Description
Delightful lemon sugar cookies melt with zesty citrus charm, offering a perfect balance of sweet and tangy. Crisp edges and tender centers promise a delicious treat you’ll savor with each irresistible bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup (227 grams / 8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 ½ cups (310 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Leavening and Seasoning:
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Lemon Glaze:
- 1 cup (120 grams) powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by heating to 350F (175C) and lining baking sheets with parchment paper for optimal cookie performance.
- Create a creamy base by thoroughly blending butter and sugar until achieving a light, airy texture. Incorporate egg, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract, mixing until ingredients harmonize completely.
- Develop the dry foundation by whisking flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate vessel to ensure uniform distribution of leavening agents.
- Gradually merge the dry mixture into the wet ingredients, gently folding until just combined to maintain a tender cookie texture.
- Form uniform cookie portions by scooping and rolling dough into consistent balls, positioning them approximately two inches apart on prepared sheets. Delicately flatten each ball using your palm to create a uniform shape.
- Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes, watching for golden edges and set centers, indicating perfect doneness. Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for five minutes to stabilize their structure.
- Transfer cookies to a wire rack, enabling complete cooling and preventing potential moisture accumulation.
- Craft a silky glaze by whisking powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest until achieving a smooth consistency. Adjust thickness by incrementally adding powdered sugar or lemon juice.
- Once cookies have reached room temperature, generously drizzle or spoon glaze across the surface, ensuring even coverage.
- permit glaze to set for 15-20 minutes, allowing it to solidify and create a glossy, professional finish before serving.
Notes
- Zest lemons before juicing to maximize flavor extraction and minimize kitchen time.
- Use room temperature butter and egg for smoother, more even cookie texture.
- Avoid overmixing the dough to prevent tough, dense cookies with less delicate crumb.
- For gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with a high-quality 1:1 gluten-free baking blend.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 152
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg