Best Soft Lemon Cookies Recipe
User Reviews
5
Best Soft Lemon Cookies Recipe
Description
The recipe begins by blending sugar and lemon zest to release flavor, then creaming butter and this lemon sugar until fluffy before adding an egg. Flour, baking soda, and salt are gently folded in to form a soft dough for shaping into balls. Baking at a moderate 320°F for about 12 minutes yields cookies with slightly golden edges while maintaining a soft center. After cooling, the cookies are adorned with a creamy lemon icing made from butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and lemon juice, applied in swirls for a decorative, tangy topping.
The resulting cookie offers a combination of citrus brightness and creamy texture from the icing, contrasting with the tender crumb beneath. This cookie stores well at room temperature in a sealed container for up to three days, and the dough freezes effectively for future baking. These details make it suitable for batch preparation or making ahead for gatherings.
The recipe provides reliable tips on dough handling and icing preparation to maintain softness and flavor balance, creating a lemon-flavored cookie that is both refreshing and rich without being overly sweet.
Ingredients
For the Lemon Cookies
- 3/4 cup sugar
- lemon zest of 2 lemons
- 8 oz butter at room temperature
- 1 egg
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/8 tsp salt
For the Lemon Cream Cheese Icing
- 4 oz butter at room temperature
- 1 oz cream cheese
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 4 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 320F and line 2 extra large baking sheets with parchment.
- Mix together the sugar and lemon zest, rubbing the zest into the sugar with your fingertips to release the lemon oils.
- Beat the butter into the lemon sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg.
- Slowly stir in the flour, baking soda and salt until you have a soft cookie dough.
- Roll the dough into 1 1/2 inch balls and space them 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Bake until the edges are slightly golden, about 12 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While the cookies are cooling, make the icing. Beat together the butter and cream cheese until smooth, followed by the powdered sugar and lemon juice.
- With the back of a dessert spoon, swirl the icing on top of each cookie. Allow the icing to set slightly before serving.
Notes
- Store cookies in a sealed container at room temperature for up to three days to preserve softness.
- The cookie dough freezes well, allowing you to bake fresh cookies later as desired.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 16cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 182 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 182kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 39g | 13% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 2g | 3% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.4g | 2% |
| Trans Fat | 0.001g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 14mg | 5% |
| Sodium | 85mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 55mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 0.5g | 2% |
| Sugar | 25g | 50% |
| Vitamin A | 74IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 0.5mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 31mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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