Lemon Cookies

Soft and chewy Lemon Cookies. Packed with flavor thanks to using fresh lemon juice and zest. This easy to make cookie recipe comes together in one bowl and no chilling time required!

Looking for cookie recipes? You will want to try our Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, Thick Chocolate Chip cookies, and Mexican Wedding Cookies.

 

• One Bowl: This cookie dough comes together in one mixing bowl, saving time and dishes!
• No Chilling: Chilling is not required with this dough, the cookies bake up perfectly as soon as the dough is mixed. This means you don’t have to wait around to enjoy them!
• Bold Flavor: No one will be left having to guess at the flavor of this cookie, the lemon flavor stands out.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Lemon: The main ingredient needed for making lemon cookies is the lemon! Fresh lemon juice and zest is where the lemon flavor is coming from.
• Baking soda: The leavening agent that will counteract with the acid of the lemon.
• Butter: This cookie recipe does use room temperature butter. If you are using salted butter you will need to reduce the amount of salt in the recipe. You can substitute the butter with coconut oil at a 1:1 ratio. Making this switch will affect the flavor of the cookies.

Find the complete recipe card below with measurements and full instructions.

How to Make Lemon Cookies

1. First, in a large mixing bowl, beat the butter for a few seconds, then pour the granulated sugar in and cream together until light and fluffy.

2. Add the lemon zest, vanilla, lemon juice, and egg to the wet ingredients. Continue to mix until smooth.

3. Then, add the flour, baking soda, and salt to the same bowl. Mix the dry and wet ingredients until well combined. The ending dough will be sticky.

4. Next, drop the cookie dough by the spoonful onto a prepared cookie sheet. Due to the stickiness of the dough you won’t be able to roll it with your hands.

5. Finally, bake until just starting to turn a light golden color on the edges, approximately 10 minutes. Remove from oven, cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes, then remove to continue cooling on a wire rack.

How to Make Lemon Glaze:

1. Prepare the glaze by whisking the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and zest until well combined. If you would prefer a more mellow lemon flavor you can replace a portion of the lemon juice with milk or cream. The glaze packs a bold lemon flavor which makes it perfect for lemon lovers.
2. To get your desired consistency of glaze add either more juice/milk for a thinner glaze or more powdered sugar for a thicker glaze.

After that, spoon the glaze onto the top of the cookies or drizzle. Allow to sit and dry while the glaze hardens. Serve the cookies once they have cooled and the glaze has hardened.

Lemon Cookie Tips

• Cookie Scoop: Due to the sticky texture of the dough you will need to scoop the dough and not roll with your hands before baking.
• Bake Time: This lemon cookie recipe is best when baked until they turn golden on the edges. As they cool, they will set in the center and be perfect. 
• Glaze: Adding the lemon glaze is optional, and you can do it in various ways: dunk the entire top of the cookie, part of the cookie, or drizzle. 

How to Store/Freeze:

• Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days.
• Freezer: To freeze the cookie dough, spoon the dough onto a baking sheet with either a silicone baking mat or a sheet of wax paper. Place this in the freezer until the cookie dough has frozen. Once frozen, remove it from the baking sheet and place the cookie dough into a large freezer bag or container. Remove from the freezer and bake when ready.

Other lemon recipes:

• Lemon Crumble Bars
• Blueberry Lemon Pound Cake
• Strawberry Lemon Pound Cake
• lemon curd

Published 2015. Updated in 2018 and 2023.

Photography by Jess Gaertner Creative.

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