Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe
If you’re searching for a sunny twist on a classic treat, Lemon Sugar Cookies are your answer. These irresistible cookies strike that perfect balance between vibrant citrus and sweet comfort, delivering melt-in-your-mouth softness with a delicate lemon sparkle in every bite. They’re quick to make, beautiful to serve, and loved by all—whether you need a bright pick-me-up or a shareable dessert for special occasions!
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of Lemon Sugar Cookies lies in a handful of fresh, familiar ingredients that come together to create cookies with zing, chew, and a heavenly aroma. Each element has a role, from the zesty lemons to the creamy butter—don’t skip a thing for cookies that truly dazzle!
- All-purpose flour: Provides the cookie structure for a perfectly tender crumb every single time.
- Baking soda: Gives these cookies a lovely lift and slight chewiness.
- Baking powder: Adds just the right amount of rise, ensuring your cookies are soft rather than flat.
- Salt: Enhances and balances the sweetness and citrus flavor—don’t worry, it won’t make them salty!
- Unsalted butter (softened): This is your flavor hero and the secret to rich, soft, melt-in-your-mouth cookies.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the dough and, when used for rolling, gives the cookies their signature sparkling finish.
- Large egg: Binds everything together and adds a little richness and chew.
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the citrus and adds a subtle cozy warmth in each bite.
- Zest of 2 lemons: Packs concentrated lemon flavor—be generous with your zest for maximum brightness.
- Fresh lemon juice: Brings natural tartness and guarantees you’ll taste that unmistakable lemon pop.
- Granulated sugar (for rolling): Coating the dough balls creates a gorgeous, crackly crust and extra sparkle.
How to Make Lemon Sugar Cookies
Step 1: Prep Your Baking Sheets
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining your baking sheets with parchment paper. This ensures your Lemon Sugar Cookies bake up evenly and slide right off the tray, golden and beautiful. Parchment paper keeps cleanup a breeze, too!
Step 2: Whisk Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Blending these first helps spread the leaveners and salt evenly, which means perfectly textured cookies every time—no dense bites or uneven rising here.
Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy. This should take about 2 to 3 minutes and is well worth the effort—the more air you whip in, the softer your Lemon Sugar Cookies will be.
Step 4: Add Egg, Vanilla, and Lemon
Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice until everything is fully combined. The zest and juice bring out that signature lemon flavor, while the egg and vanilla provide richness and a subtle, comforting aroma.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until a soft dough forms. The dough will be plush and fragrant—be careful not to overmix, as you want your Lemon Sugar Cookies to stay tender!
Step 6: Scoop and Roll in Sugar
Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, portion out equal amounts of dough, then roll each into a ball. Next, roll them gently in the extra granulated sugar. This simple step adds a delightful crunch and sparkling finish to the final cookie.
Step 7: Bake and Cool
Place your sugar-rolled dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are just set and the centers look slightly underbaked. Let the cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This keeps the centers soft and guarantees that signature chew!
How to Serve Lemon Sugar Cookies
Garnishes
For an extra-special touch, sprinkle freshly grated lemon zest over the warm cookies, or drizzle with a quick lemon glaze. You can even dust them lightly with powdered sugar for added elegance and a pretty finish.
Side Dishes
Pair Lemon Sugar Cookies with a tall glass of iced tea, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a bowl of fresh berries. These light, tangy cookies are also wonderful with a dollop of whipped cream or next to your afternoon cup of coffee.
Creative Ways to Present
Try stacking the cookies in a clear cellophane bag and tying with a ribbon for a cheerful homemade gift. Arrange them in a decorative tin or on a tiered cake stand for parties. For extra flair, sandwich a swirl of lemon buttercream between two cookies for a luscious twist.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftover Lemon Sugar Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature; they’ll stay soft and flavorful for up to 5 days. Adding a slice of bread to the container helps maintain their chewy texture even longer.
Freezing
Both the baked cookies and unbaked dough freeze beautifully. For dough, roll into balls and freeze on a lined tray, then transfer to a freezer bag. Just bake from frozen, adding a minute or two to the bake time. To freeze baked cookies, cool completely before sealing in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
Reheating
For that just-baked magic, warm Lemon Sugar Cookies in the microwave for about 10 seconds or pop them in a 300°F oven for 2-3 minutes. The gentle heat revives their soft center and makes the lemon aroma bloom anew!
FAQs
Can I use bottled lemon juice instead of fresh?
Fresh lemon juice is highly recommended, as it delivers a much brighter, more authentic lemon flavor. Bottled juice can taste dull or even a bit bitter, so squeeze those lemons for best results!
How can I make my cookies even more lemony?
If you’re lemon-obsessed, add a few drops of high-quality lemon extract when mixing in the wet ingredients, or double up on the zest. You could also sprinkle extra zest on top before baking for a punch of citrus.
Why do my cookies look underbaked in the center?
Lemon Sugar Cookies are meant to look just barely set in the middle when you pull them out—this is the secret to that soft, tender bite. They’ll continue to firm up as they cool on the tray.
Is it okay to melt the butter instead of softening it?
Stick with softened butter, not melted. Creaming softened butter with sugar creates tiny air pockets, ensuring your cookies are fluffy and not flat. Melted butter changes the texture and often results in spreading.
Can I make these gluten free?
Yes! Substitute a good quality 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for the regular flour. The cookies will still be soft and chewy—just be sure the blend you use contains xanthan gum or a similar binder.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly special about baking Lemon Sugar Cookies—the way they fill your kitchen with sunshine and disappear in a flash, crumb by sparkling crumb. Try this recipe and share the zesty joy; you’ll be tempted to bake them again and again!
Print
Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight your taste buds with these soft and tangy Lemon Sugar Cookies. Bursting with citrus flavor, these easy-to-make cookies are perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of 2 lemons
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (for rolling)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add wet ingredients: Mix in the egg, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice until well combined.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, forming a soft dough.
- Shape and bake: Roll tablespoon-sized portions of dough into balls, coat with granulated sugar, and place on baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set.
- Cool and enjoy: Let the cookies cool on the sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Enhance lemon flavor with lemon extract
- Cookies freeze well and stay soft in an airtight container
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 13g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
