(Use a total of 3 tablespoons of sugar if omitting the sanding sugar.)
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
Preheat the oven to 425°F; move a rack to the top third of the oven.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, both sugars and cardamom, if using.
Make a well in the flour/sugar mixture, pour the vanilla, lemon zest and cream into the well, and stir until it just comes together. If there’s dry flour around the sides and bottom of the bowl, stir in a bit of additional cream or milk until all the flour is moist.
Scoop out the batter and form into a small ball with your hands.