Lemon Sugar Cookies (Printable)
Soft, buttery cookies infused with fresh lemon zest and a sugar coating.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
05 - 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
06 - 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest (about 2 lemons)
07 - 1 large egg
08 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
09 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ For Rolling
10 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
03 - Beat butter and sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
04 - Beat in lemon zest, egg, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, mixing just until combined.
06 - Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough and roll each in extra sugar to coat.
07 - Place cookies 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
08 - Bake for 9-11 minutes, until edges are lightly golden and centers are just set.
09 - Allow cookies to cool on sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The lemon zest creates these incredible pockets of bright flavor that make regular sugar cookies feel positively sophisticated
- They strike that perfect balance between crisp edges and chewy centers, the texture every sugar cookie dreams about
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients are absolutely crucial here, cold butter will give you flat disappointing cookies
- Underbaking slightly is your friend, these continue cooking on the hot sheet and that's how you get chewy centers
03 -
- Zest your lemons before juicing them, it's so much easier to handle the whole fruit when it's still firm
- Roll the dough balls in colored sugar for holidays, they look absolutely stunning on dessert tables