These homemade Lemon Cookies are soft, sweet, and made with fresh lemon juice and zest for the most natural flavor! A simple lemon and vanilla glaze tops them off beautifully. They are my favorite cookies to make during summer!

A stack of cookies is presented on a small cake stand.


Lemon Cookies

Calling all lemon lovers! These lemon cookies are one of my absolute favorites to make during the summertime. They’re freshly flavored with real lemon juice and zest so you don’t have anything artificial in the mix. They taste like sweet sunshine!

Topping off the cookies is a glaze so good, I have to fight the rest of my family to lick the mixing bowl (mostly joking). It’s simply made with lemon juice, vanilla and powdered sugar. I love the tangy, sweet flavor it compliments the cookies with.

The other ingredients needed to make homemade lemon cookies are baking staples that you might already have on hand. There are no frills to be found in this hassle free recipe! Plus, the only patience required here is when you have to let the dough chill in the fridge for a little bit. Besides that, everything moves pretty quick here!

Lemon cookies are all placed around various surfaces.

Ingredient Notes

Let’s take a look at that short (and sweet) shopping list!

For the cookies

  • Butter – It needs to be softened. Be sure to let it sit at room temperature for about an hour prior to using.
  • Sugars – You’ll need both granulated sugar AND powdered sugar!
  • Egg
  • Vanilla Extract – It’s always best to use pure vanilla extract and not imitation if possible.
  • Lemon – Freshly squeezed lemon juice and lemon zest are needed to create the freshest flavor. Don’t use bottled lemon juice if you can help it – it won’t be the same.
  • Flour – Be sure to spoon the flour into the measuring cup rather than dunking the cup straight into the bag of flour. When you dunk it, you really pack the flour in there. Packed flour is too much flour!
  • Baking Soda – Make sure it’s not expired! Check the date on your container. If it’s expired, it won’t be potent and your cookies won’t have the right texture.
  • Salt – A little goes a long way. Don’t use more than what’s called for.

For the frosting

  • Powdered Sugar – Don’t use any other type of sugar.
  • Vanilla
  • Lemon Juice
A bite has been taken out of a cookie.

How to Make Lemon Cookies

Take a quick look at just how easy this homemade lemon cookie recipe is!

  1. Make the dough. Beat the butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, lemon juice and zest in a bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet one, beating until just combined.
  2. Chill. Chill the cookie dough for 1 hour in the fridge.
  3. Bake. Drop 1 tbsp of dough at a time onto a prepared baking sheet. Press down gently and sprinkle with a little but of turbinado sugar. Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes.
  4. Frost them. Let the cookies completely cool to room temperature prior to frosting! If they’re still hot, the frosting will immediately melt. Whisk the ingredients for the frosting together until smooth, then lightly dip each cooled cookie into the frosting.

PRO TIP: Make sure you give the cookie dough a full hour to chill in the fridge prior to baking! If you pop the cookies in the oven too soon, they’ll spread from the heat.

Storage

In an airtight container at room temperature, frosted lemon cookies will stay fresh for up to 4 days. They’ll last a little longer in the fridge, about 5-6 days.

Two cookies are placed on a plate.

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A bite has been taken out of a cookie.

Get the Recipe: Lemon Cookies Recipe

Yield: 24
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
These vibrant lemon cookies are bursting with fresh citrus flavor. The dough, infused with lemon zest and juice, bakes up soft and chewy. The cookies are then finished with a tangy lemon glaze, adding another layer of zesty goodness.
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the frosting

  • 1 cup confectioners sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Equipment

  • 1 baking sheet
  • 1 mixer

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350˚f.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone baking mat
  • In a large bowl with a mixer, beat the butter, sugars, egg, vanilla, lemon juice and zest.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients beating until just combined.
  • Chill the dough for 1 hour.
  • Drop 1 tablespoon of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, press down lightly.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes.
  • Cool completely.
  • While the cookies cool, whisk the ingredients for the frosting until smooth.
  • Frost with the icing with a knife or by dipping the top of the cookies into the frosting.
Calories: 155kcal, Carbohydrates: 20g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 27mg, Sodium: 134mg, Potassium: 19mg, Fiber: 0.3g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 246IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 5mg, Iron: 1mg
Author: Kellie
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American