These Lemon Cookies are the perfect balance of zingy and sweet. With a lemony icing to top it all off, they are absolutely irresistible!
I first developed this lemon cookie recipe while I was doing a sugar fast. Big mistake. Chewy, sweet Lemon Cookies cannot and will not be ignored, especially with lemon icing!
Lemon Cookie Recipe Ingredients
It is no secret that I am a lemon addict and these lemon cookies fit the bill. Here’s what you’ll need to make them:
- Butter and Sugar – these two are creamed together to make that perfectly sweet and chewy base. Be sure to use softened butter!
- Egg and Vanilla Extract – vanilla is used for flavor while the egg is for structure.
- Lemon Extract and Zest – all of the lemony flavor comes from extract and zest.
- Flour and Baking Powder – baking powder is for lift while flour fills out the rest of the cookies.
- Powdered Sugar and Lemon Juice – both of these ingredients are used to make the lemon icing. More on that below!
How to Make Lemon Cookies
To make these lemon cookies, mix the dough, flatten, then bake and cool! Super simple. For full details, see the recipe card down below.
- Preheat the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a stand mixer or in a bowl with a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light in color and fluffy.
- Next add in an egg, vanilla extract, lemon extract, and lemon zest. Mix.
- Stir in the dry ingredients. Scrape the sides of the bowl and then stir again. And that’s your cookie dough!
- Scoop your cookies into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Then grab a glass cup with a flat bottom, dip it into some sugar, then squish each cookie dough ball to flatten it. Repeat the process until all the cookies are flattened.
- Bake, cool for a couple of minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer them to the cooling wrack.
Enjoy as-is -OR- prepare the lemon icing.
Icing for Lemon Cookies
Adding icing to lemon cookies really pushes them over the edge. Simply mix a ratio of powdered sugar and lemon juice to create a school glue consistency. Then drizzle away!
If the icing is too wet add more powdered sugar, if it is too stiff add more lemon juice.
Freezing Instructions
To make lemon cookies ahead of time, make the cookie dough then freeze and bake later!
- To Freeze: Make the dough according to the directions. Scoop into balls and freeze on a baking sheet. Once completely frozen, transfer cookie dough to a freezer safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- To Bake: Preheat your oven. Thaw for a couple of minutes, then flatten cookie dough as directed. Bake, cool and glaze! If baking from frozen, you might have to bake for a minute or two longer.
More Cookies to Try!
- No Bake Cookies
- Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe
- Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies
- The Best Cut Out Sugar Cookies
- S’mores Cookies
That’s it friends! Lemon Cookies to make and devour, I suggest making them as soon as possible for best results 🙂
The printable recipe card is below!
Lemon Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup salted butter softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar + an extra 2 tablespoons
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
for the glaze-
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a stand mixer or in a bowl with a hand mixer, cream the butter and 1/2 cup of sugar together until light in color and fluffy. Next add in an egg, vanilla extract, lemon extract, and lemon zest. Mix. Stir in the dry ingredients. Scrape the sides of the bowl and then stir again. And that’s your cookie dough!
- Scoop your cookies into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Then grab a glass cup with a flat bottom, dip it into the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar, then squish each cookie dough ball to flatten it. Repeat the process until all the cookies are flattened.
- Bake 8-9 minutes, cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer the cookies to the cooling rack.
- Prepare icing by combining powdered sugar and lemon juice. Drizzle over cookies, after a couple of minutes the icing is set and the cookies are ready to be eaten.
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