Description
These Christmas Soft Lemon Cookies are delightfully tender and bursting with fresh lemon flavor, perfect for holiday celebrations or any time you crave a zesty, soft treat. With a subtle sweetness and a dusting of powdered sugar, these cookies offer a refreshing twist on traditional holiday baked goods.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 2 tsp grated lemon zest (from fresh lemons)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For Finishing
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to ensure even distribution of the leavening agents and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy; this creates air pockets for a soft texture.
- Add Eggs: Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition to fully incorporate them and add moisture to the dough.
- Add Lemon and Vanilla: Stir in the freshly squeezed lemon juice, grated lemon zest, and vanilla extract, ensuring all flavors blend uniformly into the batter.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough cookies.
- Portion Dough: Drop rounded spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow the cookies to spread during baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden, signaling that the cookies are cooked through but still soft.
- Cool and Dust: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, dust generously with powdered sugar for a festive finish.
Notes
- For extra lemon flavor, you can add an additional teaspoon of lemon zest.
- Make sure butter is softened, not melted, to achieve the best cookie texture.
- Do not overmix the dough once the dry ingredients are added to keep the cookies tender.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- These cookies can be frozen either as dough balls or baked cookies for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
