Best Fresh Lemon Cookies Recipes

LEMON COOKIES FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• Cream sugar, butter, and lemon zest together in a large bowl using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• Combine eggs, lemon juice, and vanilla extract in a cup; mix using a fork until combined. Beat into egg mixture slowly on low speed.
• Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Add to egg mixture slowly on low speed until just combined. Do not overbeat; dough will be sticky. Cover and chill dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes; it will still be sticky after chilling.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Form dough into balls using a cookie scoop or tablespoon and roll each in powdered sugar. Place onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Lightly smash each ball down using your hand.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the middle of each cookie is just barely set, 11 to 12 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack completely before storing in an airtight container.

CRANBERRY-LEMON COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375˚ F. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
• Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs and 1 tablespoon lemon zest. Beat in the flour mixture until completely combined, then fold in 1 1/2 cups chopped cranberries.
• Scoop the dough into golf ball-size balls and arrange about 2 inches apart on 2 unlined baking sheets. Gently press the remaining 1/2 cup chopped cranberries into the tops of each cookie. Bake until slightly golden around the edges, 15 to 17 minutes. Remove the cookies and transfer to a rack set over a baking sheet.
• Make the glaze: Put the confectioners' sugar in a medium bowl. Whisk in the lemon juice and remaining 1 tablespoon lemon zest until smooth. Drizzle on the cookies and let set.

GLAZED LEMON COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla, and lemon juice and beat until combined. With mixer on low, beat in flour mixture.
• Drop dough by heaping tablespoons, 1 inch apart, onto two baking sheets. Bake until edges are golden, 15 to 20 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cool 2 minutes on sheets, then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Spread cookies with Lemon Glaze and let set, about 1 hour.