Description

Soft lemon crinkle cookies are tender, melt-in-your-mouth treats with a crackly powdered sugar crust and a bright lemon flavor. Perfect for gift-giving, afternoon tea, or a quick sweet fix.

Ingredients

Scale

2 ¼ cups (280g) all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
2 tablespoons lemon zest (from about 2 lemons)
2 tablespoons (30ml) lemon juice
½ cup (60g) powdered sugar (for rolling)

Instructions

Zest lemons and juice them; set aside.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
In a large bowl, cream softened butter and granulated sugar with a hand or stand mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
Beat in the egg until fully combined, then add lemon zest and lemon juice and mix until just incorporated.
Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed or stirring with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, up to 24 hours.
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Use a cookie scoop or spoon to form 1-tablespoon-sized dough balls. Roll each ball generously in powdered sugar until fully coated.
Place coated dough balls about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set but centers look slightly soft. Cookies will firm as they cool.
Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes to help cookies keep their shape and develop flavor. Use fresh lemon zest and juice for best brightness. Roll dough balls generously in powdered sugar right before baking for the signature crackle. Do not overbake; cookies should look soft in the center when removed from oven. Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days or freeze baked cookies. Dough can also be frozen and baked from frozen with a couple extra minutes added to bake time.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 110
Sugar: 8
Sodium: 55
Fat: 4.5
Saturated Fat: 2.7
Carbohydrates: 16
Fiber: 0.3
Protein: 1.3

Keywords: lemon cookies, soft cookies, crinkle cookies, lemon crinkle cookies, easy lemon cookies, homemade treats, powdered sugar cookies