The aroma of freshly baked cookies once filled the streets of downtown North Little Rock, a scent many remember fondly. This nostalgic fragrance belonged to Jackson’s Cookie Co., a local bakery operating from 1933 to 2004. While Jackson’s was renowned for its vanilla wafers, it was the lemon jumbles, or Jackson’s Old Fashioned Lemon Cookies, that truly captured hearts. Sadly, these delectable treats vanished with the bakery’s closure, leaving a void in the local culinary landscape.
The Quest for the Perfect Lemon Cookie
Jackson’s Old Fashioned Lemon Cookies possessed a unique charm. They were crisp without being hard, lemony without being overly tart. The perfect balance of textures and flavors made them a beloved treat. Since the bakery’s closure, finding a comparable lemon cookie has proven to be an impossible task. Supermarket alternatives often fall short, leaving a lingering sense of disappointment.
The longing for these lost cookies recently resurfaced with a viral Facebook post promising a copycat recipe. The recipe, featuring a simple combination of lemon cake mix, oil, and eggs, seemed too good to be true. And it was.
A Copycat Recipe That Falls Short
While the resulting cookies from the viral recipe were undeniably tasty, they were a far cry from Jackson’s Old Fashioned Lemon Cookies. The texture was soft and cake-like, a predictable outcome given the use of cake mix. The sweetness was also more pronounced than the original. Despite these differences, the cookies were enjoyable enough to be devoured entirely. The recipe, included below, offers a simple lemon cookie option, but it serves as a reminder of the irreplaceable magic of Jackson’s original creation.
Easy Lemon Cookies Recipe
This simple recipe produces soft, cake-like lemon cookies. While not a true replica of Jackson’s Old Fashioned Lemon Cookies, they offer a satisfyingly sweet and lemony treat.
Ingredients:
- 1 box (15.25 to 18 ounces) lemon cake mix
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
Instructions:
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
-
In a medium bowl, combine the cake mix, oil, and eggs. Stir until well blended.
-
Using a cookie scoop or teaspoon, drop dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
-
Bake for 10 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the cookies are set.
-
Let cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Yields: Approximately 3 dozen cookies.
The Search Continues
The quest for a true Jackson’s Old Fashioned Lemon Cookie continues. While the copycat recipe provides a temporary fix, it only intensifies the longing for the original. Perhaps someday, the secret recipe will resurface, allowing this iconic cookie to reclaim its rightful place in Arkansas culinary history. Until then, the memory of its unique flavor and texture will endure. The hunt for the perfect lemon cookie persists.
