Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe!

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Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe! The Best Chewy Lemon Cookies for Spring and Summer! Homemade Soft and Light Lemon Cookies with Lemon Glaze Icing and Lemon Zest!

Stack of lemon sugar cookies with white icing, surrounded by fresh lemon halves.

 

Homemade Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe! These are the Best Lemon Sugar Cookies! Light and Soft with a Light Lemon Glaze Icing!

A stack of lemon sugar cookies drizzled with glaze and lemon zest on a gray surface, with fresh lemon slices beside them and a partially eaten cookie in the foreground.

These are probably my FAVORITE cookies! So easy to make from scratch and only take about 10 minutes to throw together! 

Lemon sugar cookies with white icing on a plate, garnished with fresh lemon slices.

Plus, here are even more Amazing Lemon Recipes! 

I also love these Strawberry Lemon Recipes! 

A close-up of a hand holding a bitten lemon sugar cookie with icing drizzle, with more cookies and lemon slices in the background.

Fresh Chewy Lemon Cookies

Use Fresh Lemons and Lemon Zest for the best results, but you can also use lemon juice if that is what you have! 

I’ve never had a bad batch of these cookies, SO easy to make! 

A stack of lemon sugar cookies with white glaze on a plate, surrounded by sliced lemons on a light background.

What you need for Lemon Cookies from Scratch

Lemon sugar cookies with white glaze on parchment paper, garnished with lemon zest, with halved lemons and a stack of cookies on a plate in the background.

Why you will love Chewy Lemon Cookies

  • Since these are lemon cookies, you will need fresh lemon juice and lemon zest! 
  • One of my favorite things about these cookies is the Lemon Glaze! It’s so easy to make and makes the cookies even better! 
  • The cookies are light and soft – you won’t be able to eat just one! The perfect Spring and Sumer Cookie Recipe! 

Stack of lemon sugar cookies with fresh lemon slices and zest around them on a light surface.

How do you make Lemon Cookies from Scratch?

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. IN SHORT: Add all of your wet ingredients together and then add in the dry ones! 

A clear glass bowl containing sugar and butter, surrounded by other baking ingredients for a lemon sugar cookies recipe on a white table.

Cream the butter and sugar together until mixed well! 

A glass bowl containing a mixture of flour and creamed butter, with sliced lemons and a sieve dusted with lemon sugar in the background.

Add the egg, vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest and mix well. 

A clear glass bowl containing flour mixed with lemon zest on a white surface with lemons and baking ingredients for a Lemon Sugar Cookies recipe around it.

Stir in the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.

Bowl of lemon sugar cookie dough with visible zest on a white background.

Mix until a soft dough forms. 

A scoop of lemon ice cream held up against a blurred background with lemon slices and a bowl of more ice cream, suggesting the flavors of a Lemon Sugar Cookies recipe.

Use a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop to create cookie dough balls.

Lemon sugar cookie dough scoops on parchment paper with a bowl of dough and fresh lemons in the background.

Arrange the cookie dough balls on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 7 minutes. 

Freshly baked lemon sugar cookies on a parchment-lined baking tray, surrounded by whole lemons, a sifter, and a bowl of lemons on a white table.

Do not over bake the cookies. Remove them from the oven as soon as the edges start to brown, or catch them before they brown. 

Overhead view of lemon sugar cookies on parchment paper, a bowl of powdered sugar, a plate with lemon slices, and a spoon, set on a white table.

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes.

A bowl of creamy white frosting on a table beside lemon slices and a butter knife, ready for a Lemon Sugar Cookies recipe.

While they cool, make the glaze by combining the powdered sugar and lemon juice and mix until smooth. Add a few drops of vanilla and stir until smooth. 

Lemon sugar cookies drizzled with white icing on parchment paper, with lemon slices and a bowl in the background.

Drizzle the glaze over the cookies with a fork. 

Ingredients for Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe laid out on a white surface, including lemons, flour, sugar, butter, an egg, and vanilla extract.

 

Lemon Sugar Cookie Recipe

Yields: 31 Cookies
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Baking time: 7 minutes
Additional time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened
1 cup of granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 1/2 cups of unbleached flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Lemon Glaze Ingredients: 
1 cup powdered sugar
5 teaspoons lemon juice
Drops of vanilla (optional)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until combined. 
Add the egg, vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest. 
Stir in the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. 
Use a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop to create cookie dough balls and place them about 1.5″ apart on the prepared baking sheet. 
Bake for 7 minutes. 
Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. 
While the cookies cool, make the glaze by combining the lemon juice to the powdered sugar and add a couple drops of vanilla. 
Mix well until smooth. Add a little extra lemon juice or water until you get your desired consistency. 
Drizzle the glaze over the cookies and let cool completely.

  • Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week at room temperature. 
  • Freeze cookie dough balls for up to 3 months and add 2 minutes to the baking time if they are baked from frozen. 
Stack of lemon sugar cookies with white icing, surrounded by fresh lemon halves.

Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe!

Yield: 31
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Additional Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes

The BEST Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe! Easy Chewy Lemon Cookies from Scratch with lemon juice and lemon zest! My favorite light and soft lemon cookie recipe for Spring and Summer!

Ingredients

  • Cookie Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
  • 1 cup of granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 1/2 cups of unbleached flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • Glaze Ingredients:
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 5 teaspoons lemon juice
  • Drops of vanilla (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 
  2. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until combined. 
  3. Add the egg, vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest. 
  4. Stir in the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. 
  5. Use a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop to create cookie dough balls and place them about 1.5" apart on the prepared baking sheet. 
  6. Bake for 7 minutes. 
  7. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. 
  8. While the cookies cool, make the glaze by combining the lemon juice to the powdered sugar and add a couple drops of vanilla. 
  9. Mix well until smooth. Add a little extra lemon juice or water until you get your desired consistency. 
  10. Drizzle the glaze over the cookies and let cool completely.

Notes

Cookies can be stored at room temperature for up to one week in an airtight container.

Freeze cookie dough balls for up to 3 months and then add 1-2 minutes to your baking time if baked from frozen.

Did you make this recipe?

Share it with me! I'd love to see your creation!

© Julie Smithson
Cuisine: Cookies / Category: Dessert Recipes

 

Lemon sugar cookies with glaze on a cooling rack, garnished with lemon slices.

Can I freeze Lemon Cookies? 

Yes!! I love making cookies because they are so easy to freeze! You can even freeze the cookie dough in 1″ balls so that when you are ready for them all you have to do is pre-heat the oven and bake!

So easy and perfect for making ahead of a special occasion (or just to keep on hand) 😉 

Stack of lemon sugar cookies with white icing, surrounded by fresh lemon slices on a light surface.

What Can I do With a Lot of Lemon Juice?

If you’re like me and buy lemons in bulk, or if you just have a lot of lemon juice, there are many things you can make!

Lemon Bars and Lemon Cupcakes are a favorite in addition to these cookies.

You can also freeze lemon juice in muffin tins so you have it for Summertime Sweet Tea or Unsweet Tea, Strawberry Lemonade, Banana Bread, Or any recipe that calls for lemon! 

Lemon sugar cookies with white icing and zest on top, surrounded by lemon slices on a marble surface.

I love cooking with lemons (drink recipes, desserts, or snacks)! Plus, it’s probably my favorite food flavor! 

Stacks of soft and chewy Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe with white drizzle, surrounded by lemon slices.

Plus, be sure to check out this No Bake Lemon Cheesecake!! It’s SO GOOD and one of our favorite staple birthday recipes! 

 

 

 

 

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Last revised April 26, 2024 from April 16, 2020

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