Lemon Sugar Cookies

Want a dessert recipe that just screams SUMMER!? Lemon is the ingredient that can do that for you, and since these cookies contain lemon in both the batter AND the topping, well, they're screaming SUMMER! And with summer just a few short weeks away (yay!) I'm sure that's something we can all appreciate!

These cookies were gone before I knew it. I couldn't put them down (I have a serious control problem when it comes to sweets…especially warm, homemade, delicious sweets). Sugar cookies themselves are melt-in-your-mouth good since the main ingredient is butter, but adding lemon makes them bright and it gives them a fresh flavor. Perfect for summer! Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• Zest of one large lemon
• Juice of one large lemon, about 1 1/2 tbsp.

For sugar coating:

• 1/4 cup sugar
• Zest of one large lemon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat.

Cream together butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg and mix until well-combined.

Stir in flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla, lemon zest from one lemon and lemon juice. Allow to sit for about 3 minutes to allow lemon flavor to develop.

Scoop cookie dough by the tablespoon full and roll into a ball.

Make the sugar coating by combining sugar and zest in a large bowl.

Place each ball of cookie dough into the bowl of lemon sugar and roll to coat well. Place cookie dough onto baking sheet, spacing about 1½-inches to 2 inches apart. Lightly press each cookie down. 

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned.

Source: Adapted from Add a Pinch