Soft Lemon Crinkle Cookies
Soft lemon crinkle cookies are chewy, zesty treats with a delicate crinkled sugar coating and a pillowy interior, perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups (310g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar, plus extra for rolling
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- Zest of 2 medium lemons (about 2 tablespoons)
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup powdered sugar (optional but recommended for crinkle effect)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next. Mix in vanilla extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Cover the dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes (optional but recommended).
- In a small bowl, mix powdered sugar and granulated sugar. Form 1 ½ tablespoon-sized balls of dough and roll each thoroughly in the sugar mixture.
- Place dough balls about 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set but centers look soft.
- Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to finish setting.
Notes
Chilling the dough helps prevent spreading and enhances lemon flavor. Avoid overbaking to keep cookies soft. Use fresh lemon zest for best flavor. Rolling dough balls in powdered sugar mixed with granulated sugar creates the signature crinkle effect.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 15
Keywords: lemon cookies, soft cookies, crinkle cookies, lemon crinkle cookies, easy lemon cookies, homemade cookies, zesty cookies