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Home / By Course / Desserts / Cookie Recipes / Old Fashioned Lemon Sugar Cookies

Old Fashioned Lemon Sugar Cookies

October 26, 2023

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close up shot of Lemon Sugar Cookies stacked on top of each other on a cooling rack
These are the most delicious, soft, and flavorful lemon sugar cookies you could hope to bake!
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Table of Contents
  1. Old Fashioned Lemon Sugar Cookies Ingredients
  2. Substitutions And Additions
  3. How To Make Old Fashioned Lemon Sugar Cookies
  4. How To Serve Lemon Sugar Cookies
  5. Lemon Sugar Cookie Storage
  6. You’ll Love This Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe
  7. Lemon Sugar Cookie Recipe FAQ
  8. More Recipes You’ll Love
  9. JUMP TO RECIPE
  10. Even More Easy Recipes

Delicious and easy to make, this lemon sugar cookies recipe is baked from scratch to create a unique flavor. Our family is crazy about this old-fashioned classic recipe and thinks the soft and chewy texture with slightly crispy edges is hard to beat. 

close up shot of Lemon Sugar Cookies stacked on top of each other

Old Fashioned Lemon Sugar Cookies Ingredients

Lemon Sugar Cookies raw ingredients that are labeled
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Lemon sugar cookies are undeniably one of the most delicious cookies out there. The combination of citrusy lemons and sweet sugar creates a flavor explosion in your mouth.

With every bite, you’ll find yourself transported to a sunny day, feeling refreshed. The texture is just as perfect as the flavor – soft and chewy with a slight crunch from the sugar on the outside

You’ll need:

  • 2¾ cups of all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon of baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon of salt
  • 1 cup of butter, softened
  • 2 ounces of cream cheese, softened
  • 1½ cups of sugar, divided into 1¼ cups and ¼ cup
  • 1½ teaspoons of vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
  • zest from 1 lemon
  • 1 egg

Substitutions And Additions

CITRUS: You could replace the flavor of lemon in this lemon sugar cookie recipe with other citrus flavors such as orange or lime. Just substitute orange or lime juice and orange or lime zest for the lemon equivalents.

How To Make Old Fashioned Lemon Sugar Cookies

Whip up the easy cookie dough for these cookies in no time before baking and digging in. Here’s how.

STEP ONE: Start by whisking together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. 

STEP TWO: In a large bowl with a hand mixer on medium speed, beat together the butter, cream cheese, and 1¼ cups sugar until it’s smooth and creamy. It should take about 1 to 2 minutes.

butter, cream cheese, and sugar blended together in a bowl

STEP THREE: Once mixed, you’ll add vanilla, lemon juice, and fresh lemon zest, and then beat in one egg. 

STEP FOUR: Slowly add your flour mixture to the butter mixture, just a little at a time, until just combined. 

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

Do not over mix the batter. Over mixing can result in crumbly cookies.

flour added to the cream cheese mixture in a bowl

STEP FIVE: Wrap the bowl with the plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour. 

PRO TIP:

Do not skip the chilling step, this is important to get the best texture for these delicious cookies.

STEP SIX: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. 

STEP SEVEN: Scoop dough into balls and roll dough in sugar until coated all over.

PRO TIP:

You can use your hands to roll the dough into balls, but a cookie dough scoop will keep your hands clean and help to form the balls into a uniform size.

scoops of sugar cookie dough dipped into a bowl of sugar

STEP EIGHT: Bake the lemon sugar cookies for 10 minutes, until the edges just start to brown. 

scoops of cookie dough placed on a baking sheet then baked

STEP NINE: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for five minutes, and then move them to a wire rack to finish cooling. 

How To Serve Lemon Sugar Cookies

Serve these chewy lemon cookies for a delicious snack. They also make excellent treats for friends, and coworkers, to take to a playdate, or bake sale. I’m sure they’ll disappear quickly, so you might want to make a double batch of these cookies. Or triple!

If you want a more decadent treat, try sandwiching the cookies with a layer of indulgent frosting. Cream cheese frosting, vanilla buttercream, or even lemon curd would all work deliciously.

These chewy lemon sugar cookies are always a hit on cookie trays or for family gatherings. For all those lemon lovers, you have to try our other luscious lemon desserts, such as our lemon lasagna, or the crowd favorite, lemon cheesecake bars.

MORE COOKIE RECIPES

Make a double batch of these citrusy cookies and pop them in the fridge for a treat later. Here’s how to store them.

ON THE COUNTER: Once the cookies are completely cooled, you can place them on a plate and then wrap them tightly with plastic wrap.

IN THE FREEZER: Once the cookies are completely cooled, wrap your cookies in plastic wrap and then place them inside a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. This lemon cookie recipe will last for up to three months in the freezer if properly stored.

overhead shot of Lemon Sugar Cookies on a cooling rack with slices of lemon

You’ll Love This Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe

The bright flavors of these lemon sugar cookies make for the perfect summertime cookie or treat for family and friends. Everyone will be asking for this perfect cookie recipe to make for themselves!

Can I use bottled lemon juice instead of real lemon?

Real lemon will give you a fresh lemon flavor, but you can use bottled lemon juice instead in these lemony cookies.

Can I substitute lemon extract for lemon juice in this citrus sugar cookies recipe?

Yes, you can substitute lemon extract for lemon juice. Since the lemon extract is far more concentrated than lemon juice, you will only need a couple of drops of the extract to replace the lemon juice.

Can I freeze these chewy lemon cookies?

You can freeze these cookies stored in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

What makes the cookies light and airy?

Both the addition of baking soda to your ingredients and refrigerating the dough will result in light and airy cookies.

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close up shot of Lemon Sugar Cookies stacked on top of each other on a cooling rack

Lemon Cookie Recipe

5 from 26 votes
These are the most delicious, soft, and flavorful lemon sugar cookies you could hope to bake!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 24
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Ingredients
  

  • 2¾ cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1½ cups sugar, divided into 1¼ cups and ¼ cup
  • 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 lemon zest
  • 1 egg

Instructions
 

  • Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
  • In a large bowl, beat butter, cream cheese, and 1¼ cups sugar until smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Mix in vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
  • Beat in the egg.
  • Slowly add flour mixture, mixing in a little at a time, until just combined.
  • Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Scoop sugar cookie dough into balls and roll in sugar until coated all over.
  • Bake cookies for 10 minutes, until the edges just start to brown.
  • Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes and move to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Video

Notes

  • Do not over mix the batter. Over mixing can result in crumbly cookies.
  • Do not skip the chilling step, this is important to get the best texture for these delicious cookies.
  • You can use your hands to roll the dough into balls, but a cookie dough scoop will keep your hands clean and help to form the balls into a uniform size.

Nutrition

Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 179mg | Potassium: 29mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 278IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg
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This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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    Comments

  2. Jenny says

    I love lemon desserts and sugar cookies and this combination sounds heavenly. Pinning & sharing. Thanks for partying at Merry Monday!

    Reply

  3. Toni Ayne Thomason says

    5 stars
    Absolutley delicious. I cannot get enough of these. Prepare to make several batches. They will not last long.

    Reply

  4. Lori says

    5 stars
    I really, really liked them! The video and written measurements are different so I used the written and hoped for the best. Didn’t disappoint!

    Reply

  5. Lauri says

    Looks great ..but 2 sticks of butter is way too much for my family ..I know “butter makes it better” ..but ..may try cutting recipe in.half.

    Reply

  6. Shandi says

    5 stars
    I made these once a loved them! Made them again last night but doubled the recipe. Was that my undoing? This batch turned out completely different. Taste was still great but they were not fluffy at all.

    Reply

  8. Kate says

    I made these tonight and they totally melted and spread into more of a giant flatbread than individual cookies….I followed the instructions exactly (with the exception of cooling them for about 2 hours instead of 1), so I’m puzzled about why this happened. Any ideas? Otherwise, the flatbread tasted great!

    Reply

  10. Jennifer A Beeson says

    I made these out of boredom and for what I had on hand during the current pandemic. They are amazing! Light and fluffy, I rolled them in pastel colored sugar for since it’s spring. The coarse sugar gave them a great coating. Definitely cheered my family up!

    Reply

  12. Shelly says

    5 stars
    The dough is so fabulous and not at all sweet before adding the rolled sugar, so you can control the amount you roll on before baking. I needed to add orange 🍊 peel seasoning To my mix bc I didn’t have very flavorful lemons in our yard.

    Reply

  14. Priscilla says

    5 stars
    These are the best cookies I have ever tasted. There are so many possibilities, I added some sesame seeds to a few, then I added some chia seeds (to cut the guilt) and then on half of the cookie I dipped in chocolate…it was all good!!

    Reply

  15. Cindy says

    Sounds great,my husband and I like having a lemon cookie with our evening tea ,these looks great. I have to use gluten free flour I’m gluten free and soy free not by my wanting to be I have stomach allergies thx

    Reply

    • Layne Kangas says

      I believe you could, but I haven’t done it personally so I cannot tell you an exact amount. The typical rule of thumb is to use about 3/4 the amount of oil as the recipe calls for butter. Good luck!

      Reply

  20. Samantha says

    5 stars
    I don’t typically leave reviews however, these lemon sugar cookies are incredible! My family has devoured them! Thank you for the recipe, I’ll be making these again and again.

    Reply

  23. Debi says

    5 stars
    We have 7 people at home at the moment and as I took these cookies out of my oven I didn’t have time to take them off the tray ! They were gone in a flash ! My 30 yr old son loves the batter! Good thing they were right out of the chicken coop! Delicious!

    Reply

  24. Patricia Fernández says

    5 stars
    Love this cookies, the recipe and instructions are great, no fail!
    They disappeared in two days and I’m baking more tonight.
    Is one of a few recipes that my whole family liked.
    I was wondering if the dough will get sour if I left it overnight in the fridge without baking? Have you tried that?

    Reply

  26. Amber says

    Do I need to substitute anything if I leave out the cream cheese? I have a son with dairy allergy, but he can have butter.

    Reply

  32. Debi says

    5 stars
    I made these today. Well actually made them yesterday and left in the refrigerator overnight. Baked some today and froze the dough for later in the week. These will be my go to cookies! Very very flavorful. Now I did add more lemon peel double. And I added lemon extract. Probably a teaspoon. But these were soooo good. Soft but chewy around the edges. I will be making many of these.

    Reply

  36. Terrie says

    These cookies are very good and quite easy to make. Thanks you for the recipe ❗️
    I do have a suggestion for those who want to use bottled lemon juice. Since 95% of the bottled juice is from concentrate with additives, I found a pure fresh squeezed lemon juice with nothing but lemon. It’s on Amazon and comes in two large plastic bottles by Kosher Select, or Lakewood Organic lemon juice in glass containers. I only buy a couple of fresh lemons to use for the zest which I freeze. With these two products I never run of of lemon juice for other recipes , such as homemade cheese which needs real lemon juice.

    Reply

  37. Anita D'Break says

    5 stars
    I’ve made these cookies several times. They look like ordinary sugar cookies. But, when a guest bites into them, they always exclaim how delicious they are. This recipe stays on my Pinterest cookie board! Thanks for sharing this recipe <3

    Reply

  38. Stephanie M says

    5 stars
    These cookies are so soft, chewy and baked beautifully! My only comment is that they didn’t come out as lemon-y as I wanted but I’ll try using lemon extract instead of fresh lemon juice next time 🙂

    Highly recommend adding white chocolate chips (1 cup)!

    Reply

  40. Richard Oxx says

    5 stars
    Hi,. I can’t get my cookies (including this recipe) to flatten out as completely as photos show. I start with a 1 inch ball. The bottoms are nice and brown and your recipe turned out soft and chewy as described. Thanks.

    Reply

  41. Tammy says

    5 stars
    These cookies were absolutely delicious. We LOVE lemon desserts so i will add more lemon juice next time but this recipe is a keeper.

    Reply

  42. Sharon says

    5 stars
    These cookies are delicious! My husband’s new favorite cookie….and mine too! I’ve made them 4 time’s in 2 weeks and people love them! I’ve added a touch more zest because we love the lemon otherwise perfect!

    Reply

  44. Dawn B. says

    5 stars
    AMAZING! I have made these per the recipe, and also gluten free. I get asked ALL THE TIME to make both versions. I love to try new recipes, but that is difficult when all that anyone wants is these cookies! These are my mother in law’s absolute favorite thing that I bake. Sometimes I even make a nice lemon icing (powdered sugar and lemon juice) when I am feeling particularly fancy.
    I highly recommend trying this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing!!!!!

    Reply

  45. Mary Ellen Dawson says

    5 stars
    These cookies turned out great!! Very delicious!! Although I did bake them closer to 12 minutes. At 10 minutes they were still a !little gooey. It will be one of my go to recipes. We love everything lemon!! Thanks for a great recipe.

    Reply

  46. Kevin M says

    5 stars
    I’ve made these 4 times now each time I tweak it a little, the first time was as written , second time I omitted the salt , seemed better , 2 time I double the fresh lemon juice it was better the 3 time I double the zest now we’re getting there the 4 time I tripled the zest , triple the lemon juice, still no salt and 1 added TBLS of flour.

    I’m friend with the Manager of a Cookie Bakery “ Crumble” she said it’s as good if not better then what they sell in there store @ $5 a cookie. So I think it’s a winner now .

    Reply
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