Description
Zesty lemon sugar cookies blend tangy citrus with sweet comfort in a delightful treat. Crisp edges and delicate centers promise a perfect balance of flavor that will satisfy cookie enthusiasts and brighten any dessert table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2.75 cups (652 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp lemon zest (about 1 lemon)
- 2 tbsps fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 cup (100 g) granulated sugar (for rolling)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 0.5 tsp baking powder
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 0.5 tsp lemon extract (optional, for extra lemon flavor)
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, creating an immaculate surface for your citrusy confections.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined, establishing a robust foundation for your cookies.
- Butter Transformation: Cream butter and sugar in a spacious mixing bowl, whipping until the mixture achieves a light, ethereal consistency with a pale, pillowy appearance.
- Moisture Integration: Add egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla, and lemon extracts, blending until the mixture becomes silky smooth and aromatic.
- Dough Development: Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring minimally to preserve the cookies’ tender crumb and prevent tough texture.
- Flavor Melding: Chill the dough for 30 minutes, allowing ingredients to harmonize and the mixture to solidify, simplifying the shaping process.
- Coating and Shaping: Roll chilled dough into uniform spheres, generously enrobing each in granulated sugar to create a glistening, crisp exterior.
- Baking Precision: Position sugar-coated balls on the prepared sheet, ensuring ample spacing to prevent merging, then bake for 8-10 minutes until edges turn golden and centers remain soft.
- Cooling Protocol: Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, maintaining their delicate structure and preserving their pristine texture.
- Storage Strategy: Preserve these zesty delights in an airtight container, where they will remain fresh and irresistible for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Stir the dry and wet ingredients gently to maintain a tender, light cookie texture without developing tough gluten strands.
- Chill for Better Shape: Refrigerating the dough helps cookies hold their shape, intensifies lemon flavor, and prevents excessive spreading during baking.
- Sugar Coating Technique: Roll cookies generously in granulated sugar before baking to create a sparkling, crisp exterior that adds delightful crunch and sweetness.
- Adjust for Dietary Needs: Substitute butter with coconut oil for dairy-free option, or use gluten-free flour blend to make the recipe suitable for alternative dietary requirements.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg