Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies | Swanky Recipes (2024)

  • 84 Comments
  • Baking, Cookies, Desserts

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The BEST soft and chewy Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies with icing. You’ll want to bake these lemon citrus cookies this summer. Each bite is delicately crisp on the outside, soft, chewy, and cakelike inside.

Lemon desserts and sugar cookies are my two favorite types of desserts. This luscious cookie is packed with plenty of lemon flavor.Made from scratch, this quick and easy cookie is one of my most requested summer recipes. These cookies pair nicely with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream toppings.

If you are looking for a way to make the most out of your lemons this season, use fresh lemon juice in place of extract flavors. By doing this, the cookies will have a subtle floral flavor instead of tasting like regular sugar cookies with any artificial flavor. Along with the tart flavor, we also add lemon zest for texture and citrus notes.

I use fresh lemon juice and zest instead of extracts in my recipe. The cookies are very soft and moist. The technique I use is to roll the drop dough and bake it at 350°F for about 9-11 minutes or just until the edges turn brown. I recommend greasing a baking sheet or using a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to prevent spreading.

I list two ways to make these cookies. I have a homemade version that uses fresh ingredients like fresh lemons, and butter and I have an easier version to make a quick lemon cookie recipe. I prefer the homemade version because fresh lemons are amazing, but I’ve also made the cake mix cookie version when I just didn’t have all the ingredients and was short on time.

Lemon Cookie Ingredients

☑ LEMON: I used fresh lemon juice and zest instead of extracts to get the best flavor.

BUTTER: Adds flavor and moisture which results in a cookie chewy.

SUGAR: I use granulated sugar in my sugar cookie recipes. Using this sugar also helps sweeten the lemon juice so it’s not tart.

FLOUR: All-purpose flour.

EGG: Helps bind the ingredients.

How to Make Lemon Sugar Cookies

  1. Cream butter and sugar in a mixing bowl.
  2. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Roll 1-inch balls of cookie dough.
  4. Bake in 350°F oven for 9-11 minutes.
  5. Mix together water and powdered sugar. Drizzle the glaze over the cookies using a spoon.

Easier Lemon Cookies – Made with a Cake Mix

Looking to make these luscious lemon cookies but don’t have the time or all of the ingredients? These Lemon Sugar Cookies can be made an alternative way and come out just as good and mix up in half the time. Using pre-made boxed cake mix is a super simple way to bake desserts ranging from this Peach Cobbler Delight to this Strawberry Shortcake Muddy Buddy recipe. A box of lemon cake mix from your grocery store will yield delicious lemon sugar cookies in just a few easy steps.

Ingredients

  • Lemon Cake Mix, I like Pillsbury
  • 2 eggs
  • ⅓ cup vegetable oil

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 350°F.
  2. In a medium bowl, place all of the ingredients together.
  3. Using a spoon, fold ingredients together until dough forms and everything is well incorporated.
  4. Grease a cookie sheet and form 1 inch round balls and flatten slightly.
  5. In a small bowl, roll the top of the cookie in powdered sugar.
  6. Bake for 5-6 minutes, don’t allow to turn golden brown.
  7. Mix glaze together and drizzle over cooled cookies.
Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies | Swanky Recipes (4)

For more cookie recipes, try my Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies. These cookies bake up thick and chewy, with just the right about of lemon notes, and remind me of bakery-style cookies.

The ultimate soft and chewy lemon cookies are great for any occasion.You are not done with summer until you have baked a batch of these decadent and cheerful sunshine cookies. Simply add poppy seeds for extra flavor and texture.

Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies | Swanky Recipes (5)

Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies

Favorite Recipe

Soft and chewy lemon sugar cookies rolled in powdered sugar and drizzled with icing. Truly a lemon lovers’ dream dessert cookie.

5 from 5 votes

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Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 24 cookies

Calories 122 kcal

Ingredients

For the Cookies

  • 1/2 cup butter , softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 egg
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/8 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar for rolling

For the Glaze

  • 1 + 1/2 tablespoons water
  • 3/4 cup – 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

  • For the Lemon Cookie Dough

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in vanilla, egg, lemon zest, and lemon juice.

  • Slowly add flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Stir well to combine.

  • Use a cookie scoop or roll dough into 1 inch balls, then roll in powdered sugar. Place on lightly greased baking sheets.

  • Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes, or till set and crackly. After a couple minutes, remove to cooling racks to cool completely.

  • For the Glaze – Slowly add powdered sugar to water until a thick consistency forms. Drizzle over cookies.

Notes

These Lemon Sugar Cookies can be made an ALTERNATIVE WAY and come out just as good. We are talking about Lemon Cake Mix, the pre-made kind. Yep, that’s right, the cake mix found in your grocery store. Follow these simple steps to get started.
Ingredients
Lemon Cake Mix, I like Pillsbury
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
Directions
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, place all of the ingredients together. Using a spoon, fold ingredients together until dough forms and everything is well incorporated.
Grease a cookie sheet and form 1 inch round balls and flatten slightly. In a small bowl, roll the top of the cookie in powdered sugar. Bake for 5-6 minutes, don’t allow to turn golden brown. Remove from oven and cool. Follow the recipe below to glaze these cookies.

Nutrition

Calories: 122kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 68mgPotassium: 19mgFiber: 1gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 128IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional information is only an estimate and it’s accuracy is not guaranteed to be exact.

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updated 6/2021

84 Responses

  1. Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies | Swanky Recipes (6)
    I make these every holiday and it is my most popular cookie (and I make a bunch of cookies). They are the most fought after as well. This recipe is amazing. I do add some lemon extract to the cookie and the frosting because we LOVE lemon! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  2. I make these every year! They are the most requested cookie that I make when making my yearly holiday cookies for friends and family. I make a lot but everyone wants these! My family and friends all love them. This is a MUST make recipe. Thank you for sharing it!

    Reply

  3. Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies | Swanky Recipes (7)
    Can these be made with orange cake mix and orange glaze?

    Reply

    1. Sure, sounds delish!

      Reply

  4. Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies | Swanky Recipes (8)
    EVERYONE loves these. If you like lemon, you must add to your list. They are easy to make (from scratch).

    Reply

  5. These look amazing! Can you make these ahead of time, freeze them, and then let them thaw before adding the glaze?

    Reply

    1. Yes, that works!

      Reply

  6. Do you sift the powered sugar before measuring it? Most recipes call for doing that.

    Reply

    1. No, I just spooned it in for this recipe. However, if yours is really lumpy, go ahead and sift it.

      Reply

  7. Can the lemon cookies be mailed?

    Reply

    1. Yes! Just be sure to stack them between parchment paper and paper towel for any extra space.

      Reply

  8. Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies | Swanky Recipes (9)
    These turned out wonderful. I used extra lemon juice to make the glaze instead of water, they are so good!

    Reply

  9. Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies | Swanky Recipes (10)
    Gorgeous pictures. I made these glazed lemon sugar cookies for the super bowl party and it was a crowd favorite. I’m also gonna pin this post on my Pinterest board my followers will love it. Thanks for sharing, Laura!

    Reply

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Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies | Swanky Recipes (11)

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Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies | Swanky Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is lemon glaze made of? ›

Lemon glaze requires only two ingredients: powdered sugar and lemon juice. Some recipes call for milk, but such a small amount of milk dilutes the lemony punch without adding much in return.

What ingredient makes a cookie chewy? ›

Cornstarch gives the cookies that ultra soft consistency we all love. Plus, it helps keep the cookies beautifully thick. We use the same trick when making shortbread cookies. Egg yolk: Another way to promise a super chewy chocolate chip cookie is to use an extra egg yolk.

What happens when you put too much sugar in cookies? ›

Excess Sugar and Fat

If your cookie contains excess sugar or fat, it will spread while baking. If your first batch of cookies spreads, try adding a few tablespoons of flour to help thicken the remaining dough.

How to make Betty Crocker sugar cookies taste better? ›

Easy Add-In: After creating the dough according to the sugar cookie mix instructions, Add 2 tablespoons of sour cream to create a tangier, cakier and all-around more flavorful cookie. Flavor Twist: For a punchier twist, swap the water in the sugar cookie mix instructions for rum, bourbon or coffee liqueur.

What are the 3 basic ingredients in glaze? ›

A BASE GLAZE is a mixture of these three basic groups: SILICA, FLUX AND ALUMINA.

What are the three basic ingredients in a glaze What does each ingredient do? ›

Glazes need a balance of the 3 main ingredients: Silica, Alumina and Flux. Too much flux causes a glaze to run, and tends to create variable texture on the surface. The texture may vary from shiny, where the glass is balanced, to matte where the excessive flux oxides may form visible, possibly lumpy, crystals.

What is the secret ingredient to keep cookies soft? ›

Light corn syrup is another ingredient that you can add to cookie dough that will help it stay softer longer. The corn syrup you buy at the grocery store is not the high-fructose corn syrup that soft drinks are made with; it's a sugar that is liquid at room temperature and helps other sugars say liquid at high heat.

What is the secret to making cookies soft and chewy? ›

How To Make Cookies Chewy Without Cornstarch
  1. Go heavy on brown sugar. It has more moisture than its granulated counterpart, which means the cookie comes out less crispy. ...
  2. Choose margarine or shortening instead of butter. ...
  3. Use baking powder instead of baking soda. ...
  4. Rest your dough. ...
  5. Shorten baking time.
May 14, 2023

Which is better, baking soda or baking powder? ›

When to use which one. Baking soda is used in recipes that also include an acidic ingredient, such as cream of tartar, buttermilk, or citrus juice. Conversely, baking powder is typically used when the recipe doesn't feature an acidic ingredient, as the powder already includes the acid needed to produce carbon dioxide.

What does brown sugar do for cookies? ›

Brown sugar

Brown sugar is also hygroscopic (more so than granulated sugar) and will therefore also attract and absorb the liquid in the dough. The difference is in the molasses that makes brown sugar brown: It adds moisture and slight acidity, resulting in a moist and chewy texture.

What does vanilla do in cookies? ›

Vanilla does offer more than just a bit of floral flavor. Sometimes it's a flavor enhancer and sometimes it's a flavor balancer. But to be honest, unless it's a vanilla cookie, it's not a true dealbreaker. Especially if you're making cookies that have lots of other flavors going on, like coconut or dark chocolate.

Why is my Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix so dry? ›

You may not have used enough water, margarine or egg. Be sure to measure ingredients carefully.

What to add to sugar cookie mix to make it better? ›

Almond Extract: For a twist on the traditional sugar cookie flavor, try adding a small amount of almond extract. Start with 1/2 teaspoon and adjust according to your preference. Citrus Zest: Incorporate the zest of citrus fruits like lemon, orange, or lime into the dough. The zest adds a bright and refreshing flavor.

How to jazz up sugar cookies? ›

Take plain sugar cookies up a notch with exciting mix-ins like chocolate chips, rainbow sprinkles, toasted chopped nuts, chopped dried fruit or M&M's. Add these after blending your butter and egg into the sugar cookie mix.

What is the main ingredient in glaze? ›

Glaze: there are more than 3 basic components in glaze, these are: silica, alumina, flux, colourants and modifiers. The common ingredients in glaze colours are, “ copper oxide", “copper carbonate", “cobalt oxide" and “ iron oxide.”

What is glaze and what is it made of? ›

Glazes consist of silica, fluxes and aluminum oxide. Silica is the structural material for the glaze and if you heat it high enough it can turn to glass. Its melting temperature is too high for ceramic kilns, so silica is combined with fluxes, substances that prevent oxidation, to lower the melting point.

What is the most common ingredient in glaze? ›

Silica (or industrial sand) is the key ingredient in glass, raw clay, and ceramic glazes. Silica can be obtained naturally from quartz, sandstone, sand, or flint, or it can be manufactured as silica oxide. When making your own glazes, products like quartz, flint, and pure silica can be added as the glass-former.

What's the difference between frosting and glazing? ›

Frosting typically has a butter or cream cheese base, while icing and glaze are made from powdered sugar and water, juice, or milk. So if the taste is fattier or creamier, it's probably frosting.

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