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+ servings
A tall, beautiful stack of soft lemon crinkle cookies, showing their chewy centers and cracked sugar tops.
FL Recipes

Lemon Sugar Cookies: The Ultimate Recipe for Soft, Chewy Bliss

The best Lemon Sugar Cookies recipe! Learn how to make incredibly soft, chewy, and flavorful lemon cookies from scratch with this easy-to-follow guide. Packed with fresh lemon zest and juice for the ultimate citrus flavor.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 27 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 155

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar plus 1/4 cup for rolling
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon zest from about 2 lemons
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Equipment

  • 1 Electric Mixer
  • 2 Baking Sheets
  • 2 Mixing Bowls

Method
 

  1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, 1 cup of granulated sugar, and powdered sugar together with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
  2. Add the egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Beat again until well combined.
  3. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Cover the bowl and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 60 minutes.
  6. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  7. Scoop the chilled dough into 1.5-tablespoon-sized balls. Roll each ball in the remaining 1/4 cup of granulated sugar to coat.
  8. Place dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers look soft.
  9. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Nutrition

Calories: 155kcalProtein: 1.5gFat: 8gFiber: 0.5g

Notes

Don't Skip Chilling the Dough: This is the most important step to prevent cookies from spreading and ensures a chewy texture.
Fresh Lemon is Best: For the brightest, most vibrant flavor, use fresh lemon zest and juice.
Correctly Measure Flour: Spoon and level the flour for the best results; do not scoop directly from the bag.
Keyword chewy lemon cookies,lemon sugar cookies,soft lemon cookies

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