Sugared Lemon Cookies: A Delightful Treat for Any Occasion
Cook Time: 2 hours | Prep Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Yield: 50 cookies
Category: Dessert
Keywords: cookie & brownie, lemon, citrus, fruit, Pennsylvania Dutch, toddler-friendly, kid-friendly, sweet, brunch, oven, under 4 hours, inexpensive
These Sugared Lemon Cookies are a perfect balance of light, refreshing citrus flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture. With their delicate nature, these cookies make an excellent addition to any afternoon tea or casual brunch gathering. A little bit of lemon zest and juice adds a wonderfully bright, tangy flavor to these treats, while a dusting of confectioner’s sugar brings just the right amount of sweetness. Ideal for toddlers and kids, these cookies are simple to make, yet their subtle flavor profile is a real crowd-pleaser.
Whether you’re preparing them for a special occasion or as a weekday treat, these cookies are sure to become a household favorite. Here’s how you can make them!
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Butter | 1/3 cup |
| Granulated Sugar | 1/2 cup |
| Lemon (zest of) | 1 lemon |
| Egg | 1 large |
| Lemon Juice | 1 tbsp |
| All-Purpose Flour | 4 cups |
| Baking Powder | 3 tsp |
| Milk | 1 tbsp |
| Confectioners’ Sugar (for dusting) | As needed |
Nutritional Information (per cookie):
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 47.9 kcal |
| Fat | 1.4 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.8 g |
| Cholesterol | 7.5 mg |
| Sodium | 17.7 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 7.9 g |
| Fiber | 0.2 g |
| Sugar | 2.1 g |
| Protein | 0.9 g |
Instructions:
-
Preheat the Oven:
Begin by preheating your oven to 325°F (165°C). This ensures that your oven is at the right temperature for baking the cookies. -
Prepare Cookie Sheets:
Lightly grease several cookie sheets to ensure that your cookies won’t stick during baking. You can use a small amount of butter or non-stick spray for this step. -
Cream the Butter and Sugar:
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Use an electric mixer or a hand whisk to beat the mixture until it becomes pale and fluffy. This step is essential to getting a light texture for your cookies. -
Add the Lemon Zest and Egg:
To the creamed butter and sugar mixture, add the zest of one lemon. The zest will infuse the cookies with a fresh lemon fragrance. Then, beat in the egg until well incorporated. You can add the egg a little at a time to ensure it blends smoothly. -
Incorporate Lemon Juice:
Pour in the lemon juice and continue mixing. The combination of zest and juice will give the cookies a lively lemon flavor that is not too overpowering but pleasantly tangy. -
Mix the Dry Ingredients:
Sift the all-purpose flour and baking powder together into the bowl with the creamed mixture. This step will help prevent lumps and ensure that the baking powder is evenly distributed, which is key for the cookies’ lightness. -
Add Milk:
Pour in the milk and stir it in to form a soft dough. The dough should come together easily without being too sticky. If it feels too sticky, add a bit more flour, one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches the right consistency. -
Divide and Shape the Dough:
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into five equal pieces. Take one piece at a time and roll it into a tube shape, then twist the tube into an “S” shape. This is a classic shape for these cookies, but you can get creative if you prefer different shapes. -
Arrange the Cookies on the Baking Sheets:
Place each shaped cookie onto the prepared cookie sheets. Leave about 2 inches of space between each cookie to allow for spreading during baking. -
Bake the Cookies:
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until they are lightly golden around the edges. Keep an eye on them towards the end of the baking time to prevent over-baking. -
Cool the Cookies:
Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack. This will help them firm up and ensure that they don’t break when you handle them. -
Dust with Confectioners’ Sugar:
After the cookies have cooled, heavily dust them with confectioners’ sugar. This step not only adds sweetness but also gives the cookies a beautiful, snowy finish that makes them look extra inviting.
Tips for Success:
- Chill the Dough: If you find the dough a bit too soft to shape, you can chill it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before shaping. This will make it easier to handle.
- Make Ahead: These cookies can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container for up to a week. The flavor will even improve as they rest, making them perfect for preparing in advance for a party or gathering.
- Customization: You can easily add a twist to this recipe by incorporating a little vanilla extract or even a dash of almond extract for an additional layer of flavor.
These Sugared Lemon Cookies are a true delight. With their crisp exterior and soft, buttery interior, they’ll melt in your mouth with every bite. Whether you’re making them for a family treat, a holiday gathering, or as a special addition to your next brunch, these cookies are sure to be a hit.
Perfect for those with a sweet tooth or anyone who enjoys the refreshing taste of lemon, these cookies pair wonderfully with a hot cup of tea or coffee. They’re easy to make and are an excellent option for introducing young bakers to the joys of the kitchen, thanks to their simple ingredients and straightforward method.
Enjoy these cookies fresh out of the oven or after they’ve cooled down and dusted with confectioners’ sugar. Either way, you’ll be in for a mouthwatering treat that’s both comforting and refreshing!
