Looking for a delicious treat that’s easy to make and perfect for any occasion? Look no further than these soft and chewy lemon cookies! Bursting with zesty lemon flavor, these cookies are sure to become a new favorite in your household.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe?
- Great flavors: The combination of fresh lemon zest and juice gives these cookies a bright and refreshing taste.
- Quick prep time: With simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, you can whip up a batch of these cookies in no time.
- Perfect for meal prep: These cookies store well and are great for packing in lunches or enjoying as a snack on the go.
Ingredient Notes:
- Unsalted butter, softened: Adds richness and moisture to the cookies.
- Granulated sugar: Provides sweetness and helps the cookies crisp up while baking.
- Lemon zest: Infuses the cookies with a fresh, citrusy flavor.
- Large egg and egg yolk, room temperature: Bind the ingredients together and add structure to the cookies.
- Lemon extract (or lemon and vanilla extract): Enhances the lemon flavor in the cookies.
- All-purpose flour: Gives the cookies structure and texture.
- Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise and spread during baking.
- Cornstarch: Adds tenderness to the cookies.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the flavors.
- Lemon juice: Adds additional tartness to the cookies.
- Granulated sugar, for rolling & garnishing: Adds a sweet crunch to the exterior of the cookies.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add in the lemon zest, egg, egg yolk, and lemon extract, mixing until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
- Roll the dough into small balls, then roll them in granulated sugar for a sweet finish.
- Place the cookies on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven until lightly golden.
- Remove from the oven and let cool before enjoying.
Helpful Tips:
- For extra lemon flavor, add a little extra lemon zest to the dough.
- To make these cookies gluten-free, use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Expert Tips for the Best Results:
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading.
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor.
- Don’t overmix the dough to keep the cookies tender.
Serving Suggestions:
These soft and chewy lemon cookies are perfect on their own or paired with a cup of tea or coffee. For a special treat, sandwich a scoop of vanilla ice cream between two cookies for a delicious dessert.
Storage and Reheating Tips:
To keep these cookies fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. To reheat, place them in a 300°F oven for a few minutes to warm them up and restore their chewy texture.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Can I use margarine instead of butter? Yes, but the flavor and texture may be slightly different.
- Can I freeze the dough? Yes, you can freeze the dough for up to 3 months for fresh-baked cookies anytime.
- Can I omit the lemon zest? You can, but it will greatly reduce the lemon flavor in the cookies.
Conclusion:
These soft and chewy lemon cookies are a delightful treat that’s sure to brighten any day. Give this recipe a try and share your feedback with us – we’d love to hear how they turned out for you!
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Soft & Chewy Lemon Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These soft and chewy lemon cookies are bursting with citrus flavor. They are perfect for lemon lovers and make a delightful treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp. lemon zest
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
- 2 tsp. lemon extract (or 1 tsp. each lemon and vanilla extract)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. cornstarch
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 2 tbsp. lemon juice
- ¼ cup granulated sugar, for rolling & garnishing
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and lemon zest until light and fluffy.
- Add Eggs and Flavorings: Mix in the egg, egg yolk, lemon extract, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Stir in the lemon juice.
- Chill Dough: Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Bake: Preheat the oven, shape the dough into balls, roll them in granulated sugar, and bake until lightly golden.
- Cool and Enjoy: Let the cookies cool on a wire rack before serving.
Notes
- For extra lemon flavor, you can add more lemon zest or lemon juice to the cookie dough.
- These cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg