Description
These Lemon Sugar Cookies are a delightful treat combining zesty lemon flavor with a tender, sugar-coated texture. Perfect for any occasion, they feature a subtle citrus twist with fragrant lemon zest and juice, baked to a soft and chewy perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
- 3 Tbsp lemon zest
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 large egg
- 3 cups (360g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
For Rolling
- ¼ cup (50g) sugar
Instructions
- Mix Butter, Sugar and Lemon Zest: In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and lemon zest using an electric mixer for 1 to 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add Lemon Juice and Egg: Add the fresh lemon juice and the egg, then beat again until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt, mixing by hand with a spatula until the dough is combined but avoid overmixing.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes to make the dough easier to handle and improve texture.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Sugar for Rolling: When ready, remove the dough from the refrigerator. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Pour ¼ cup sugar into a bowl for rolling the cookies.
- Form and Roll Cookies: Use a cookie scoop to form dough balls of even size. Roll each ball thoroughly in the sugar to coat the exterior.
- Place on Baking Sheet: Arrange the sugar-coated dough balls on a silicone-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow expansion during baking.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 11 to 13 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers remain soft.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For more lemon flavor, add an extra teaspoon of lemon zest or a little more lemon juice.
- Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature for easier mixing and a better texture.
- Refrigerating the dough helps prevent spreading during baking and enhances flavor development.
- Storing cookies in an airtight container will keep them fresh for up to one week.
- You can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend if desired.
