Description
These Soft & Chewy Lemon Cookies deliver a bright, citrusy flavor with a tender, chewy texture that melts in your mouth. Enhanced with fresh lemon zest and lemon juice, these cookies are perfect for a refreshing treat that balances sweetness with a subtle tang, making them ideal for any lemon lover.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 12 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
- 2 tsp lemon flavoring
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- ¾ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
For Rolling & Garnishing
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- Optional: additional lemon zest for sprinkling
Instructions
- Prepare Butter and Sugar Mixture: Beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and lemon zest in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy, scraping down the bowl sides as needed. Rubbing the lemon zest with sugar beforehand helps release oils for enhanced flavor.
- Add Eggs and Lemon Flavor: Incorporate the large egg, egg yolk, and lemon flavoring; mix again until combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the flour mixture in a mound with baking soda on top over the wet ingredients.
- Activate Baking Soda: Pour the lemon juice over the baking soda, causing it to foam and activate the leavening.
- Mix Dough: Stir everything together just until combined, being careful not to overmix to maintain tender cookies.
- Chill Dough: Either refrigerate the dough as-is or scoop and roll into balls approximately 1 ½ to 2 tablespoons in size, then refrigerate. Chill at least 1 hour for best results.
- Preheat Oven: Set oven to 325°F (163°C) while dough chills.
- Roll in Sugar: Pour ¼ cup sugar into a bowl and roll each dough ball in sugar to coat completely.
- Arrange on Baking Sheets: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats, placing 6-8 cookies spaced apart on each sheet.
- Bake Cookies: Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes, making sure not to overbake so they remain soft and chewy.
- Shape Cookies: Right after removing from oven, gently swirl the cookie sheet to shape cookies into perfect circles while still warm.
- Cool Cookies: Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer carefully to a wire rack to cool completely; cookies will deflate slightly as they cool.
- Garnish: Sprinkle cookies with additional granulated sugar and optional lemon zest for a sparkling finish.
Notes
- For extra lemon flavor, rub lemon zest with sugar before mixing to release oils.
- Do not overmix the dough to keep cookies tender and chewy.
- Refrigerating dough before baking helps maintain shape and enhances texture.
- Watch baking time carefully; cookies should remain soft inside.
- Swirling the warm cookies on the pan helps create perfectly round shapes.
- Optional garnish of extra lemon zest adds visual appeal and flavor burst.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
