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Lemon Sugar Cookies
Classic lemon sugar cookies are soft and chewy cookies with a bright lemon flavor. Sweet, with just the right amount of tart, lemon cookies are a family favorite.
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Soft lemon sugar cookies are sweet with just the right amount of lemony tang thanks to plenty of lemon zest and juice. Delightfully chewy with slightly crispy edges, these made from scratch lemon cookies are always a hit.
If you love the bright taste of lemon desserts try making lemon bars, lemon lasagna, or lemon puppy chow.
Lemon Sugar Cookies Ingredients
You will need:
- 2 ¾ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup butter softened
- 2 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 ½ cups sugar divided into 1 ¼ cups and ¼ cup
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- zest from 1 lemon
- 1 egg
Substitutions and Additions
CITRUS: You could replace the flavor of lemon in this lemon sugar cookie recipe with other citrus flavors such as orange or lime. Just substitute orange or lime juice and orange or lime zest for the lemon equivalents.
How to Make This Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe
STEP ONE: Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
STEP TWO: In a large bowl, beat butter, cream cheese, and 1 ¼ cups sugar until smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes.
STEP THREE: Mix in vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
STEP FOUR: Beat in egg.
STEP FIVE: Slowly add flour mixture, mixing in a little at a time, until just combined.
PRO TIP: Do not over mix the batter. Over mixing can result in crumbly cookies.
STEP SIX: Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
PRO TIP: Do not skip the chilling step, this is important to get the best texture for these delicious cookies.
STEP SEVEN: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
STEP EIGHT: Scoop sugar cookie dough into balls and roll in sugar until coated all over.
PRO TIP: You can use your hands to roll the dough into balls, but a cookie dough scoop will keep your hands clean and help to form the balls into a uniform size.
STEP NINE: Bake cookies for 10 minutes, until edges just start to brown.
STEP TEN: Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes and move to a wire rack to finish cooling.
How to Serve
A family favorite that tastes like summer, but that you can make any time of the year. If you’d like you can sprinkle sparkling sugar on top of the cookies immediately upon taking them out of the oven for an extra bit of sweet crunch on top. Enjoy lemon sugar cookies as a sweet snack or dessert with a refreshing glass of raspberry iced tea.
Storage
ON THE FRIDGE: Once the cookies are completely cooled, you can place them on a plate and then wrap them tightly with plastic wrap.
IN THE FREEZER: Once the cookies are completely cooled, wrap your cookies in plastic wrap and then place them inside a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. This lemon cookie recipe will last for up to three months in the freezer if properly stored.
Lemon lovers will be thrilled with these old-fashioned lemon sugar cookies. This classic recipe creates soft and chewy cookies with a bright lemon flavor. Just one bite and you’ll want to make this recipe again and again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use bottled lemon juice instead of real lemon?
Real lemon will give you the fresh lemon flavor but you can use bottled lemon juice instead in these lemony cookies.
Can I substitute lemon extract for lemon juice in these cookies?
Yes, you can substitute lemon extract for lemon juice. Since the lemon extract is far more concentrated than lemon juice, you will only need a couple of drops of the extract to replace the lemon juice.
Can I freeze these cookies?
You can freeze these cookies stored in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
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Lemon Sugar Cookies
Classic lemon sugar cookies are soft and chewy cookies with a bright lemon flavor. Sweet, with just the right amount of tart, lemon cookies are a family favorite.
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 ½ cups sugar, divided into 1 ¼ cups and ¼ cup
- 1 ½ tsp vanilla
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 lemon zest
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
- In a large bowl, beat butter, cream cheese, and 1 ¼ cups sugar until smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Mix in vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
- Beat in egg.
- Slowly add flour mixture, mixing in a little at a time, until just combined.
- Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Scoop sugar cookie dough into balls and roll in sugar until coated all over.
- Bake cookies for 10 minutes, until edges just start to brown.
- Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes and move to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Video
Notes
- Do not over mix the batter. Over mixing can result in crumbly cookies.
- Do not skip the chilling step, this is important to get the best texture for these delicious cookies.
- You can use your hands to roll the dough into balls, but a cookie dough scoop will keep your hands clean and help to form the balls into a uniform size.
Comments
Sara says
Fresh and light – really love these!