Description
Bright and buttery Lemon Sugar Cookies that combine the zing of fresh lemon with a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. These cookies are bursting with citrusy flavor, rolled in sparkling sugar, and perfectly soft in the center—an irresistible treat for any occasion!
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar (plus extra for rolling)
- Zest of 2 lemons
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside; this helps distribute the leavening agents evenly.
- Cream Butter, Sugar, and Lemon Zest: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and lemon zest together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This incorporates air into the dough for a tender cookie.
- Add Egg, Vanilla, and Lemon Juice: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and fresh lemon juice until everything is smoothly blended. The lemon juice boosts the citrus flavor and moisture.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until everything is combined for a soft, pliable dough. Avoid overmixing to keep cookies tender.
- Shape and Coat Cookies: Scoop out tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls. Roll each dough ball in extra granulated sugar, coating them evenly for a sparkling finish when baked.
- Arrange on Baking Sheets: Place the sugared dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets to allow for spreading.
- Bake: Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are set and start to turn golden, but the centers still appear slightly soft. This ensures a chewy texture.
- Cool: Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them set up while staying soft inside.
Notes
- For extra lemon flavor, add an additional teaspoon of lemon zest or a drop of lemon extract.
- Be careful not to overbake—slightly underbaked centers keep these cookies soft and chewy.
- Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- You can freeze dough balls and bake them directly from frozen; just add 1–2 minutes to the baking time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 145
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 70mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 23mg