Description
These Lemon Sugar Cookies offer the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors, featuring a soft, buttery texture enhanced with fresh lemon zest and juice. Ideal for summer gatherings or gifting, they are easy to make and delightfully refreshing.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
For Coating
- Additional granulated sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, ensuring that these leavening agents and seasoning are evenly distributed.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale – this helps create a tender cookie texture.
- Add Eggs and Flavorings: Beat in the eggs one at a time along with vanilla extract, freshly grated lemon zest, and lemon juice until the mixture is smooth and fragrant.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until just incorporated to prevent overworking the dough and keep cookies tender.
- Shape and Coat Cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls. Then roll each ball in additional granulated sugar to give the cookies a sweet, crunchy coating.
- Arrange and Bake: Place the sugar-coated dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them approximately 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges turn lightly golden.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes after removing from the oven to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For a stronger lemon flavor, add an extra teaspoon of lemon zest or a few drops of lemon extract to the dough.
- You can drizzle cooled cookies with a simple lemon glaze made from powdered sugar and lemon juice for extra sweetness and tang.
- These cookies make a perfect gift or refreshing addition to summer parties and picnics.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 70 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
