We're also obsessed with lemon in our house - my husband puts it on EVERYTHING.
Isadora @ she likes food -
I will happily take all the extra Meyer lemons off your hand! Unfortunately, I live a little bit far away and you would have to ship them to me :) I love this creative take on smores! It is finally getting to be fire pit weather here, which means smores weather and I will keep these ones in mind!
Sarah Menanix -
This gives me an idea - I should open an meyer lemon shop on Etsy;) Ha!
Thank you so much! I wish it were fire pit weather here already! It was 90°F in our house today...YIKES
Maria -
This instantly reminded me of a fantastic article that Michele Humes wrote that ALSO came with a recipe for lemon smores! It was an ode to not being a chocolate lover and I have always wanted to make lemon smores since then: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2009/11/whats-wrong-with-chocolate/29326/
These look SOOOO GOOD.
Sarah Menanix -
What a fantastic find, Maria! Thank you so much for sharing the link - I agree with everything she writes here. I'm always turned off by the overabundance of chocolate desserts on restaurant menus and would opt for something tangy and acidic any day. What a funny coincidence!
mira -
The idea of these s'mores is just fabulous and hmmm a lemon meringue s'mores stand sounds perfect ! Still a little jealous of your lemon tree :) I got a lot of lemon inspiration after your last 2 posts Sarah :)
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much, Mira! Wish you lived nearby so I could unload a bucket of lemons on you!
Crystal | Apples & Sparkle -
I swear, my eyes wanted to cross reading this post, these sound like THE BEST s'mores ever! I am actually one that nowadays just roasts the marshmallow and calls it good. But these! These are amazing! : ) Visualizing your childhood lemonade stand gave me a good chuckle! Pinnnnnned!
Sarah Menanix -
I'm totally with you! I could do without the graham crackers & chocolate. These lemon s'mores are everything I love about s'mores and then some. Thanks for sharing, Crystal! (And for reading!:)
Kristy @ Southern In Law -
Oh yum! These look so amazing!! xx
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks, Kristy! They're almost dangerously yummy for me. I have no self-control! Ha.
Rachel @ Bakerita -
Oh my, these s'mores look unreal! That lemon curd and those gorgeous marshmallows? Need it all, please. Pinned!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much, Rachel! Wish I could share with you!
Maryanne @ the little epicurean -
These s'mores look wonderful! I'm totally jealous of your lemon tree and super cool torch.
When I was a kid, we lived on a cul-de-sac. It was the worst location for a lemonade stand. The only customer I ever got was my dad when he came home from work!
Sarah Menanix -
Ha! You definitely needed to relocate your business.
When you come visit, I'll let you wear/use my blow torch (While making me dessert, of course).
Karen @ The Food Charlatan -
Coming up for air after finishing your wedding post part 2 and your proposal. You guys are so cute I want to die.
Also, you are bringing these Smores to Stockton right? Because Smores are a totally logical and travel friendly food item for a press trip. LEMON. you are my life.
Sarah Menanix -
Oh my gosh you are too sweet. I think you're the first person to actually read through my entire wedding post - you just made my day!
Absolutely. I'll pack one up for each blogger - they won't be soggy or sticky at all.
Thalia @ butter and brioche -
Coming from Australia.. I have shamefully never tried a smore before! Sarah, you definitely have inspired me to go out and try and recreate this recipe.
Sarah Menanix -
Oh no! What a sad story! You definitely need to try some s'mores;) I hope you like them!
Allie | Baking a Moment -
These are just brilliant! I would definitely stop my car and pull over to buy one of these... ;)
Sarah Menanix -
Nice! You're giving me hope for the success of my new sales venture - hehe;) Thanks, Allie!
Kathi @ Deliciously Yum! -
These s'mores look insane! I absolutely adore lemon curd and just know that I would devour a couple of these in no time! Just gorgeous. I'll definitely be roasting marshmallows stove-style soon since it's already too cold in MN for a campfire ;)
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much, Kathi!
Stove-style's the way to go - Then you can eat s'mores all year round!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter -
Wow, I am loco for lemons so this is my absolute favorite s'mores recipe ever! Love the gluten free shortbread crust too and with the lemon curd your lemon meringue marshmallows? Just genius lady :)
Sarah Menanix -
Yay! I'm so glad you like the recipe! Thanks, Kelly!
Sheri -
Ah, those were the days...when parents felt comfortable letting their children roam free in the neighborhood! These look amazing by the way!! Way better than the things you two would pull out of my cabinet to sell to unsuspecting neighbors! ;)
Sarah Menanix -
Haha - We sometimes even sold Kudos bars, I'm sure!
Melanie | Melanie Makes -
So glad I stumbled upon your awesome site and this delicious looking recipe!
Sarah Menanix -
Aw - thank you Melanie! I'm so glad you stopped by!
Jill -
Oh these look delicious! Love anything with lemon curd, but with shortbread AND marshmallows...yum! Can't think of anything I would like to eat more!
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks Jill! I could eat all three of these things separately, but they're even tastier all together!
Julia -
Oh heck yes, you should 200% open a lemonade stand and serve these lemon meringue s'mores! Seriously, these treats are brilliant! Love that lemon curd, and now I'm in the mood for a roasty toasty marshmallow!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much, Julia! I'm actually kind of sad that I already ate all of these marshmallows. Maybe if the dissertation thing doesn't pan out, I'll open up this lemon venture;)
Annie | MontgomeryFest -
i love all of this embarrassing childhood story ammo i get when i visit. why are we so far apart..i want to have a lemonade/mime stand this afternoon.
Sarah Menanix -
Haha does this mean you want to take the "don't talk to people" to the extreme in our lemonade stand venture? Let me know if you want to go into business - I'll draw up contracts.
Lisa / Good on Paper -
Sarah, love your twist on the s'mores! Thanks for your email btw. I have to take you up on that lemon offer.. Will try and figure out a time that works ;)
Sarah Menanix -
So funny - we were on each other's blogs at the same time! Please text me and we can figure out a day you can come over for coffee or tea...and to pick up a lemon haul!
ellie | fit for the soul -
Wish I could have met you during my childhood years! I have...ahem, embarrassingly...never seen a lemonade stand in person. There's really no such thing in Argentina where I grew up! And in LA+orange county that's a rarity to come across too. But I'd definitely be impressed if I saw these somewhere. They're so gorgeous and decadent...You should probably stop now with all things lemon since you know it's my weakness, and I know behind your sweet self, you're trying to get me to like s'mores. ;)
Sarah Menanix -
Oh my! I guess the lemonade stand is definitely a small-town kind of thing. Maybe you should come visit and we'll have our own lemonade stand so you can have that experience:)
Thank you! I will convince you to eat s'mores one day - muahahaha.
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West -
So you're not exactly a ruthless business woman??? :)
Sarah Menanix -
Haha - well just wait until I tell the story about my middle school magazine drive....Or my thriving homemade card business as a kid.
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen -
What a unique take on smores! They looks fresh and delicious in their little lemony selves. :-)
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks Kristi! Lemon curd is my favorite way to eat fresh lemons - so here I go spreading it on everything to freshen things up!
Tina @ Just Putzing Around the Kitchen -
Mmmmmm, these look fabulous! And I told you I'd be happy to take lemons off your hand - just mail me everything you have, along with a pound of those yummy marshmallows, please....pronto.
Sarah Menanix -
A POUND of marshmallows?! Do you know how light these things are?! You'd be swimming in marshmallows!
Allison -
If you started a lemon meringue smores stand, I would be your best customer! Such a creative recipe! The gluten-free shortbread cookie along is so fascinating. That would just be so much yummier than a graham cracker!
Sarah Menanix -
Yess! I love that I've got some customers lined up in advance! I agree - I could eat shortbread cookies for dayzzz.
Nicole -
You are amazing for this! I am a Smore whore and you just gave me something else to get excited about. Pinning!
Sarah Menanix -
Hahahaha you just made me spit out my water - "s'more whore". Thanks for sharing it!
Jen @ Baked by an Introvert -
You are a complete food genius! This is the most creative s'mores I've ever seen. I would gobble them up in a heart beat.
Sarah Menanix -
Hah - you're too sweet! I DID gobble them up - it took all kinds of will power to save one for my husband when he got back from his trip!
Sheila @ Life, Love, and Good Food -
What a clever idea! These look great and like such a fun party food!
Sarah Menanix -
I think I need to host a party with a fire pit now - thanks for the inspiration!
Lauren Kelly Nutrition -
Absolute GENIUS! I love these!
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks, Lauren!
Nora -
Looks amazing Sarah! I have two questions for U? Have you tried without the X. Gum and would super fine brown rice flour work instead of white rice flour. Thanks
Sarah Menanix -
I have not tried w/o xanthan gum, but now I don't use xanthan gum in my cookies, so I think it would work! I also am not sure about the rice flour, but I do think that should work. I have this more recent recipe for shortbread cookies and if you want to use fewer flours, you could sub out the flours for almond/oat/corn starch combo scaling up to fit this recipe!
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet -
This looks amazing! Love the idea of lemon meringue in a s'more!
Sarah Menanix -
Thanks, Anna! There's something about lemon and toasted marshmallows that I just can't get enough of!
janelle -
this is a magical and delicious looking idea!
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you, Janelle!
Melissa Belanger -
Ah! They turned out amazing :) They look perfectly caramelized like the meringue tops on the lemon tarts I am currently obsessed with here in France! Just enough to give it an awesome texture.
On a side note, it sounds like the whole lemonade stand thing is a fantastic idea! I would definitely buy a s'more from you! Maybe not random Crystal Light flavors though. I gave that up a while ago because it's seriously addictive (at least to me!)
Sarah Menanix -
Thank you so much Melissa. I want one of those lemon tarts you're talking about now!
That's too funny about your Crystal Light addiction! I'll only shove s'mores in your face then;)