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Soft & Chewy Lemon Cookies Recipe

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4.8 from 67 reviews

These Soft & Chewy Lemon Cookies are a delightful treat bursting with bright lemon flavor. Made with lemon zest, lemon juice, and lemon extract, these cookies offer a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness with a soft, chewy texture that melts in your mouth. The recipe is simple and designed to deliver a fresh, citrusy cookie ideal for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

  • 12 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tsp lemon extract (or 1 tsp each lemon and vanilla extract)

Dry Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest

For Rolling and Garnishing

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking once your cookie dough is prepared.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with 1 ½ cups granulated sugar and lemon zest until light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the dough.
  3. Add Eggs and Extracts: Mix in the large egg and egg yolk, then add lemon extract and lemon juice. Beat until combined, ensuring the lemon flavor is distributed evenly.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and seasoning.
  5. Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing and to retain cookie softness.
  6. Shape and Sugar Coat Cookies: Scoop dough using a cookie scoop or spoon, then roll each ball into the ¼ cup granulated sugar until coated. Place the cookies 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  7. Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly golden but centers remain soft. Avoid overbaking to maintain chewy texture.
  8. Cool: Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • Room temperature eggs help achieve a smoother dough texture.
  • Using lemon extract enhances the lemon flavor without adding extra liquid.
  • Do not overbake cookies to keep them soft and chewy.
  • You can substitute cornstarch with potato starch if necessary.
  • Rolling the cookies in sugar before baking adds a delicate crunch and sparkle.