Lemon Cookies Recipe

Infused with lemon juice and zest, these soft iced lemon cookies are sure to delight everyone. Top them with a fresh lemon glaze for an added burst of citrusy sweetness. Plus, this Lemon Cookie Recipe can be whipped up in under 30 minutes!

If you’re a fan of bright, zesty flavors, this Lemon Cookies Recipe is a must-try! While classic lemon cookies offer a refreshing citrus kick, the Lemon Blueberry Cookies Recipe takes it up a notch by adding sweet, juicy blueberries. The combination of tart lemon and bursts of blueberry creates a soft, chewy treat that’s perfect for any occasion. Whether you stick with a simple lemon flavor or explore the fruity twist, these cookies are a delightful way to enjoy a refreshing homemade dessert.

Why You Will Love These Glazed Lemon Cookies

This recipe is foolproof and delivers bakery-quality cookies every time. The combination of fresh lemon juice, zest, and extract ensures a bold citrus flavor, while the buttery dough creates a soft, tender cookie. Add the tangy glaze, and you’ve got a treat that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.

Why Lemon Cookies Are Special

Lemon cookies bring a burst of sunshine to any dessert table. Unlike overly sweet treats, they strike a perfect balance between tart and sweet, making them refreshing and indulgent at the same time. They’re a hit among citrus lovers and those who enjoy a light, airy cookie that’s big on flavor.

Ingredients Needed

Let’s break down the star ingredients that make this lemon cookie recipe truly exceptional:

• Unsalted butter: Creates a rich, creamy base that enhances the soft lemon flavor.
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens the dough while providing structure.
• Sugar and lemon zest: The combination ensures the lemon flavor shines through.
• Fresh lemon juice: Adds natural tanginess to the cookies and glaze.
• Lemon extract: Amplifies the citrus notes for a bolder taste.
• Vanilla extract: Balances the tartness of the lemons with a subtle warmth.
• Eggs: Essential for binding the ingredients and creating a tender crumb.
• All-purpose flour: The foundation of the cookies, offering the perfect structure.
• Baking soda: Ensures the cookies puff up slightly, maintaining their light texture.
• Powdered sugar: A key component of the lemon glaze, adding sweetness without overpowering the tangy notes.

Essential Equipment

Gathering the right tools will make your baking process smoother and more enjoyable:

• Medium bowl: Ideal for mixing your dry ingredients.
• Bowl of a stand mixer: Perfect for creaming butter and sugar effortlessly.
• Microplane or zester: Extracts fine lemon zest for that burst of citrus.
• Prepared baking sheets: Lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking.
• Cookie scoop: Ensures uniform cookie sizes for even baking.
• Wire rack: Allows the cookies to cool completely while maintaining their texture.

How To Make Soft Lemon Cookies

Prep Your Ingredients and Tools

Start by bringing your unsalted butter to room temperature and zesting and juicing your lemons. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and a pinch of salt. This step ensures the baking soda is evenly distributed, which is crucial for achieving a soft and slightly chewy cookie.

Cream Butter and Sugar

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the unsalted butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the sugar and lemon zest during this step to infuse the butter with citrusy goodness.

Add the Wet Ingredients

Crack in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated. Then, mix in the fresh lemon juice, lemon extract, and vanilla extract. The mixture will be creamy and bursting with lemon flavor.

Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is well incorporated.

Chill the Dough

Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This step is essential to prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking.

Baking Instructions

Preheat and Portion

Scoop 1-inch balls of dough using a cookie scoop and place them on the prepared baking sheets with parchment paper. Leave at least 2 inches of space between each cookie to allow for spreading.

Bake to Perfection

Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers look slightly underdone. This ensures a soft, tender cookie once cooled.

Cool Completely

Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

What is the secret ingredient to keep cookies soft?

One of the key ingredients to keep cookies soft is cornstarch. Adding a small amount of cornstarch to your cookie dough can make them tender and maintain their softness. Another secret is to use brown sugar instead of white sugar, as it contains more moisture due to its molasses content. Lastly, making sure not to overbake your cookies will help keep them soft and chewy.

What were the lemon Girl Scout cookies?

The lemon-flavored Girl Scout cookies have had different variations over the years. One popular version was Savannah Smiles, which were crunchy lemon wedge cookies dusted with powdered sugar. More recently, the Girl Scouts introduced Lemon-Ups, which are crispy lemon cookies with a light glaze and inspiring messages baked into each one.

Can you use lemon juice instead of lemon extract in cookies?

Yes, you can use lemon juice instead of lemon extract in cookies, but there are some things to consider. Lemon extract is more concentrated and potent, so you’ll need to use more lemon juice to achieve a similar level of flavor. Typically, you would use about two tablespoons of lemon juice for every teaspoon of lemon extract. Keep in mind that lemon juice also adds extra liquid to the recipe, so you might need to adjust the other liquid ingredients slightly to compensate.

What makes a cookie fluffy instead of flat?

To achieve fluffy cookies instead of flat ones, here are a few tips:

• Cream Butter and Sugar Well: Creaming the butter and sugar properly incorporates air into the dough, helping the cookies rise.
• Chill the Dough: Chilling the dough before baking helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much.
• Use Baking Powder: Baking powder helps cookies rise and become fluffy, while baking soda tends to produce flatter cookies.
• Don’t Overmix the Dough: Overmixing can lead to dense cookies. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.

Secret to Not Flat Cookies

To avoid flat cookies, you can follow these tips:

1. Chill the Dough: Chilling the dough before baking prevents the cookies from spreading too much. This is especially important for butter-heavy recipes.
2. Correct Ingredient Ratios: Ensure you’re using the correct amount of flour. Too little flour can cause cookies to spread. Measuring accurately with a kitchen scale or using the spoon-and-level method can help.
3. Baking Temperature: Bake at the right temperature. An oven that’s too cool will cause cookies to spread. Ensure your oven is properly preheated before baking.
4. Don’t Overmix: Mixing the dough too much can incorporate too much air and soften the butter, leading to spreading. Mix just until ingredients are combined.
5. Proper Fat Content: Use the right type of fat (butter, margarine, shortening). Butter provides the best flavor, but a higher melting point fat like shortening can help cookies hold their shape better.
6. Egg Temperature: Using eggs at room temperature can help achieve the right dough consistency. Cold eggs can cause the dough to firm up and spread less evenly.

Baking Soda vs. Baking Powder in Cookies

• Baking Soda: Baking soda is a leavening agent that helps cookies spread and rise. It reacts with acidic ingredients (like brown sugar, yogurt, or molasses) to produce carbon dioxide gas, which helps the dough rise. Use baking soda in recipes that include acidic ingredients to help neutralize the acidity and create a balanced flavor.
• Baking Powder: Baking powder contains both an acid and a base, and it reacts twice—once when it’s mixed with wet ingredients and again when exposed to heat. It helps cookies rise and become fluffy. Use baking powder in recipes that do not have acidic ingredients, as it provides the necessary leavening on its own.

Which One to Use?

• If you want chewy, spread-out cookies (like classic chocolate chip cookies), baking soda is often preferred.
• If you want fluffy, cake-like cookies (like sugar cookies or snickerdoodles), baking powder is usually the better choice.

Some recipes may call for both to achieve the desired texture and rise. Always follow the recipe’s instructions for best results!

Lemon Glaze: The Finishing Touch

For an extra burst of flavor, drizzle your cookies with a tangy lemon glaze:

• In a small bowl, whisk together 1 cup of powdered sugar and 2-3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice until smooth.
• Once the cookies are fully cooled, drizzle or spread the glaze on top.
• Allow the glaze to set for about 10 minutes before serving or storing.

Tips for the Perfect Lemon Cookies

Achieving the Best Texture

For cookies that are soft and chewy, avoid overmixing the dough once you’ve added the dry ingredients. Overmixing can make the cookies dense and tough.

Enhancing Lemon Flavor

If you’re a citrus lover, feel free to add a touch more lemon zest or lemon extract. The flavor intensifies as the cookies bake.

Proper Storage

Store cookies in an airtight container to retain their freshness. If you’ve added glaze, place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.

Creative Variations to Try

Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies

Mix in a tablespoon of poppy seeds for added texture and visual appeal.

Lemon Coconut Cookies

Add shredded coconut to the dough for a tropical twist.

Lemon Sandwich Cookies

Spread lemon curd between two cookies for an indulgent treat.

Common Baking Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Cookies Spread Too Much

Ensure your butter is at room temperature, not melted, and don’t skip the chilling step.

Dough is Too Sticky

If the dough feels overly sticky, chill it longer or add a tablespoon of flour.

Cookies Lack Flavor

Be generous with your lemon zest, as it packs the most flavor.

Why are my lemon cookies crumbly?

Crumbly cookies can result from several factors:

• Overmixing: Overworking the dough can result in the development of too much gluten (if using regular flour), making cookies tough and crumbly.
• Too Much Flour: Adding too much flour can make the dough dry, resulting in crumbly cookies, so always measure flour accurately using the spoon-and-level method.
• Not Enough Fat: Fat (like butter or oil) provides moisture and binds the ingredients together. If the recipe doesn’t have enough fat, the cookies can turn out crumbly.
• Baking Time: Overbaking can dry out the cookies, making them crumbly. Keep an eye on the baking time and check for doneness a few minutes before the recommended time.

Can I make these cookies gluten free?

Yes, you can make lemon cookies gluten-free by substituting the regular flour with a gluten-free flour blend. Here are a few tips:

• Use a Gluten-Free Flour Blend: Opt for a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend that is designed to substitute regular flour without major alterations. These blends often contain a mix of rice flour, potato starch, and other ingredients to mimic the properties of wheat flour.
• Add Xanthan Gum: If your gluten-free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum, you may need to add a small amount (usually 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per cup of flour) to help bind the ingredients and improve the texture.
• Adjust Liquid Ingredients: Gluten-free flours can sometimes be more absorbent, so you might need to adjust the amount of liquid in your recipe slightly.

Can I double this cookie recipe?

Yes, you can double the cookie recipe. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Ingredients: Make sure to double each ingredient accurately. Use a kitchen scale for precise measurements if possible.
• Baking Time: The baking time should remain the same, but keep an eye on the cookies as they bake, as oven temperatures can vary.
• Mixing: Be cautious not to overmix the dough, as a larger batch can be more prone to overmixing.
• Baking in Batches: If you don’t have enough oven space to bake all the cookies at once, bake them in batches. Make sure to cool the baking sheets between batches to ensure even baking.

Serving Suggestions

These cookies pair wonderfully with a hot cup of tea, a glass of iced lemonade, or a creamy scoop of vanilla ice cream. They’re also perfect for gifting—wrap them in decorative boxes or jars with a handwritten note for a personal touch.

FAQs About Lemon Cookies

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