Description
Soft Lemon Sugar Cookies are tender, melt-in-your-mouth treats bursting with fresh citrus flavor. These easy-to-make cookies combine a delicate lemon zest and juice with a buttery dough rolled in sugar, resulting in a perfectly soft texture and a delightful tangy sweetness. Ideal for dessert or a sweet snack, they stay fresh and soft for days when stored properly.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Rolling
- ½ cup extra granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined. This ensures proper leavening and seasoning throughout the dough.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and 1 ½ cups granulated sugar together until light, fluffy, and pale in color, about 2 to 3 minutes. This step incorporates air for lighter cookies.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the large egg, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until fully combined, infusing the dough with bright citrus flavor and richness.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet mixture, mixing gently until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing to maintain tenderness.
- Form Cookie Dough Balls: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll each into a smooth ball. Then, roll each ball in the extra granulated sugar to create a sweet, crisp coating once baked.
- Arrange on Baking Sheets: Place the sugar-coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them approximately 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers appear slightly underbaked. This ensures a soft, chewy texture.
- Cool Before Serving: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up slightly before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For an extra burst of lemon flavor, drizzle the cooled cookies with a simple lemon glaze made from powdered sugar and lemon juice.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container to keep them soft for several days.
- To enhance texture, chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking if time allows.
