Lemon Frosted Cookies (Printable Version)

Buttery lemon cookies with bright citrus flavor and creamy glaze. Quick and easy homemade treat.

# What You Need:

→ Cookie Dough

01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
09 - 1 tablespoon lemon zest
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Lemon Frosting

11 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
12 - 2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
13 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
14 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
04 - Beat in eggs one at a time until incorporated. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract, mixing until combined.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
06 - Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
07 - Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden and centers are set.
08 - Allow cookies to rest on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
09 - Whisk together powdered sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and melted butter if using, until smooth and spreadable.
10 - Once cookies are completely cool, spread frosting over tops. Let set for 15 minutes before serving.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • The texture is impossibly soft, like biting into a lemon scented cloud that somehow manages to hold its shape
  • That frosting hits your tongue with this bright punch of acid that wakes you up better than coffee ever could
02 -
  • I once frosted these while they were still slightly warm and watched the frosting melt right off the edges, so patience with the cooling step really pays off
  • The dough will feel softer than you expect, but that's exactly what creates such tender cookies, so resist the urge to add more flour
03 -
  • Zest your lemons before cutting them, otherwise you'll struggle to get those beautiful fragrant oils out of the squeezed fruit
  • Sift the powdered sugar for the frosting directly into your bowl to prevent any lumps that would ruin the silky texture

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