Description
Lemon Crinkle Cookies are soft, tangy, and bursting with citrus flavor. With a slightly crisp exterior and a chewy center, these cookies are rolled in a sweet powdered sugar coating that gives them their signature crinkle effect. Perfect for any lemon lover, these cookies offer a refreshing treat!
Ingredients
Scale
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- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (Note: double the amount if you want a more detectable lemon flavor. For a bold lemon taste, consider adding lemon extract instead of more lemon juice to avoid cookies spreading too much.)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5–8 drops yellow food coloring (optional)
For rolling:
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- ¼ cup sugar
- ¾ cup powdered sugar (also known as icing sugar or confectioners sugar)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add egg and flavorings: Beat in the egg, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. If using yellow food coloring, add it to the mixture and blend well.
- Combine with dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined. The dough will be thick and sticky.
- Roll the dough: In a small bowl, mix together the ¼ cup of sugar and the powdered sugar. Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls. Then, roll each ball first in the regular sugar and then in the powdered sugar, ensuring the dough is generously coated.
- Bake: Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the cookies have spread and are set around the edges but still soft in the center.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For a more intense lemon flavor, you can add ½ to 1 teaspoon of lemon extract to the dough.
- These cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.
- If you prefer a less bold lemon flavor, adjust the lemon juice as suggested.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Lemon crinkle cookies, lemon cookies, crinkle cookies, citrus cookies, soft cookies