Lemon Cookie Recipe
This easy lemon cookie recipe produces citrusy, buttery, soft, and decadent lemon cookies ― the best you’ve ever tasted.
As a bonus, it uses basic baking ingredients you can find in your pantry or the market. From the amazing texture to the rich flavor, this recipe proves that you can make more than just lemonade when life throws you lemons.
Why People Love These Lemon Cookies
These lemon delights are the epitome of flavor, texture, and simplicity. They’re citrusy yet buttery, soft yet rich, and tart yet sweet. This balance will delight any taste bud, making each bite irresistible.
As expected, the texture of these cookies is just as appealing as their taste. Think about the tender crumble of shortbread combined with the melt-in-your-mouth texture of sugar cookies. Add to that the zesty lemon twist that will make you love it even more.
In addition, each bite offers a burst of rich, citrusy flavor, perfectly balanced by a hint of sweetness. The lightly golden edges give them a delicate crunch that goes well with the soft center.
These lemon cookies are also a feast for the eyes, making them a nice addition to any sweet spread.
Lemon Cookie Ingredients
Good news for baking beginners! This easy lemon cookie recipe doesn’t call for chill time, which means you can crave and enjoy it in no time. Here are the ingredients you need to make these delights:
All-Purpose Flour
Measure this ingredient correctly. If you use too much flour, you might end up with hard, dense lemon cookies.
Baking Powder
Another crucial ingredient in this recipe is baking powder. Don’t swap it for baking soda since they’re totally different.
Salt
We recommend using fine sea salt instead of table salt. But feel free to use whichever you have in your kitchen.
Butter
Use unsalted butter for this recipe. It should be at cool room temperature. If your butter is too warm, your lemon cookies will spread. Your butter should move slightly when pressed but hold its shape. Know more about the difference between unsalted and salted butter here.
Lemon Zest
As implied, this ingredient gives the cookies their citrusy flavor. You’ll need two tablespoons of lemon zest for this easy lemon cookie recipe to work. Feel free to grab more lemon if you want to decorate your cookies with extra zest.
Lemon Juice
Use fresh lemon to get the juice for the perfect glaze. Use two tablespoons of lemon juice if you want the glaze to be less lemony. On the other hand, use four if you want a rich, lemony glaze.
Egg
Use one large egg at room temperature, not weighing less than 56 grams with its shell.
Granulated Sugar
You have to use two types of sugar for this recipe. The first one is granulated sugar. It sweetens the cookies and creates a soft texture that can last for days.
Powdered Sugar
Use this one for the glaze. Make sure to sift it properly before use.
Lemon Cookie Cooking Tips
Take this easy lemon cookie recipe to the next level using the following cooking tips:
1. Pick the right ingredients.
Stick to the guidelines mentioned above, such as measuring your flour properly, using fresh lemon for the zest and juice, and sticking to unsalted butter.
2. Make the dough carefully.
The lemon zest is a crucial component of the dough, so make sure you don’t zest the white part beneath the skin because it’s bitter. Make sure to cream the sugar and butter together until they’re fluffy and smooth. Doing this makes your cookies soft and buttery.
3. Bake the cookies under the right conditions.
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Bake your cookies at the right temperature. If you’re not sure, use an oven thermometer. Then, keep an eye out on the lemon cookies because they bake quickly. Stop baking when the edges start to slightly brown.
4. Add the final touches.
Let the treats cool on the pan for a few minutes. Doing so prevents them from breaking when moved. Add a small amount of lemon zest or a brush of lemon glaze while the cookies are warm to make them look nice and taste better.
What to Serve With Lemon Cookies
Serve your lemon cookies with these sides for a better dessert experience:
Drinks
Lemon cookies go well with hot tea, like fruit or chamomile. The tea helps bring out the lemon flavor. You can also serve these treats with cold beverages like coffee with milk or lemon iced tea.
Dairy-Based Sides
Serve these delights with vanilla ice cream or citrus sorbet for a cool treat. Adding whipped cream on top of these delights also works.
Fruits
You can serve lemon cookies with a fruit salad containing mixed berries or orange segments. Fruits add a fresh, juicy element that goes well with the cookies.
Other Lemon Desserts
Serve these treats with lemon bars, lemon custard, or lemon pudding for a lemon-themed spread.
Easy Lemon Cookie Recipe
Cuisine: Dessert
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 25
Ingredients
For the cookies
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter at cool room temperature
2 tablespoons lemon zest
1 large egg at room temperature
For the glaze
1 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
2 to 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
extra lemon zest (optional)
Instructions
- Line two baking pans with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Mix the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder in a bowl. Set aside.
- Use a stand or hand mixer to cream the butter, sugar, and lemon zest until they’re light and fluffy. This will take about three to four minutes. Then, scrape down the bowl at least once.
- Add the egg and beat everything until combined. This will take about one minute. Then, scrape down the bowl again.
- Next, add the flour and mix until it’s incorporated.
- Use a scoop to make 1 ½-tablespoon-sized balls of cookie dough. The cookies must be two inches apart.
- Then, roll each ball with your palms and gently flatten each piece to about 1/3-inch thick cookies.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the lemon cookies set and have slightly golden brown edges. Once baked, let the cookies cool on the baking pan for about five minutes. Then, transfer them to cooling racks and let them cool down completely.
- Whisk lemon juice and powdered sugar in a bowl. Add the lemon juice one tablespoon at a time until you get a thick but pourable glaze.
- Ice the cookies using a spatula or dunk them into the glaze.
- Garnish the cookies with extra lemon zest if you want. Let the icing set for at least 30 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Lemon cookies are made of all-purpose flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, salt, unsalted butter at cool room temperature, lemon zest, and a large egg at room temperature.
Lemon adds freshness and a citrusy flavor in baking. It also helps balance sweetness and interacts with leavening agents to make baked treats rise.
Lemon glaze is made of sifted powdered sugar, fresh lemon juice, and optional lemon zest.
Conclusion
Whether you’re making them for a Filipino festival, an after-dinner spread, or a cozy afternoon tea, these cookies will impress your guests. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your baking tools and equipment and start making these wonders now!
About HICAPS
Over the years, HICAPS has helped bakers and businesses make delicious products by offering ingredients like ChiffonAide Cake Oil, Magic Whizk Whipping Cream, Red Velvet Flavor Emulco, and Instabake Brownie Mix.
HICAPS also provides tools and resources to valued partners, such as the free “How to Increase Your Sales Amidst the Pandemic” E-book and free dealer locator that helps look for baking ingredients near me.
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