Description
These Christmas Soft Lemon Cookies are delightfully tender and bursting with zesty lemon flavor, perfect for celebrating the holiday season. With a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture and a subtle citrus tang, they’re a festive treat that stays fresh for days and can be dressed up with powdered sugar or colorful sprinkles for extra holiday cheer.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 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
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Optional Toppings
- Powdered sugar for rolling or dusting
- Festive sprinkles or colored sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: 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 a mixer to cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color.
- Add Eggs and Flavorings: Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then add the lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined to infuse the dough with bright citrus and vanilla flavors.
- 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 salt.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently and just until the dough comes together to avoid overmixing, which could toughen the cookies.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to make it easier to handle and to help the cookies maintain their shape while baking.
- Shape the Cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll each into a ball. Roll the balls in powdered sugar or festive sprinkles if desired for added sweetness and holiday flair.
- Arrange and Bake: Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart to allow space for spreading. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cookie edges are set but the centers remain slightly underbaked for a soft texture.
- Cool the Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- These cookies stay soft for several days, making them ideal for holiday gifting and batch baking.
- For an extra lemony touch, drizzle a simple lemon glaze made by mixing powdered sugar with lemon juice over the cooled cookies.
- Use fresh lemon juice and zest for the brightest citrus flavor.
- To keep cookies fresh longer, store in an airtight container at room temperature.
