Crunchy Lemonade Drumsticks

By cheeserohan

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons grated lemon zest
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 3 Tablespoons packed light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 12 skin-on drumsticks (3 1/2-4 1/4)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups panko
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• cooking spray

Preparation

Step 1

1. Mix 1 Tablespoon lemon zest and the lemon juice in a large bowl. Add 1 cup water and the sugar and whisk to dissolve, then whisk in the buttermilk. Pierce the drumsticks several times with a fork and season with salt and pepper. Toss in the marinade, cover and refrigerate 4 hours, or overnight.

2. Preheat the oven to 400F. Bring the chicken to room temperature. Put the panko, thyme, the remaining lemon zest, cayenne, 1 teaspoon salt, and black pepper to tast in a large resealable plastic bag and shake to mix. Put the mayonnaise in a bowl. Set a rack on a baking sheet and spray with cooking spray.

3. Remove the drumsticks from the marinade, dip in the mayonnaise, then drop into the bag and shake to coat; transfer to the rack.

4. Mist the chicken with cooking spray. Bake until golden, about 35 minutes; flip and bake until browned and crisp, 35 to 40 more minutes.