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Lemon Sugar Cookies
Whip up these sweet lemon sugar cookies with a deliciously zesty twist. They’re a quick and easy cookie recipe that will disappear from the table in no time.
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These simple lemon sugar cookies will be an instant hit in your household! Soft and chewy with a slightly crispy outside, lemon juice adds a deliciously fresh flavor to this classic cookie recipe. They’re delightfully sweet and zesty, leaving you with light and airy cookies that are big on flavor!
Lemon Sugar Cookies Ingredients
You’ll need:
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1½ cups sugar, divided into 1¼ cups and ¼ cup
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- zest from 1 lemon
- 1 egg
Substitutions and Additions
CITRUS: You can substitute lemon in this recipe for another citrus fruit, like lime or orange. Swap out the zest and juice using the exact measurements.
How to Make This Old Fashioned Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe
STEP ONE: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, then set aside.
STEP TWO: Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together butter, cream cheese, and 1¼ cups sugar until smooth and creamy.
PRO TIP: Be sure to use softened cream cheese and butter in this recipe so the mixture is creamy and smooth and not lumpy.
STEP THREE: Once mixed, add vanilla, lemon juice, lemon zest, and the egg.
STEP FOUR: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until just combined.
PRO TIP: If using an electric mixer, keep it on low speed so the dry ingredients don’t fly out of the bowl.
PRO TIP: Don’t overmix the dough, or you might end up with tough, crumbly cookies.
STEP FIVE: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour.
STEP SIX: Once the cookies have chilled for an hour, preheat the oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Pour the remaining ¼ cup of sugar into a small bowl.
STEP SEVEN: Scoop the dough into equal-sized balls, then roll them in sugar until coated.
STEP EIGHT: Bake the lemon sugar cookies for about 10 minutes, until the edges start to brown.
PRO TIP: You know your oven best, so adjust the baking time as needed.
STEP NINE: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then move them to a wire rack to cool fully.
How To Serve
These old-fashioned lemon sugar cookies are delicious any time. Serve them alongside coffee and tea for an afternoon treat, at the end of a meal, or whenever you’re craving something zesty and sweet.
Storage
ON THE COUNTER: Once the cookies are completely cooled, transfer them to an airtight container or place them on a plate and cover them in plastic wrap.
IN THE FREEZER: Once cool, wrap cookies in plastic and place them inside a freezer bag or airtight container for up to 3 months.
Deliciously soft and chewy, these lemon sugar cookies will disappear in no time! They’re the perfect recipe when you want a simple sweet treat.
FAQ:
Q? Why did my cookies turn out tough?
A: There are two reasons this may have happened. When combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix until they’re just combined, as overmixing can lead to tough cookies. It’s also important to leave the dough in the fridge for an hour as this helps them to become light and fluffy when baking.
Q? Can I use lemon juice from a bottle instead of fresh?
A: Using the juice from the fruit will give you that fresh lemon flavor, but bottled lemon juice is a good substitute.
Q? Can I freeze these cookies?
A: These lemon sugar cookies freeze very well. Once they’ve cooled, wrap them in plastic before placing them in a freezer bag or airtight container. They will be good in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Lemon Sugar Cookies
Whip up these sweet lemon sugar cookies with a deliciously zesty twist. They’re a quick and easy cookie recipe that will disappear from the table in no time.
Ingredients
- 2¾ cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter softened
- 2 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1½ cups sugar divided into 1¼ cups and ¼ cup
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons 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 1¼ cups sugar until smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Mix in vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
- Beat in the 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°F 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 the edges just start to brown.
- Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes and move to a wire rack to finish cooling.
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.
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