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Home » My Latest Recipes

Zesty Lemon Cookies Recipe

May 2, 2022 · 18 Comments

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This recipe for zesty lemon cookies has the perfect balance of tartness and sweetness. These cookies are easy to make and mix up in just a few minutes. Full of buttery goodness, the cookies practically melt in your mouth. You may have a hard time eating just one! Freshly grated lemon zest is the star of these soft-centered cookies.

lemon cookies from dessertswithstephanie.com

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Jump to:
  • What's to love about these cookies
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Flavor Variations
  • 📋 Recipe

What's to love about these cookies

These zesty lemon cookies freeze well and I usually have several in my freezer. There is not much better than coming home after a hard day at the bakery, defrosting one of these cookies and enjoying it with a cup of Earl Grey tea! I promise your friends will enjoy these lemon cookies at your next tea party as they are light and refreshing.

Ingredients

Gather the following ingredients to make these lemon cookies:

ingredients needed to make zesty lemon cookies including flour, egg, butter, baking soda, salt, lemons and granulated sugar
  • All-purpose flour - I prefer unbleached flour in all of my creations. It will provide more structure in your baked goods as it has a denser texture than bleached flour. I highly recommend King Arthur products such as their flours, spices, baking powder and soda, etc...
  • Baking soda and salt
  • Butter - use unsalted butter brought to room temperature before starting this recipe.
  • Granulated sugar
  • Egg - use a large egg and bring to room temperature before starting this recipe
  • Lemon juice and zest - note: cooks often make the mistake of 'over-zesting' citrus fruits by digging too deeply into the peel which adds bitterness to your creation. Try to use a light hand when zesting your lemons for this cookie. Only take the top layer of the rind which is where the tanginess is.

Instructions

Follow the instructions below to whip up these easy zesty lemon cookies:

combine dry ingredients in a bowl as the first step in making zesty lemon cookie dough

1 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and lemon zest.

butter and sugar added to mixing bowl

2 - Using a stand-mixer with the paddle attachment, begin mixing together butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (approximately 2 - 4 minutes on medium speed). Scrape sides of bowl as needed. Note: a hand mixer may also be used.

egg and lemon juice added to mixing bowl

3 - Add egg and lemon juice. Mix on medium speed until well combined. Scrape sides of bowl as needed.

dry ingredients added to mixing bowl

4 - Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until combined. Take care not to overmix as this can lead to a tough cookie.

5 - Scoop dough onto baking pans lined with parchment or silicone baking sheets. Use a small cookie scoop (approximately 1 ½ tablespoon per cookie). Leave approximately 2 inches of space between each cookie. Bake cookies for 10 - 12 minutes or until tops are a pale golden color.

zesty lemon cookies scooped onto baking pan

Flavor Variations

  • Blueberry Lemon Cookies: Add a cup of wild Maine blueberries to the dough and mix gently with a rubber spatula.
  • Lemon Coconut Cookies: Add a one and a half cups of sweetened, shredded coconut to the dough and mix with a rubber spatula to distribute evenly. Alternative, roll the lemon cookie in shredded coconut after scooping and before baking.
  • Basil Lemon Cookies: Finely chop 2 tablespoons of fresh basil and mix into the cookie dough before baking.

I hope you enjoy these Zesty Lemon Cookies as much as my family and friends have over the years!

📋 Recipe

lemon cookies from dessertswithstephanie.com

Lemon Cookies Recipe

A lemon cookie with the perfect balance of tartness and sweetness.
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 25 minutes mins
Cook Time 12 minutes mins
Cooling time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 57 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24 Cookies
Calories 107 kcal

Equipment

  • Stand Mixer or hand mixer
  • 2 Cookie Sheets
  • 2 Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
  • Bowls, measuring cups and spoons
  • Cookie Scoop
  • Silicone spatula

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 Cups All Purpose Flour (2 Cups)
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 2 Tablespoons Lemon Zest (appoximately 2 lemons)
  • 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice (approximately 2 lemons)
  • 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
  • ½ Cup Unsalted Butter, room temperature
  • 1 Large Egg, room temperature

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350℉ (180℃)
  • Prepare 2 baking sheets by lining with parchment or silicone baking mats.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and lemon zest. Set aside for later.
    2 Cups All Purpose Flour, ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon Salt, 2 Tablespoons Lemon Zest
  • Using a stand-mixer with the paddle attachment, begin mixing together butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (approximately 2 - 4 minutes on medium speed). Scrape sides of bowl as needed. Note: a hand mixer may also be used.
    ½ Cup Unsalted Butter, room temperature, 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
  • Add egg and lemon juice. Mix on medium speed until well combined. Scrape sides of bowl as needed.
    1 Large Egg, room temperature, 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
  • Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until combined. Take care to not overmix which may result in a tough cookie.
  • Scoop dough onto the prepared baking sheets using a small cookie scoop (approximately 1 ½ tablespoon per cookie). Leave approximately 2 inches of space between each cookie.
  • Bake cookies for 10 - 12 minutes or until tops are a pale golden color.
  • Let cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 to 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. 

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 107kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 153mgPotassium: 17mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 130IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cookies, easy lemon cookies, lemon cookies
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ebony says

    January 21, 2024 at 1:29 pm

    5 stars
    I made these for my family this weekend and they were a hit! My family normally loves chocolate chip only, but they now have a new favorite to add to their list. Thank you for this delightful recipe!

    Reply
  2. Monidipa Dutta says

    January 17, 2024 at 7:21 pm

    Wow, your lemon cookies recipe is a delightful find! The video instructions made it a breeze to follow. The zestiness of the lemon adds a burst of flavor that I absolutely love. Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe. Looking forward to trying more of your tasty creations! 🍋🍪👩‍🍳

    Reply
  3. Chenee says

    January 17, 2024 at 5:18 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for the clear instructions. These came out perfectly! The best cookie I've had in a long time!

    Reply
  4. Shelby says

    January 17, 2024 at 4:24 pm

    Love these easy and healthy cookies as an anytime snack. The lemon flavor really pops!

    Reply
  5. May says

    January 17, 2024 at 5:13 am

    5 stars
    It looks simply but yummy! Can I do this without using a machine to mix the ingredients? Cause I notice that you use one and the mixing progresses. My mixer is not so good.

    Reply
    • dessertswithstephanie says

      January 17, 2024 at 5:42 pm

      Hi May, You can make these cookies without a mixer but it will take some work. When creaming the butter and sugar together, I suggest using a rubber spatula and stirring quickly until the mixture looks fluffy. You are trying to work air into the mixture so it will take some elbow grease and time (probably about 5 minutes).

      Reply
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Welcome to Desserts With Stephanie. I hope you enjoy your visit. All the recipes and techniques I discuss on this site have been fully tested in my bakery for more than 15 years. Let's have some fun in the kitchen and put a smile on someone's face with a little sweetness.

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