My mom and I developed this recipe years ago for her bakery. We named it after her favorite butterfly, the painted lady. I bake them every year on the anniversary of her passing as a way to feel close to her, even if she isn't physically present anymore.
She was always happy to divulge her recipes, and sharing this one with you all here seems like a good way to honor her memory:
Lynne's Painted Lady Cookies
Ingredients:
1 C Butter, softened
3/4 C White sugar
1/2 C Light brown sugar, packed
2 Large eggs
1 tsp Vanilla extract
2 1/2 C All-purpose flour
2 tsp Baking powder
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 C Dried apricots
1/4 C Dried cranberries
1/4 C Dried cherries
1 Small lemon
1 1/2 C Powdered sugar
Instructions:
Chop dried fruits or pulse them in a food processor. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg, then mix in chopped fruits. Set aside.
In another bowl, cream butter and sugars. Beat in one egg at a time, incorporating fully before adding the next egg. Add vanilla.
Combine dry mixture and wet mixture to form a dough. Wrap dough and refrigerate at least 8 hours, or as long as two days.
Form into 1.5" balls and bake for 14 minutes at 350°F, or until bottoms are golden brown. Let cool completely.
Zest and juice the lemon. Beat in powdered sugar to create a glaze. Dip the tops of the cookies in the glaze, using a knife to remove any excess. Allow glaze to dry completely.
Yields about 3 dozen cookies.
by Natural_Red_
46 Comments
They look good. I wasn’t too interested in making them until I saw the apricot, cranberry, and cherries. Now they’re on my list. Thanks for sharing a memory of your mom with us
I’m sorry for your loss. I’m crying and I’m going to make them this weekend in honor of your mama.
Sorry for your loss.
These look absolutely delicious!
They look wonderful! Thank you for sharing the recipe with us.
May her memory remain a blessing to you. 🦋 The cookies look delicious!
What a beautiful way to honor and remember your mom. 💕
I’m sorry about your mom. Thanks for sharing your story and one of the ways you continue to connect with her.
The recipe sounds really great. I’m going to try it. Thanks for writing it up and sharing.
I love this. What a great memory. I do something similar on the anniversary of my dad’s passing. These cookies look like a very nostalgic treat. Hope you are feeling the love today 💛
This is a beautiful tradition and the cookies look 🤌🏼
Thanks for sharing! So sorry for your loss !
I’m sorry for your loss. She would be so happy seeing you make them 🙂
I’m sorry for your loss. What a wonderful way to remember her. Thank you for sharing this.
These look wonderful, and your mom sounds very cool. Thank you.
This so sweet. I’ve been working outside with this beautiful southern California weather we’ve had and I’ve seen so many Painted Ladies flutter by during their annual spring migration the last few days.
These look so good, and I’m always trying to find new ways to use dried fruits!
I’m sorry for your loss. The cookies look great!
Sorry for your loss, but honoring her with her favorite cookies was so thoughtful.
You’re a good daughter
😍❤️
Thank you for sharing her with us. I’m saving this recipe. 🦋💗
They look amazing and she would be so proud of you ❤️
Big hugs to you today from the club 🫂💜
so sorry for your loss 💔
These look delicious 🤍🤍 Sending an ((e-hug)) your way.
This is such a beautiful tribute to your mom. I can’t wait to make these cookies to honor her for you. ❤️
Thank you for the picture and sharing your recipe.
The loss of a mom – such a difficult thing. I still feel lost without my mom. Grief has been a wild ride.
Those look delicious.
Such a lovely tribute! My dad was a gardener so I get plants on the anniversary of his death, all my annuals and a new perennial or two if it catches my eye.
Jotted down your notes and will give Lynne’s cookies a try after my next grocery day 💕
Is this gonna be the new date bar
I’m sorry for your loss. What a lovely way to remember her.
Your moms Painted Lady cookies sound yummy! What a sweet tribute to her. Thanks so much!
As someone who just lost their mom, I thank you for sharing this beautiful piece of her and of your relationship.
What a lovely way to remember her! I would also love to make this in her honor, and I really think that my mom especially would love them. She’s always all about anything studded with dried fruit.
Wow, I just happen to have everything for these! I will make them in honor of your mom. I’m sorry for your loss. Thanks for sharing 🫶
Im so sorry for your loss. I haven’t heard of these and am going to make them with my kid who loves to bake this weekend now. Hope that helps to honor her.
These cookies look amazing. Your moms memory will live on with these cookies❤️ I’m going to make them this weekend!
I’m so sorry for your loss. This is such a beautiful tradition to keep your mother’s memory close 🩷 I will definitely make these in my future!
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I am so sorry for your pain. What a beautiful way to honor your mom. May her memory be a blessing.
Thank you so much for sharing with us, I will make them this weekend in her honor! May her memory continue to be a blessing.
These look absolutely delicious. Such a beautiful way to remember your mom, and thank you for sharing the recipe. I can’t wait to try it and share them with my loved ones as well.
I will definitely be making these in honor of your mother! What a beautiful way to let her memory live on through others 💞
Sending hugs 🫂. They look delicious btw
I’m so sorry for your loss 🫂 Thank you for taking the time to share your story and this recipe with us. Ill make these too in her memory 🤍🤍
So sorry for your loss. Baking a recipe you both collaborated on is such a special way to honor her. March always brings heavy feelings for me since my dad also passed on the 18th. You’ve inspired me to bake something for him to commemorate the day.
Its my birthday today i have to try this recipe, these look amazing ill make them in honor of your mom when i get the ingredients! Thank you for sharing.
16 years later and I still make her bread pudding from scratch, sending love to you!
Thank you for sharing this. I have a few recipes which remind me of my Mom and/or Dad. When I make those things, I think about the happy times.
Does the recipe use tart or sweet dried cherries?