Zesty Lemon Cookies Recipe: Bright Bites of Sunshine

Sweet, buttery, and bursting with zesty lemon cookies that dance on your taste buds, these treats capture the essence of sunshine in every bite.

The kitchen fills with an irresistible citrus aroma as you mix simple ingredients into a delightful dough.

Bright and tangy, these cookies promise a delectable experience that elevates any dessert moment.

Crisp edges and soft centers make each cookie a perfect balance of texture and flavor.

The recipe works magic with just a few pantry staples and minimal effort.

Powdered sugar adds a delicate finish that completes these irresistible lemon-infused delights.

Bake a batch and watch smiles spread faster than these cookies disappear from the plate.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 27 minutes

Calories: 150 kcal

Servings: 23

Ingredient List For Lemon Cookies

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the essential structure and texture, ensuring cookies hold together perfectly.
• Baking Powder: Creates light and fluffy lift, helping cookies rise evenly and maintain a soft crumb.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor profile of the cookies.

• Butter: Delivers rich, creamy flavor and helps create a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps cookies achieve a delightful golden-brown surface.
• Egg: Binds ingredients together and adds richness to the cookie dough.

• Lemon Juice: Introduces bright, tangy citrus notes and helps activate baking powder.
• Lemon Zest: Provides intense, fresh lemon aroma and concentrated citrus flavor.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and rounds out the cookie's overall taste.

• Powdered Sugar: Creates a delicate, snow-like exterior and adds a subtle sweetness to each cookie.

Set Up To Make Lemon Cookies

• Electric mixer: Essential for creaming butter and sugar to light, fluffy perfection.
• Large mixing bowl: Needed for combining wet ingredients and creaming butter.
• Medium mixing bowl: Used for whisking dry ingredients.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Precise measurements ensure cookie success.
• Whisk: Perfect for evenly mixing dry ingredients.
• Baking sheets: Two lined with parchment paper for even baking.
• Parchment paper: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
• Wire cooling rack: Helps cookies cool evenly without getting soggy.
• Tablespoon or cookie scoop: Creates uniform cookie sizes.
• Grater or zester: Useful for obtaining fresh lemon zest.

Easy Guide To Prepare Lemon Cookies

• Oven Preparation

Warm up the kitchen appliance to a cozy 350F, creating the perfect baking environment. Cover baking trays with parchment paper for a smooth cookie experience.

• Butter and Sugar Blending

Grab a spacious mixing bowl and transform butter and sugar into a dreamy, airy mixture. Whip them together until they become light and fluffy, creating a delightful base for your cookies.

• Flavor Infusion

Introduce zesty characters to the mix – crack an egg, splash in fresh lemon juice, sprinkle lemon zest, and add a hint of vanilla. Blend these ingredients until they dance together harmoniously.

• Flour Magic

Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Be gentle and stop mixing the moment everything comes together – overmixing can make cookies tough.

• Cookie Transformation

Shape small dough balls and give them a luxurious powder sugar bath. Each cookie gets a delicate white coating that will sparkle when baked.

• Baking Adventure

Arrange cookie balls on prepared trays, giving them room to spread. Slide into the warm oven and bake until edges look set and tops have gentle cracks – about 10-12 minutes.

• Cooling and Enjoying

Let cookies rest briefly on the baking sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack. These lemony delights are ready to melt in your mouth and bring sunshine to your day.

Fun Variations For Lemon Cookies

• Zesty Lemon Love Hacks: Elevate Your Cookie Game
• Butter Temperature Trick: Let butter sit at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before baking to ensure perfect creamy texture and smooth mixing.
• Citrus Intensity Boost: Use fresh lemon zest instead of bottled juice for more vibrant, bright lemon flavor that truly pops in every bite.
• Gluten-Free Option: Substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend and add 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum to maintain cookie structure and softness.
• Vegan Transformation: Replace butter with coconut oil, use egg substitute like flaxseed meal, and select plant-based vanilla extract to create dairy-free, delicious cookies.
• Storage Wisdom: Store cookies in airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, placing parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking and maintain freshness.

Best Time To Serve Lemon Cookies

• Zesty Tea Party Pairing: Serve these lemon cookies alongside a fragrant earl grey or chamomile tea for a delightful afternoon treat that complements the bright citrus flavor.
• Dessert Dessert Decoration: Dust the cooled cookies with extra powdered sugar or drizzle a simple lemon glaze made from powdered sugar and lemon juice to enhance their elegant appearance.
• Refreshing Summer Sidekick: Pair these cookies with a scoop of lemon sorbet or a chilled glass of lavender lemonade for a cool and tangy summer dessert experience that celebrates citrus notes.
• Gifting Gourmet Touch: Package the cookies in a cute clear cellophane bag tied with a ribbon, perfect as a homemade gift for friends, teachers, or as a sweet hostess present that showcases your baking skills.

How To Store Lemon Cookies And Keep Them Fresh

• Quick Chilling Technique: Store unbaked cookie dough balls in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to 3 days before baking, allowing flavors to intensify and develop a richer taste profile.
• Freezer Storage Strategy: Seal completely cooled lemon cookies in freezer-safe containers or ziplock bags, maintaining freshness for 2-3 months without compromising texture or zesty flavor.
• Counter Display Method: Keep cookies in a sealed container at room temperature, placing a small piece of bread inside to maintain softness and prevent rapid drying for up to 5 days.
• Portioning Pro Tip: Create make-ahead cookie dough balls, arrange them on a baking sheet, freeze individually, then transfer to a freezer bag for convenient future baking without thawing requirements.

Tangy Lemon Cookies Recipe

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• Total Time: 27 minutes
• Yield: 23 1x

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Description

Delightful lemon cookies bring zesty sunshine to classic dessert tables with buttery, tangy charm. Crisp edges and delicate crumb invite sweet moments of pure citrus pleasure for home bakers seeking refreshing treats.

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Ingredients

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• ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 ¼ cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) lemon zest (about 1 lemon)
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) salt
• ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar (for rolling)

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Instructions

1. Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper, creating an ideal baking environment for delicate lemon cookies.
2. Dry Ingredient Fusion: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, establishing a uniform dry ingredient base for the cookie dough.
3. Creaming Process: Utilize an electric mixer to blend butter and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light, voluminous, and pale, approximately 2-3 minutes of continuous mixing.
4. Flavor Infusion: Integrate egg, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract into the creamed mixture, ensuring a thorough and even incorporation of moisture and citrusy essence.
5. Dough Formation: Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, creating a cohesive dough with minimal manipulation to maintain a tender texture.
6. Cookie Shaping and Coating: Portion the dough into tablespoon-sized spheres, rolling each ball and generously enveloping them in powdered sugar for a delicate, sweet exterior.
7. Baking Arrangement: Distribute the sugar-coated dough balls across the prepared baking sheets, positioning them 2 inches apart to allow optimal spreading during the baking process.
8. Baking and Cooling Technique: Bake for 10-12 minutes, observing for set edges and surface cracks that signal perfect doneness. Once removed from the oven, let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack for complete cooling.

Notes

• Zest Handling: Carefully grate only the bright yellow part of the lemon zest, avoiding the bitter white pith underneath for pure, clean lemon flavor.
• Temperature Control: Ensure butter is softened at room temperature but not melted, creating the ideal creamy base for smooth, consistent cookie texture.
• Sugar Coating Technique: Roll cookies generously in powdered sugar before baking for a beautiful crackled surface and delightful sweet exterior that looks professionally finished.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Replace all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend to make these cookies suitable for those with wheat sensitivities without compromising taste or texture.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 23
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg