Description
Delight in these zesty lemon-filled cookies that perfectly balance tangy citrus flavors with a tender, buttery texture. These easy-to-make baked treats are finished with a luscious lemon glaze, making them an ideal dessert or snack for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
Glaze
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (to mix into powdered sugar for glaze)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to ensure easy cleanup and prevent sticking.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt. Set this mixture aside for later use.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter together with the sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which helps create a tender texture in the cookies.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Incorporate the egg, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice into the creamed butter and sugar. Mix thoroughly until everything is fully combined, infusing the dough with bright lemon flavor.
- Combine: Gradually add the dry ingredients from step 2 into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overworking the dough and maintaining a soft cookie texture.
- Shape Cookies: Using a tablespoon, scoop rounded portions of the dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Space the dough balls about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden, indicating they are perfectly cooked. Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on a wire rack.
- Glaze and Serve: Prepare the glaze by mixing powdered sugar with a little lemon juice until smooth. Drizzle this lemon glaze over each cooled cookie to add a sweet and tangy finishing touch before serving.
Notes
- Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature for easier creaming and better texture.
- Lemon zest adds a fresh citrus aroma; be careful to avoid the bitter white pith when zesting.
- You can adjust the lemon juice in the glaze to your taste for sweetness versus tartness.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
- For a more intense lemon flavor, you can add a bit of lemon extract along with the vanilla extract.
