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    Home » My Latest Recipes

    Zesty Lemon Cookie Recipe with Video Instruction

    May 2, 2022 · 7 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    This lemon cookie 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, these 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
    • Make cookie dough
    • Flavor Variations
    • Lemon Cookies Recipe

    What's to love about these cookies

    These 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.

    Lemons

    Ingredients

    • 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 sodas, etc...
    • Bring your eggs and butter to room temperature before beginning this recipe. Your ingredients will combine easier and you won't have that curdled look after adding the eggs to your creamed butter/sugar mixture.
    • Cooks will 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 and only take the top layer of the rind which is where the tanginess is!
    zesty lemon cookie for pinterest

    Make cookie dough

    • As mentioned above use room temperature eggs and butter - I know I sound like a broken record but I want you to have the best possible outcome with these cookies.
    • Properly creaming your butter and sugar together is an important part to creating the structure of these lemon cookies. Start by creaming the ingredients together on low speed for about 20 seconds and gradually increase the speed to medium. Remember to scrape the mixing bowl occasionally. The entire creaming process will take approximately 2 minutes.
    • Once the sugar/butter creaming process is complete, add your room temperature egg and lemon juice. Mix on medium-low speed until the egg is completely incorporated.
    • Mix on low speed after adding the flour mixture. Take care with this step and only mix until the dough comes together. Over mixing may result in a tough cookie and you won't have the soft interior - which makes this cookie shine!
    zesting lemons
    Zesting lemons for the cookie dough
    scooped dough on a sheet pan
    Scooping lemon cookie dough

    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.
    lemon cookies from dessertswithstephanie.com

    Lemon Cookies Recipe

    A lemon cookie with the perfect balance of tartness and sweetness.
    5 from 15 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 25 minutes mins
    12 minutes mins
    Total Time 37 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24 Cookies

    Equipment

    • Hand Mixer or
    • Stand Mixer
    • 2 Cookie Sheets

    Ingredients
      

    • 240 Grams All Purpose Flour (2 Cups)
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • 2 tablespoon Lemon Zest (appoximately 2 lemons)
    • 2 tablespoon Lemon Juice (approximately 2 lemons)
    • 200 Grams Granulated Sugar (1 Cup)
    • 114 Grams Butter, room temperature (4 ounces or 1 stick)
    • 1 Large Egg, room temperature

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350°
    • Prepare 2 baking sheets by lining with parchment paper.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and lemon zest.
    • Using a stand-mixer with the paddle attachment, begin creaming the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (approximately 2 - 4 minutes on medium speed). Scrape the bowl as needed.
    • Add the egg and lemon juice and mix on low speed until incorporated.
    • Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until combined.
    • Scoop the dough onto the parchment-lined baking sheets using a small cookie scooper (approximately 1 ½ tablespoon per cookie). Leave approximately 2 inches of space between each cookie.
    • Bake cookies for 10 - 12 minutes or until the 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

    Keyword cookies, easy lemon cookies, lemon cookies
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lynn says

      May 15, 2023 at 1:56 am

      5 stars
      Quick, easy and delicious - a goto when you need a sweet treat quickly. Your coffee is waiting for these!

      Reply
    2. Julie says

      April 25, 2023 at 1:01 am

      5 stars
      I just tried your recipe for Zesty Lemon Cookies and they were absolutely amazing! The perfect balance of tartness and sweetness, and so soft and chewy. I can't believe how easy they were to make, too. I'm definitely going to make them again soon.

      Julie, Blended Decor Blog https://www.julieannrachelle.com/bio

      Reply
      • dessertswithstephanie says

        April 25, 2023 at 1:41 pm

        5 stars
        Julie, thank you for your feedback on the Lemon Cookies!

        Reply
    3. Tara says

      April 23, 2023 at 4:23 am

      5 stars
      My mom loves lemon so these are on the list for Mother’s Day. And I agree with your tip on not over zesting citrus so it’s not bitter. Great note!

      Reply
    4. Andrew C says

      February 28, 2023 at 10:22 pm

      5 stars
      Tangy and yummy cookie recipe. I made it exactly per the recipe. ?

      Reply
    5. Janice says

      January 30, 2023 at 12:00 pm

      5 stars
      Recipe for lemon cookies worked great for me. Will make again ?

      Reply
    6. CanGee says

      September 17, 2022 at 11:36 am

      5 stars
      Lovely recipe. I used lots of lime zest and these are yummy ?

      Reply

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    Pastry Chef Stephanie

    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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