Bakers, I need your help! Substitute for grated lemon peel?!
Would I be able to use the juice instead, it's the Real Lemon brand juice in the green bottle. If so, how much would I use?
Please answer only if you have tried this or are an experienced baker.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Answers:
The grated lemon peel has a different flavor and is, or course, not a liquid. But sometimes when you cook, you just use what you have! You would have to add quite a bit of lemon juice to really get the flavor, the you've watered up your cookie dough. Do you have lemon extract? The flavor is more concentrated. It will cause a different result too, but better than just the lemon juice. No extract? Go ahead and use the lemon juice, but not much - just a splash into your cookie dough and keep mixing. Don't add so much that the dough loosens up. Do you have an orange by any chance? Or a lime? You could get the zest from either of those citrus fruits and I think have a very interesting and delicious cookie! How about a neighbor with a lemon????? :) Cookies are always delicious. Don't worry.
I have experience here and RealLemon is not a good substitute for anything. Take the time to buy a lemon or two and use real zest. The little bit of extra effort will pay high dividends in flavor. When you grate a lemon, grate it slightly, you only want the nice yellow skin and not the white pith.
No. Lemon juice and peel are not interchangeable. There is far more real lemon essential oils and flavor in the peel. You'd need to add 3-4 tablespoons of juice to attain any similar taste, and that would throw off the recipe's moisture and chemical/acid make-up.
while you have had answers to adding juice in place of peel may I suggest that for future you check bulk food store which has dehydrated orange and lemon peel , it is very expensive by the oz but I always have a couple of tbsp of each in my spice rack.
use just a small amount of the lemon juice extract, it's concentrated. you may find that you like them better without the grated lemon peel.
I fully agree with Dawn's answer. It's pretty much what I would have said. Go with her, trust me. I bake all the time, and I run out of things all the time! :)
lemon juice or upon desperation lemon extract
I assume there will be lemon juice or extract in the dough too....so just add a couple extra drops but it won't be quite the same as the peel.