Description
These Christmas Soft Lemon Cookies combine a tender, buttery texture with bright lemon zest and juice for a festive and delightful holiday treat. Soft and slightly chewy, they’re perfectly sweetened and optionally coated with powdered sugar or colorful sprinkles, making them a charming addition to any cookie platter or gift box.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Optional
- Powdered sugar for rolling or dusting
- Festive sprinkles or colored sugar
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a soft texture.
- Add Eggs and Flavorings: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the fresh lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until fully blended, infusing the dough with bright citrus flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and seasoning.
- Mix Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring just until combined to maintain the soft texture without overmixing.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. This step makes the dough easier to handle and helps the cookies hold their shape during baking.
- Form Cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll each into a ball. If desired, roll the dough balls in powdered sugar or festive sprinkles to add a decorative and sweet coating.
- Arrange on Baking Sheets: Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges appear set but the centers are still slightly underbaked for a soft texture.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- These cookies remain soft for several days when stored in an airtight container, making them perfect for holiday gifting.
- For added sweetness and citrus flavor, drizzle a simple lemon glaze over cooled cookies by mixing powdered sugar with fresh lemon juice.
- You can customize the look of these cookies with festive sprinkles to match any holiday decor.
