Zesty Glazed Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe to Brighten Day

Sweet and zesty lemon cream cheese cookies bring a burst of sunshine to your dessert table.

These delightful treats blend creamy richness with bright citrus notes.

Soft, pillowy textures melt in your mouth with each delectable bite.

The tangy lemon flavor dances across your palate, creating an irresistible balance of sweetness and zing.

Cream cheese adds a luxurious depth that elevates these cookies from ordinary to extraordinary.

You’ll love how simple ingredients transform into something magical.

Bake a batch and watch them disappear in moments, leaving everyone asking for more.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 27 minutes

Calories: 180 kcal

Servings: 25

What Goes In Glazed Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies

• Butter: Delivers rich, velvety texture and helps cookies spread evenly during baking.
• Cream Cheese: Adds luxurious tangy softness and ensures tender, melt-in-your-mouth cookie consistency.
• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create crisp cookie edges.
• Egg: Binds ingredients together and contributes to cookie structure.

• Lemon Juice: Brings bright, zesty citrus notes and balances sweetness.
• Lemon Zest: Intensifies citrus aroma and adds vibrant flavor complexity.
• Vanilla: Rounds out flavors and adds subtle warmth.

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates cookie's foundational structure and provides tender crumb.
• Baking Powder: Helps cookies rise and achieve light, airy texture.
• Baking Soda: Neutralizes acidic ingredients and promotes golden browning.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor profile and balances sweetness.

• Powdered Sugar: Creates smooth, glossy glaze with perfect drizzling consistency.
• Lemon Juice: Thins glaze and adds refreshing citrus punch.

Kitchen Tools For Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies

• Large mixing bowl: Essential for creaming butter, cream cheese, and mixing ingredients.
• Electric mixer: Helps blend ingredients smoothly and create fluffy texture.
• Whisk: Perfect for combining dry ingredients thoroughly.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Precise measurements for ingredients.
• Baking sheets: Used for baking cookies in the oven.
• Parchment paper: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
• Wire cooling rack: Allows cookies to cool evenly and prevents soggy bottoms.
• Tablespoon or cookie scoop: Helps create uniform cookie sizes.
• Zester or grater: Needed for extracting lemon zest.
• Small mixing bowl: For preparing the glaze.

Bake Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies Easily

• Prepare Baking Station

Grab your baking sheets and line them with parchment paper. Get your oven warmed up to a cozy 350F.

• Create Cookie Base

In a spacious mixing bowl, whip butter, cream cheese, and sugar until they transform into a fluffy cloud-like mixture. Crack in an egg, splash some lemon juice, sprinkle zesty lemon shavings, and add a dash of vanilla. Mix until everything looks perfectly blended.

• Combine Dry Ingredients

Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Gently fold these dry ingredients into your creamy mixture, stirring just enough to marry the ingredients.

• Shape and Bake Cookies

Scoop small dollops of dough onto your prepared baking sheets, leaving some breathing room between each cookie. Slide the sheets into the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges look golden and delicate.

• Cool and Glaze

Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. While they chill, whip up a tangy glaze by mixing powdered sugar with lemon juice. Once cookies are completely cool, drizzle the glaze over top and let it set.

Tips To Add Flavor To Cookies

• Zesty Lemon Boost: Increase lemon flavor by adding an extra teaspoon of lemon zest to the dough for a more intense citrusy punch.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cookie dough in advance and refrigerate for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months for convenient baking anytime.
• Gluten-Free Option: Swap all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend to make these cookies suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
• Texture Perfection: Ensure butter and cream cheese are at room temperature for smoother mixing and a softer cookie texture.
• Glaze Creativity: Experiment with different citrus juices like orange or lime for unique flavor variations of the classic lemon glaze.

Serving Up Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies

• Zesty Tea Party Companion: Serve these cookies alongside a fresh lemon or Earl Grey tea for a delightful afternoon treat that complements the cookies' bright flavor profile.
• Fruity Dessert Platter: Create an elegant dessert spread by arranging these cookies with fresh berries, sliced peaches, or a light citrus sorbet to enhance the lemon notes.
• Brunch Showstopper: Present these cookies as a sweet finale to a weekend brunch, pairing them with a light yogurt parfait or fresh fruit salad for a delectable morning touch.
• Gift-Worthy Presentation: Pack these cookies in a clear cellophane bag tied with a pastel ribbon for a charming homemade gift that showcases their delicate lemon glaze and golden edges.

Storage Advice For Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies

• Refrigerator Storage Bliss: Seal cooled cookies in an airtight container, layering between parchment paper to prevent sticking. These treats stay fresh for 4-5 days when chilled.
• Freezer Magic: Wrap unglazed cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bags. Frozen cookies maintain delicious quality for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and add glaze after defrosting.
• Make-Ahead Brilliance: Prepare cookie dough in advance and refrigerate for 24 hours before baking. Chilled dough helps intensify lemon flavors and creates more uniform cookies.
• Glaze Genius: Prepare lemon glaze just before serving for maximum brightness. Store leftover glaze in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to one week, gently stirring before reusing.

Tangy Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies Recipe

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4.6 from 30 reviews

• Total Time: 27 minutes
• Yield: 25 1x

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Description

Zesty lemon cream cheese cookies deliver a perfect balance of tangy and sweet flavors. Delicate crumb and creamy glaze make these treats irresistible for anyone craving a delightful dessert experience.

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Ingredients

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• 2 ¼ cups (540 ml) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (240 ml) granulated sugar
• 12 tbsps fresh lemon juice
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup (240 ml) powdered sugar
• ½ cup (120 ml or 1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, softened
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp lemon zest
• ½ tsp lemon zest (optional)
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Calibrate oven to 350F (175C) and equip baking sheets with parchment paper for pristine cookie foundation.
2. Base Creation: Whip butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar into a voluminous, cloud-like mixture that promises delicate texture and rich flavor profile.
3. Flavor Infusion: Integrate egg, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract, blending until ingredients dance together in harmonious synchronization.
4. Structural Foundation: Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, ensuring uniform distribution of dry elements for consistent cookie performance.
5. Ingredient Fusion: Delicately merge wet and dry components with minimal mixing, preserving the cookies’ tender, ethereal crumb structure.
6. Baking Process: Form uniform dough spheres and arrange on prepared sheets, allowing strategic spacing for optimal expansion and golden-edge development.
7. Cooling and Finishing: Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges transform to gentle golden hues, then rest on sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack for complete cooling.
8. Glaze Artistry: Whisk powdered sugar and lemon juice into a luminous, silky glaze, optional zest adds vibrant citrus dimension.
9. Final Embellishment: Drizzle cooled cookies with zesty glaze, allowing it to set into a glossy, tantalizing finish that elevates the entire culinary experience.

Notes

• Master Lemon Zesting: Use a microplane or fine grater to extract only the bright yellow outer layer, avoiding the bitter white pith underneath for pure, intense citrus flavor.
• Prevent Overmixing: Stir dough just until ingredients combine to maintain a tender, soft cookie texture without developing tough gluten strands.
• Temperature Control: Ensure butter and cream cheese are room temperature for smooth, even blending that creates a perfectly creamy cookie base.
• Glaze Consistency Check: Add powdered sugar or lemon juice gradually to achieve a drizzle-friendly glaze that’s thick enough to coat but thin enough to flow smoothly over cookies.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 25
• Calories: 180
• Sugar: 14 g
• Sodium: 80 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 26 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg