Lemon Sugar Cookies (Printable)
Buttery, zesty lemon sugar cookies with a refreshing citrus twist and sugary 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
07 - 1 large egg
08 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
09 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ For Rolling
10 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
04 - Beat in the lemon zest, egg, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined.
06 - Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough and roll each in the 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 the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The lemon keeps them from being cloyingly sweet like traditional sugar cookies
- They are impossibly soft in the middle with just the right amount of crunch
02 -
- Over mixing the dough will make these cookies tough instead of tender
- Room temperature ingredients incorporate better and create the right texture
03 -
- Use a microplane for the finest, most aromatic zest
- Under bake rather than over bake for the softest cookies