Description
These Lemon Crinkle Cookies are delightful, soft, and chewy treats bursting with fresh lemon flavor. Coated in a mixture of granulated and powdered sugar, they form a beautiful crinkled top as they bake to perfection, offering a zesty and sweet bite perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (double for stronger flavor)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5-8 drops yellow food coloring (optional)
Coating
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¾ cup powdered sugar (icing or confectioners’ sugar)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prepare for baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set this mixture aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring good aeration for soft cookies.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until the batter is smooth and well combined.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. If you choose to use yellow food coloring, add it now and mix evenly for a bright yellow hue.
- Form Dough Balls: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, then roll each ball in a mixture of granulated sugar and powdered sugar to thoroughly coat each cookie.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them approximately 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake Cookies: Bake for 8-10 minutes until the cookies develop a crinkled top and are just set, with slightly golden edges indicating readiness.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, which helps set their texture.
- Serve and Enjoy: Enjoy these sweet, zesty lemon crinkle cookies as a delightful treat.
Notes
- For a stronger lemon flavor, you can double the lemon juice or add lemon extract instead of more juice to prevent excessive spreading.
- If using food coloring, add gradually to achieve the desired yellow shade without affecting flavor.
- Spacing cookies about 2 inches apart is important to allow for proper spreading during baking.
- Use parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- These cookies store well in an airtight container for up to one week.
