Description

These Christmas Soft Lemon Cookies offer a delightful combination of zesty lemon flavor and a tender, soft texture. Perfectly sweetened and lightly dusted with powdered sugar, they make a festive treat ideal for holiday gatherings or anytime you want a refreshing citrus cookie.

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Wet Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
2 tsp grated lemon zest (from fresh lemons)
1 tsp vanilla extract

Finishing

Powdered sugar, for dusting

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat Oven and Prepare Sheets: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, ensuring an even distribution of leavening agents and seasoning.
Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale in color.
Add Eggs: Incorporate the eggs one at a time into the creamed butter and sugar, beating thoroughly after each to ensure a smooth and emulsified batter.
Add Lemon and Vanilla: Stir in the freshly squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until evenly combined to infuse the dough with bright, aromatic flavors.
Combine Dry and Wet Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing, which can toughen the cookies.
Shape Cookies: Drop rounded spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges turn lightly golden, signaling perfect doneness while maintaining softness.
Cool and Finish: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, dust generously with powdered sugar for a festive touch.

Notes

Use freshly squeezed lemon juice and fresh lemon zest for the best bright and natural lemon flavor.
Do not overmix the cookie dough after adding the dry ingredients to keep the cookies soft and tender.
Butter should be softened (not melted) to achieve the ideal creaming texture.
Space cookies evenly on the baking sheet to prevent merging while baking.
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness.