Lemon Sugar Cookies (Printable)

Buttery, zesty cookies with fresh lemon flavor and a sugary coating. Perfect for any occasion.

# What You 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

# How-To Steps:

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.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • The lemon flavor is fresh and genuine, not artificial or candy-like
  • These cookies have that magical crackly outside with soft, tender centers
  • They come together in under 30 minutes with ingredients you probably have
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients mix together properly and create the right texture—cold ingredients result in dense cookies
  • Underbaking slightly is your friend here as these continue firming up on the hot baking sheet
  • Freshly grated zest makes a massive difference compared to bottled stuff—the oils are where the flavor lives
03 -
  • Chill the dough for 30 minutes if it feels too sticky to work with—it wont affect the final texture
  • Use a cookie scoop for uniform sizing so everything bakes evenly
  • For maximum lemon intensity, add a few drops of pure lemon extract along with the vanilla

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