Description
A bright and refreshing twist on a classic favorite. Each chewy bite offers a vibrant burst of citrus, infused with fresh lemon zest and juice. These cookies are finished with a roll in granulated sugar for a sparkling finish and a delicate crystalline crunch.
Ingredients
The Zesty Base
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups (300g) granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon zest (2–3 large lemons)
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 large egg
Dry Ingredients & Coating
- 3 cups (360g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for rolling)
Instructions
Cream: Beat butter, 1.5 cups sugar, and zest for 1–2 mins until pale and fluffy.
Emulsify: Mix in lemon juice and egg.
Mix Dry: Gradually add flour, baking soda, and salt. Switch to a spatula and mix by hand until just combined.
Chill: Refrigerate dough for 30–60 minutes.
Roll & Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll dough into balls, coat in sugar, and place 2 inches apart. Bake for 11–13 minutes.
Set: Cool on sheet for 5 mins before moving to a wire rack.
Notes
The Zest Secret: Rub the lemon zest into the sugar with your fingers before adding butter to release essential oils.
Don’t Skip the Chill: Cold dough prevents the cookies from spreading into flat puddles.
Manual Mixing: Switching to a spatula when adding flour prevents overworking the gluten for a tender, non-bready cookie.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert / Cookies
- Method: Creaming / Chilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cookie
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 16
- Sodium: 95
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 3
- Trans Fat: 0.3
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 2
- Cholesterol: 30
Keywords: lemon sugar cookies, chewy lemon cookies, soft citrus cookies, spring dessert recipes, easy lemon treats, sparkling sugar cookies, lemon zest cookies