Description
Zesty “Glazed Lemon Cookies” dance with bright citrus notes and delicate sweetness. Homemade comfort meets Mediterranean sunshine in these irresistible treats you’ll savor with pure delight.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest (about 1 lemon)
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Finishing Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Assemble the foundational dry mixture by whisking flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, setting it aside for future incorporation.
- Create a creamy base using an electric mixer to blend butter and sugar until achieving a light, airy texture, ensuring complete integration.
- Introduce eggs individually into the butter mixture, thoroughly mixing after each addition to maintain a smooth, homogeneous consistency.
- Infuse the dough with bright citrus notes by stirring in fragrant lemon zest, tangy lemon juice, and aromatic vanilla extract.
- Gradually fold the reserved dry ingredients into the wet mixture, blending until just combined to prevent overmixing and maintain delicate cookie texture.
- Wrap the dough and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes, allowing ingredients to meld and creating a more manageable consistency for shaping.
- Preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Form uniform dough balls using tablespoon-sized portions, carefully spacing them across the lined baking sheets.
- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, watching for set edges and soft centers, avoiding overbaking to preserve their delicate nature.
- Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Craft a vibrant glaze by whisking powdered sugar with lemon juice and zest until achieving a smooth, pourable consistency.
- Once cookies have completely cooled, generously drizzle or spread the citrusy glaze, allowing it to set before serving.
Notes
- Ensure butter is at room temperature for smooth creaming, which creates a lighter, fluffier cookie texture.
- Grate lemon zest finely to distribute citrus flavor evenly throughout the dough without large bitter pieces.
- Chill dough for maximum flavor development and easier handling, preventing cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- Use fresh lemon juice for the most vibrant, bright citrus taste in both the cookie and glaze.
- Avoid overbaking by removing cookies when edges are set but centers remain slightly soft, guaranteeing a tender, melt-in-your-mouth result.
- Adjust glaze consistency by adding powdered sugar to thicken or lemon juice to thin, creating the perfect drizzling or spreading texture.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a high-quality gluten-free flour blend and add 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg