Soft Lemon Sugar Cookies with Zesty Glaze
These soft lemon sugar cookies are easy to make with just five ingredients and topped with a tangy lemon glaze. They offer a perfect balance of buttery sweetness and bright citrus flavor, ideal for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-14 minutes
- Total Time: 22-24 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 ¾ cups (345 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Zest of 1 large lemon
- 1 cup (120 grams) powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until fluffy and pale, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the large egg and beat until fully incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking powder.
- Stir in the lemon zest with the dry ingredients.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed or folding with a spatula until combined.
- Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, drop rounded balls of dough onto the baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes until edges are just set but centers remain soft.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and fresh lemon juice until smooth and pourable to make the glaze.
- Once cookies are completely cool, drizzle the glaze over each cookie and let it set before serving.
Notes
Do not skip the cooling step before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting off. If dough is sticky, chill for 15 minutes before scooping. Avoid zesting the white pith of the lemon to prevent bitterness. Use room temperature eggs for better dough texture. For gluten-free, substitute almond flour or gluten-free blend. For dairy-free, use coconut oil and dairy-free powdered sugar.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 60
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 17
- Fiber: 0.3
- Protein: 2
Keywords: lemon sugar cookies, soft cookies, lemon glaze, easy cookies, 5 ingredient cookies, lemon dessert, quick cookies