Soft and chewy Lemon Cookies. Bursting with flavor thanks to using fresh lemon juice and zest!
How do you make lemon cookies from scratch?
The main ingredient needed for making lemon cookies is the lemon! Fresh lemon juice and zest is where the lemon flavor is coming from. Trust me it will give enough flavor.
Other than the lemon the ingredients are similar to regular cookie dough. All purpose flour, salt and baking soda (to counteract with the acid of the lemon).
Room temperature butter (I always bake with unsalted butter, if you use salted then reduce the salt in the recipe) sugar, egg and vanilla.
There is no need to chill this cookie dough prior to baking. And the cookies will bake up perfectly soft and chewy.
How do you make lemon glaze?
Another burst of flavor is going to come from the lemon glaze on top of the cookies!
To make the glaze use powdered sugar mixed with fresh lemon juice and zest. This will result in a very strong lemon flavor.
If you would prefer a more mellow lemon flavor then replace a portion of the lemon juice with milk or cream.
To get your desired consistency of glaze add either more juice/milk for a thinner glaze or more powdered sugar for a thicker glaze.
Other lemon recipes:
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PinDescription
Soft bakery style lemon cookies with a lemon zest glaze
Ingredients
- 1 and 3/4 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest (about 1 small lemon)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Prepare a cookie sheet with a non-stick spray, or parchment paper, set aside
- In a medium bowl whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest.
- In large mixing bowl beat the butter for a few seconds, add the sugar and mix until light and fluffy. Add in the egg, vanilla, and lemon juice. Mix until fully combined.
- Continue mixing while you add in the dry ingredients. Mix until fully combined.
- Drop cookie dough by the spoonful onto the prepared cookie sheet. Bake until light golden on edges, approximately 12- 14 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool on the cookie sheet about 5 minutes and then remove to continue cooling on a wire rack.
- Once cooled prepare the glaze by whisking the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest together until well combined. Spoon onto the top of the cookies. Allow to sit and dry, glaze will harden.
- Store cookies in airtight container at room temperature. Enjoy!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 121
- Fat: 4 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 18 mg
Funny story.. When I first shared this recipe it was a recipe that I was given by someone else. I thought it was theirs. Then I had someone point out to me that it was basically the Martha Stewart Lemon Cookie recipe. Either way, it’s a wonderful lemon cookie recipe that everyone needs to know about!
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Diana says
Really great recipe. I had some lemons I wanted to use up, and someone suggested making cookies. This is the recipe I chose to make, and they’re so delicious! We weren’t looking for something super sweet, so I didn’t make the glaze, but they are still plenty sweet. My family is now just buying ridiculous quantities of lemons so I can make these cookies for everyone we know. 😊 They’re so good.
★★★★★
Candi says
I made these last year. I made 3 different batches. One lemon, one orange and one lime. They were all delicious. I am craving them so I was going to search for the recipe didn’t have to look far since it was in my Facebook memories from today! Love these cookies!
★★★★★
Vickie Chapman says
Can I dbl all the ingredients to make a dbl batch of cookies for a large crowd my husband loves the cookies
★★★★★
Serene says
Yes!
Elise says
Very tasty and fluffy cookie. Easy to make and the lemon zest adds just the right amount of lemon!
★★★★★
Karen Davis says
My military supervisor for 12 yrs….everyday he would have 1 soft lemon cookie, half a sandwich, and sm bottle of coke. He’s 90 yrs old now…cant wait to make these cookies for a special military (AF) man!❤🇺🇸
Sarina Kinnunen says
These sound amazing! I’m baking them right now! 🙂
laura says
can these be made ahead and frozen? they look delicous
Salma says
Cookies were soft and kids loved them! I didn’t make the glaze. Next time, I will reduce the sugar (I found them a bit too sweet). I also added cardamom and coconut. Also, I reduced the baking time to 9min, and they were soft and chewy, even the day after.
★★★★
Erica Parker says
These are out of this world delicious!!! I stuffed them with a cheesecake filling and they were a big hit!!!
★★★★★
Carol says
I don’t care that jail bird Stewart did it first. I didn’t know that the first time I made them. These are seriously addictive
★★★★★
RaShan Cook says
Wonderful recipe, will definitely make these cookies again.
★★★★★
suzyhalmark says
OMGosh….best, lemony, cookies.
Made them for the office…..they went quickly. Recipe was requested.
I enjoy the ease, simplicity and full-of-flavorness (made up word).
Excellent recipe…had everything on hand except fresh lemons, no fancy ingredients – and didn’t have to get out the mixer.
Will be making these again.
Thank you!
★★★★★
Tina says
I made these cookies today. I gave one to my husband, his comment was, “Wow, these are really good.” I had one and thought the same thing. I said “These are going to be dangerous for me”, because i will eat them all…Thank you for an A+ recipe. I will definitely make them again…
★★★★★
Donna says
I haven’t made it yet, but am planning to this weekend. I noticed all of the comments about the flatness of the cookie and wanted to share what I know about that. It’s been my experience that some cookie recipes (this one, oatmeal) will be flat if the butter is microwaved to soften. Putting it in the refrigerator after making the batter does help, but getting the butter to room temperature without microwaving it will take care of the problem.
Serene says
Yes Yes Yes!! It’s all in the temperature of the butter. Even when I make the cookies myself, I have them turn out different thicknesses, and it’s all about the butter. If I’m in a rush and forget to set out my butter they are always flatter when I use the microwave to soften it.
Yuki says
It just happened to me today! This was the 3rd time I made this cookies(because it’s so good!!) but first time it turned out very flat. And YES, I used microwave to soften the batter because I was in rush to bake to take it to the family dinner. I was wondering why it got so flat but now I know why! Thanks for shering a great tip! I will try without using microwave next time:)
And thank you for the great recipe! Everyone loved my cookies!
★★★★★
Karina says
I made these and they were so good I made them again within one week. Will make them again ASAP. So good!
Pam says
Best 🍋 lemon cookie I have ever had. A new family favorite! Can’t wait to make them for Easter time! Thank you for sharing this!