Description
These Lemon Sugar Cookies are soft, tangy, and sweet, perfectly balanced with fresh lemon juice and zest. They are easy to make and ideal for an everyday dessert or a special occasion treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Additional
- Extra granulated sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Sheets: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to ensure they are well combined and evenly distributed.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. This creates the light texture of the cookies.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, fresh lemon juice, and lemon zest until fully incorporated, providing the cookies with a fresh citrus flavor.
- Combine Dry and Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms, taking care not to overmix.
- Shape Cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll each into a ball. Then roll the balls in extra granulated sugar for a sweet, slightly crunchy coating.
- Arrange on Baking Sheets: Place the sugared dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Gently flatten each ball with the bottom of a glass to ensure even thickness.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges just start to turn a golden color, indicating they are done.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from breaking.
Notes
- For an enhanced lemon flavor, add a few drops of lemon extract to the wet ingredients.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.
