These delectable Iced Lemon Cookies are soft on the inside with slightly chewy crispy edges, all topped with a four-ingredient light sweet lemon glaze. These spring and summer-friendly cookies are perfect for Easter, barbecues, picnics, potlucks, and baby showers. I love to serve these at my summer shindigs, along with Orange Meringue Cookies and Snickerdoodle Cookies.
Calling all lemon lovers. These lemon cookies with the freshest lemon flavor are for you. These fun family-friendly cookies are a cinch to pull together. The cookie dough can be made up to five days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. If a whole batch of cookies is not your thing, freeze the dough for up to three months (see my steps for freezing cookie dough). That way, you can have fresh cookies anytime for the kids after school snacks or for that neighbor who is stopping by for a quick chat.
How do you make Lemon Cookies?
First, in a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together and set it aside for a few minutes. Next, in a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This usually takes at least five minutes using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer. Now add the egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and mix just until incorporated.
Now add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three parts. Mix on low just until incorporated. Scrap down the sides of the bowl and beater when needed. Now using a 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop, place the dough on baking sheets covered with parchment paper or silicone mats. Bake for about 10 minutes and cool on cookie cooling racks.
Next, in a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and milk. Finally, ice the fully-cooled cookies and place them on cookie cooling racks to set.
Lemon Cookie recipe notes and helpful tips
- Always preheat the oven for at least 20 minutes and cover the baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Whip the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This should take about five minutes on medium using a mixer or stand mixer.
- Load the cookies on the middle rack in the center of the oven.
- These cookies spread, so leave a couple of inches between them when baking,
- Make the first batch a test run. Bake one or two cookies. This allows you to test baking time. If the dough spreads too much, refrigerate for about 40 minutes and try again.
- Use fresh lemon juice and lemon zest, as fresh lemons are flavor-packed, and it makes quite the difference.
- These cookies work well scooped with a 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop, but you can also roll them into about a one-inch ball using your hands.
- If possible, ice the cookies the same day that you bake them, as it helps keep the cookie’s texture soft.
- If the icing is too thick, add just 1/4 teaspoon of lemon juice at a time to thin it, and if it is too thin, add 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar at a time to thicken it.
How to freeze this cookie dough
If you plan on baking the whole batch of cookies off sometime in the near future, freeze it in a solid lump wrapped with several layers of plastic wrap and placed it in a freezer-safe container. Or place it in a double-wrapped freezer zipper bag. The dough freezes well for up to 3 months. To thaw, place in the fridge for a couple of days until soft enough to scoop or roll.
If you plan on baking them off in small portions, then scoop them onto parchment paper-covered baking sheets. Then place them in the freezer until the balls are frozen. This technique is commonly referred to as flash freezing. Now place the balls into a freezer bag and place that bag inside another freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. To bake, place the frozen cookie balls on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper or silicone mats. Let them sit and thaw while the oven preheats. Calculate the amount of icing you will need by estimating the percentage of cookies you have baked off. Prepare that percentage of icing and ice fully-cooled cookies.
More lemon recipes you will love!
Iced Lemon Cookies
These delectable soft lemon cookies are perfect for spring with a super easy four-ingredient tangy lemon icing.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 20 cookies
- Category: dessert
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Lemon Cookies
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Lemon Icing
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 1/2 tablespoons milk
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking sheets.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, using a stand or hand mixer on medium. Turn the mixer to low. Add egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract; mix just until incorporated.
- Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in three parts. Mix on low just until incorporated. Using 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop, place dough on prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until very lightly browned on the edges. Cool on cookie cooling racks.
- In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, lemon juice, milk, and lemon zest. Ice fully cooled cookies and place them on cookie cooling racks to set.
Notes
- Always preheat the oven for at least 20 minutes and cover the baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Whip the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This should take about five minutes on medium using a mixer or stand mixer.
- Load the cookies on the middle rack in the center of the oven.
- These cookies spread, so leave a couple of inches between them when baking,
- Make the first batch a test run. Bake one or two cookies. This allows you to test baking time. If the dough spreads too much, refrigerate for about 40 minutes and try again.
- Use fresh lemon juice and lemon zest, as fresh lemons are flavor-packed, and it makes quite the difference.
- These cookies work well scooped with a 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop, but you can also roll them into about a one-inch ball using your hands.
- If possible, ice the cookies the same day that you bake them, as it helps keep the cookie’s texture soft.
- If the icing is too thick, add just 1/4 teaspoon of lemon juice at a time to thin it, and if it is too thin, add 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar at a time to thicken it.
Keywords: cookies, lemon cookies, lemon drop cookies, lemon glaze for cookies, easy lemon cookies, soft lemon cookies, best lemon cookies
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Linda Chambless
Question…. does this icing cool in a hardened state – making them ‘stackable’ for storage/transport? Or, do they need to be kept and stored in a single layer?
I know, I know…. there may not be any left for long distance sharing…
Thanks!
Beth Pierce
If my memory serves me right it does harden but it has been a while since I made these. Sorry about the delayed response. I am sure that the cookies have been consumed by now.
Maria
I just baked these cookies today and they are sooooooo good. So simple and easy to make and they came out delicious. One of my favorite things I’ve baked… and I bake a lot! Thanks for a great recipe, I’m definitely saving this one to make again. 🙂
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Maria! I am so glad that you liked them.
Jamie Rainwater
Best cookies I’ve ever made! Making another batch less than a week later. I have too many away!!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Jamie! So glad that you like them. I just love lemon desserts!
Jeanne
What would you recommend as a sub to be gluten free?
Beth Pierce
I am not familiar with gluten free cooking so maybe the readers can help.
Onita
I would try these using any gluten free flour. I use White Gold gluten free for all by baking.
Neely Moldovan
Not a big lemon cookie fan myself but my husband sure is!
Just Juan
First off, I can smell the deliciousness of this cookie from the photo. As a fan of iced cookies — particularly iced oatmeal cookies — I think I may give this a go. I’m unlikely to find these in stores here in Colombia and I have a top-of-the-line oven that hasn’t received much use since my arrival this past summer. I will definitely give this a try at some point between now and my son’s birthday in late March.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Juan! I hope you and your son enjoy them!
Ntensibe Edgar
Hhhhmmmm…these are so pretty! And most of all, it is a very easy recipe to make for myself. I must give it a try!
Thena Franssen
Wow! These looks great! I love a good lemon dessert and I’m going to have to make these!
Mae
Looks absolutely divine! I love how easy this recipe is. I can’t say no to any lemon treats!
★★★★★
Marysa
These look delicious! We just made key lime pie and I love citrus. These look tasty but are also very pretty.
Irena
This looks amazing! Can’t wait to try out this recipe myself.
★★★★★
briannemanz
This lemon cookie looks so delightfully crisp and tender. I love the refreshing flavor of lemon.
Alita Pacio
I don’t want to miss your recipe! We’re planning on a picnic this weekend and this is perfect.
★★★★★
Heather Castillo
I have to make these for my daughter. She’s a huge lemon fan. I know she’d love them.
Dennice
How can I save your recipes???
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
You can print them, you can copy and paste to a google doc, you can sign up for a newsletter, you can save them on Facebook
Jen
See the little grey rectangle to the left here? Top is Facebook, Twit next, Pinterest next and Yum! Click one and it will take the recipe there…
Lauren Michael Harris
I LOVE lemon desserts but haven’t made too many lemon cookies. I’ve been missing out – these are delicious! The perfect summer cookie!
★★★★★
Rosemary
I’m one of those lemon lovers and loving this recipe. These cookies are simple to make and totally agree, can’t beat using freshly squeezed lemon juice and zest. It’s been a while since I made lemon cookies. Perfect timing for this delightful recipe.
★★★★★
Jenny
I love the crispy edges and bright lemon flavor of these cookies. I had planned to freeze some, but I couldn’t resist baking the whole batch and we ate them all!
★★★★★
Liz
I love lemon desserts and these iced lemon cookies are definitely a winner! Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
Cathleen
Lemon cookies are some of my favourite flavours of cookies, but for some reason I have never made them before. This has to change! Thanks for the recipe, bookmarked for when I get home 🙂
★★★★★
Pam
I made these for a baby shower and everyone loved them!
★★★★★
Lily
These cookies were divine, such a refreshing dessert for summertime, our whole family loved them and they are super easy to make, which makes the recipe 10x better!!
★★★★★
Robbin Yeager
My mom use to make these. She also made them using orange juice & orange zest in place of lemon. The orange is my favorite. I don’t have her recipe so I’m going to give this a try & use orange.
Thanks for sharing the recipe. Brings back memories for me.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Robbin! Enjoy! Food can be so nostalgic!!
Jennifer
A simple and delicious cookie recipe bursting with flavor!! LOVED them!
★★★★★
Betsy
Delightfully tart and perfectly delicious! Perfect biscuit to enjoy with my cup of Earl Grey in the afternoon! Love this & will have to make it again so I always have a lovely lemon cookie to enjoy with my afternoon tea!
★★★★★
Jen
These are like little rays of sunshine! My whole family loved them.
★★★★★
Sam
These cookies looks so good. Will definitely make them soon. I have all the ingredients needed to make them yay! Thanks for the recipe.
★★★★★
Mirlene
The cookies sound amazing. i I love anything with lemon. Can’t wait to try them.
★★★★★
Amy Treasure
Oh they look so perfect, I can’t wait to try these. I love lemon anything!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Amy! Enjoy!!
Jessie
Umm these sound like a great fresh cookie! Saving to try this spring.
★★★★★
Jeannette
Wow. Just wow. Those crispy bits are hands down the best thing ever! Love the icing on top and they’re perfect for home or parties.
★★★★★
Annalise
Grand slam recipe!!! My family gobbled these right up and I’m making more…and more!!!
Beth Pierce
Awesome! So glad that you and your family liked it!
Virginia
Can these be frozen after they are frosted?
Ann
This is the perfect cookie. I made it EXACTLY according to the recipe and the cookies absolutely sparkled with taste. My family loved them!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Ann! So glad that you and the family liked them. They are one of my favorites too!
Lauren Kelly
We love these cookies and have made them several times. Lemon all year long!
★★★★★
Betsy
Wonderfully tart and sweet! I love lemon cookies and these do NOT disappoint! Delicious down to the last crumb!
★★★★★
Francesca Reale
Awesome recipe. They turned out perfectly. Super lemony and buttery.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Francesca! So glad that you liked them!!
Cathy
SO much delicious lemon flavor and we love the glaze!!
Suzy
These look incredibly good! Love how easy they are to put together! We love the lemon flavor too!
★★★★★
Toni
I love how easy and delicious this is!! My kids kept asking for more!
★★★★★
Catalina
These cookies are exactly what I need right now! They look amazing!
★★★★★
Dorothy Reinhold
I always love spring because it means all things lemon. Is it bad that I want to use that icing on everything?!
Amanda
Such a delicious treat and a wonderful recipe!
Sara Welch
Love a great lemon recipe around this time of year! These were delicious; and exactly what I needed to cure my sweet tooth!
★★★★★