Lemon Sugar Cookies: A Delightfully Sweet Treat
Lemon Sugar Cookies: A Delightfully Sweet Treat is a practical, flavor-forward lemon sugar cookies recipe with clear ingredients and step-by-step instructions. - Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Storage: Store baked cookies in an airtight container for 4–5 days at room temperature.
Equipment
- baking sheet
- mixing bowl
- whisk
Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour: 2 ½ cups
- Baking Soda: 1 teaspoon
- Salt: ½ teaspoon
- Unsalted Butter: 1 cup softened
- Granulated Sugar: 1 ½ cups plus extra for rolling
- Lemon Zest: 2 tablespoons
- Lemon Juice: 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed
- Egg: 1 large
- Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl.
- Beat softened butter, sugar, and lemon zest until light and fluffy.
- Add egg, lemon juice, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture; mix well.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
- Scoop tablespoon-sized dough balls, roll in sugar, and place 2 inches apart on baking sheets.
- Bake for 9–11 minutes until edges are set and centers appear slightly soft.
- Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Notes
- Rub lemon zest into sugar before mixing to release natural oils for maximum flavor.
- Chill the dough if it is too soft to handle.
- Do not overmix the dough to prevent toughness.
- Do not overbake; cookies should look slightly underdone in the center when removed.
- Double-coat dough balls in sugar for extra sparkle.
- Use fresh lemons for the best flavor.
- Optional additions include a lemon glaze drizzle, white chocolate dip, or poppy seeds.
- Chill the dough if it is too soft to handle.
- Do not overmix the dough to prevent toughness.
- Do not overbake; cookies should look slightly underdone in the center when removed.
- Double-coat dough balls in sugar for extra sparkle.
- Use fresh lemons for the best flavor.
- Optional additions include a lemon glaze drizzle, white chocolate dip, or poppy seeds.