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Soft & Chewy Lemon Cookies Recipe

★★★★★

4.5 from 139 reviews
  • Author: Rafael
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes (including chilling time)
  • Yield: Approximately 24-30 cookies 1x

Description

These Soft & Chewy Lemon Cookies are bursting with bright lemon flavor and have a delightful tender texture. Perfectly balanced with a hint of sweetness and zingy lemon zest, these cookies are soft, chewy, and irresistibly delicious. The lemon juice reacts with baking soda to provide a light, airy crumb, while rolling the dough balls in granulated sugar gives a sparkling, sweet crust. Ideal for lemon lovers seeking a refreshing and comforting treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

  • 12 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
  • 2 tsp lemon extract (or 1 tsp each lemon and vanilla extract)
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice

Dry Ingredients

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

For Rolling and Garnishing

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • Additional lemon zest (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Butter and Sugar: Beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and lemon zest in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for about 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure even mixing. Rubbing the lemon zest and sugar together between your fingertips beforehand helps release more lemon oils for added flavor.
  2. Add Eggs and Extracts: Mix in the large egg, egg yolk, and lemon extract (or lemon and vanilla extracts) until fully incorporated and smooth.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a mound, add the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda on top.
  4. Activate the Baking Soda: Pour the lemon juice over the baking soda; it will foam, indicating that the baking soda is activated, which helps in leavening the cookies.
  5. Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gently mix just until the dough comes together. Avoid overmixing to maintain softness and chewiness.
  6. Shape the Dough: Either refrigerate the dough as a whole or scoop and roll it into balls approximately 1 ½ to 2 tablespoons each for even baking.
  7. Refrigerate: Chill the dough or the dough balls in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to firm up and enhance flavor.
  8. Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 325°F (163°C) to prepare for baking.
  9. Roll in Sugar: Pour ¼ cup granulated sugar into a bowl and roll each dough ball until coated evenly for a sweet and sparkly crust.
  10. Prepare Baking Sheets: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. Place about 6-8 cookies per sheet, spaced evenly to allow spreading.
  11. Bake: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes. Do not overbake—they should be soft and chewy when done.
  12. Shape Cookies When Warm: Immediately after removing from the oven, swirl a cup around each cookie while still warm to create perfect round shapes.
  13. Cool Cookies: Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. They will look puffy initially but will settle as they cool.
  14. Garnish: Sprinkle additional granulated sugar and lemon zest on top of the cooled cookies for an extra sparkle and burst of citrus aroma.

Notes

  • For maximum lemon flavor, use fresh lemon zest and juice.
  • Do not overmix the dough to keep cookies soft and tender.
  • Chilling the dough enhances flavor and helps prevent spreading during baking.
  • Rolling in sugar before baking adds a pleasing texture and slight crunch to cookie exteriors.
  • Use parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
  • Cookies will appear puffy right out of the oven but will settle as they cool.
  • Store cooled cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10-12 minutes per batch
  • Category: Dessert, Snack, Cookies
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: lemon cookies, soft lemon cookies, chewy lemon cookies, citrus cookies, lemon dessert, homemade cookies

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Find it online: https://tastewithrafael.com/soft-and-chewy-lemon-cookies-recipe/