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Home » Cookies » Lemon Sugar Cookies

Published: Apr 18, 2020 · Modified: Apr 10, 2021 by Kathy · This post may contain affiliate links

Lemon Sugar Cookies

Jump to Recipe

Lemon sugar cookies are a soft cookie  bursting with lemon flavor. The vibrant lemon flavor comes straight from fresh lemon zest and fresh lemon juice.

Whip up a batch of these cookies in no time at all - you just need one bowl and no chill time!

A glass container with sugar cookies.

These lemon sugar cookies have a burst of lemon flavor! They are a soft sugar cookie with a crisp exterior and lots of lemon flavor.

There's no need to chill the dough when making these cookies. Which means you'll be eating these cookies in no time at all!

A cookie broken in half and held in one hand.
Table of Contents
Key ingredients
Step by step directions
Recipe Tips
Recipe Faqs
More delicious cookie recipes
Lemon Sugar Cookies

Key ingredients

  • Lemons - Plan on two lemons for this recipe. You'll use the zest and the juice. Lemon zest is really where all the lemon flavor comes from. The lemon peel contains natural oils that's packed with flavor. When zesting a lemon, you just want the peel and not the white pith just under the peel. The pith contains bitter flavors. 
  • Butter - salted butter softened to room temperature
  • Sugar - granulated sugar
  • Flour - all-purpose flour

Step by step directions

  • Start by creaming the butter and the sugar together
Creamed butter and sugar in a mixing bowl.
  • Add the lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla 
A small white bowl filled with lemon zest.
  • Mix in the eggs
  • Add flour, salt and baking soda
Cookie dough in a mixing bowl with flour mixture being added.
  • Mix well
A mixing bowl filled with cookie dough.
  • Form dough into balls and bake
A scoopful of lemon sugar cookie dough on a baking sheet.
  • Bake in a 375 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.  When you remove the cookies from the oven, allow the cookies to cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet. Then remove to a baking rack to continue to cool. 
A baking rack filled with sugar cookies.

Recipe Tips

  • Use a lightly greased pan or use a silicone baking mat or a piece of parchment paper to help prevent cookies from sticking to the pan
  • Make certain oven is fully preheated before baking
  • Use a cookie scoop to get evenly sized cookies
A tall stack of sugar cookies on a blue plate.

Recipe Faqs

How do I store cookies?

Allow cookies to fully cool on a baking rack. Place cookies in a zip top bag or in a storage container.  Store cookies at room temperature.

Can I freeze cookies?

Yes, I often freeze cookies. When I need a large batch of cookies for a big family event or party, I make all the cookies ahead of time and store them in the freezer. The day of the event, I remove the cookies from the freezer and allow them to thaw. 

To freeze cookies, make certain cookies are completely cooled.  Then stack three to four cookies together and place in a freezer safe zip top bag. Place bag flat in freezer. If cookies are a bit sticky on the bottom, like with my carrot cookies, place one full layer of cookies in bag and then place a sheet of waxed paper on top. Then place another layer of cookies. This will help prevent cookies from sticking together.

More delicious cookie recipes

Here are some of my favorite cookies:

  • Coconut Macaroons
  • Chocolate Crinkles
  • Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
  • Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Chai Cookies
Cookies arranged on a white cake stand.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

Check out all my delicious cookie recipes!

  • Oatmeal Lace Cookies
  • Ginger Cookies
  • Peppermint Meringues
  • Hot Chocolate Cookies
A glass container with sugar cookies.

Lemon Sugar Cookies

Kathy
A soft sugar cookie with a burst of lemon.
4.77 from 17 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 12 mins
Total Time 27 mins
Course Cookie
Cuisine American
Servings 36 Cookies
Calories 116 kcal

Equipment

  • Stand Mixer
  • Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Cookie Sheet
  • Cooling Rack
  • Cookie Scoop
  • Zester
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup butter (salted, softened to room temperature)
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon zest
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 ¾ cups flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions
 

  • Cream butter in a bowl with a mixer
    1 cup butter
  • Add sugar and cream together
    1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • Add lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla. Mix until combined
    2 Tablespoons lemon zest, 2 Tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • Add eggs and combine
    2 eggs
  • Add flour, salt and baking soda. Combine
    2 ¾ cups flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • Use a scoop or a spoon to create balls of dough. Place on a lined baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper. You may also lightly spray cookie sheet instead of lining baking sheet.
  • Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.
  • Allow cookies to cool slightly (1-2 min) and then remove from baking sheet and place on a cooling rack.

Video

Notes

Tips:
  • Use a lightly greased pan or use a silicone baking mat or a piece of parchment paper
  • Make certain oven is fully preheated before baking
  • Use a cookie scoop to get evenly sized cookies
 

Nutritional Disclaimer:

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 116kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 95mgPotassium: 15mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 170IUVitamin C: 0.7mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 0.5mg
Keyword Lemon Cookie, sugar cookies
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @BeyondTheChickenCoop or tag #beyondthechickencoop!

This recipe was originally published in June of 2019. The photos and post have been updated. 

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Comments

  1. Pam Miller says

    January 22, 2021 at 3:14 pm

    1 star
    Just made these, turned out like a crepes or waffers ,they all ran together. I followed directions exactly and chilled the dough. Any IDEAS? The taste was good.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      January 24, 2021 at 4:09 am

      Hi Pam,
      I'm sorry these cookies didn't turn out for you. I'm not certain what went wrong for you. Did you melt fully melt the butter or just soften the butter before using? The only other thing I can think of is that the full amount of flour wasn't added.
      Kathy

      Reply
  2. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

    April 21, 2020 at 9:23 am

    5 stars
    I've never met a lemon dessert I haven't loved and these cookies will be no exception! Delicious Kathy!

    Reply
  3. David @ Spiced says

    April 20, 2020 at 3:34 am

    5 stars
    Speaking of lemon desserts, these cookies are totally calling my name! I love a good sugar cookie, and the lemon twist on these is perfect for Spring. The only problem is the batch would disappear too quickly! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Adina says

    July 02, 2019 at 3:17 am

    5 stars
    Perfect looking cookies, I would love some. And I am sure my children would love them as well, they like anything made with lemons.

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      July 02, 2019 at 5:52 am

      Mind kiddos are the same! Well actually I think they love anything with lemons and anything that's sweet!

      Reply
  5. Valentina says

    July 01, 2019 at 8:53 pm

    5 stars
    These cookies look light and airy - like cake. And in my family, lemon ties with chocolate for best desserts. 🙂 My kids love when I make cookies, too. And like you, I love making them. 😀

    Reply
  6. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

    July 01, 2019 at 2:29 pm

    5 stars
    I would love the entire stack Kathy! Lemon desserts are my favorite. Even more so than chocolate!

    Reply
  7. David @ Spiced says

    July 01, 2019 at 5:15 am

    5 stars
    Freezing these cookies? Yeah, right! That assumes there are cookies leftover. I don't know what leftover cookies are around this house! Haha. Seriously, though, these cookies sound amazing. I love lemony desserts in the summer, and a batch of these cookies just needs to appear in my kitchen! 🙂

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      July 02, 2019 at 5:58 am

      They disappear quickly in my house too!

      Reply
  8. Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes says

    July 01, 2019 at 12:54 am

    5 stars
    I love lemon so much - I really think it makes just about everything better! These lemon cookies would make me very happy 🙂

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      July 02, 2019 at 5:58 am

      I think you'd better bake a batch! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Nora says

    June 29, 2019 at 6:33 pm

    Can I sub orange. My husband fondly remembers an orange cookie from his youth but the recipe is lost

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      June 30, 2019 at 6:40 am

      Hi Nora,
      I think you could substitute orange juice and peel for the lemon. That should make a delicious cookie! Let me know how it turns out.
      Happy Baking! 🙂

      Reply
    • Kathy says

      June 30, 2019 at 6:40 am

      Hi Nora,
      I think you could substitute orange juice and peel for the lemon. That should make a delicious cookie! Let me know how it turns out.
      Happy Baking! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

    June 29, 2019 at 8:59 am

    5 stars
    A good relationship indeed 😉 I love baking and especially love enjoying the delicious results! Speaking of which, these cookies! Love anything with citrus zest, especially lemon so I would pretty much devour these! Perfect sidekick with a tall, cold glass of milk. Hope you're having a lovely weekend, Kathy!

    Reply
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I'm Kathy, a busy working mom who loves to cook from scratch, grow a garden, and raise farm animals. Take a look around and find all my recipes, gardening tips, and country living antics.

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