If there's one thing I'm passionate about, it's baking cookies! With a southern upbringing by a wise 50s-era woman, I've inherited the most incredible recipes that bring back nostalgic memories. And when it comes to spring/summer flavors, nothing beats the refreshing taste of lemon in the summertime. Picture yourself savoring the zesty goodness of lemon, key-lime, and orange-infused cookies. Not only do they tantalize your taste buds, but they also pack a punch of Vitamin C, benefiting your health—well, that's what I like to believe! Join me in baking these delightful citrus cookies that combine the best of Southern tradition with a burst of citrusy goodness.
These cookies are both fluffy and moist, the true best of both worlds! If you bake often at all, you more than likely already have these ingredients lying around in your pantry- minus the lemons! You can also substitute lemon juice from the store for fresh lemon juice in this recipe- I won't judge you!
Get ready to whip up some irresistibly fluffy lemon cookies with a delightful twist! To create these delectable treats, gather all the essentials: a combination of cake flour and regular flour (guaranteed fluffiness), baking soda, sugar, and the secret to heavenly flavor—unsalted butter, preferably the velvety Kerigold brand. Oh, and don't forget the star ingredients: an egg and an additional egg yolk for that extra touch of richness. With this unique blend of ingredients, you'll achieve a melt-in-your-mouth texture and an incredible burst of citrus flavor. Prepare to take your cookie game to a whole new level and indulge in these divine fluffy citrus cookies! This recipe requires minimal refrigeration, but because of the lemon juice, you are really not going to want to skip this step- otherwise, your batter will be super duper sticky!
If you like your cookies a bit denser, go for regular flour all the way. But personally, I absolutely adore taking a big, fluffy bite of these soft, lemony delights! Who cares if my enthusiasm sometimes leads to jumbled words? Let's just enjoy the pure joy of baking and savor every delicious moment!
These delicious morsels are similar in steps to classic sugar cookies, where you combine butter and white sugar together in a mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients, including plenty of lemon zest if you're using fresh lemons. Then add in the flour mixture and use a hand mixer to gently combine.
Make sure to set aside an additional 1/4 cup (or more) of granulated white sugar for that irresistible touch of sweetness while rolling your dough. After all, these are lemon sugar cookies, and we want them to shine!
Now, let's dive into the next steps. Simply wrap the bowl of dough in cling wrap and pop it in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours. This crucial chilling time helps firm up the dough, making it easier to handle and resulting in perfectly fluffy and moist lemon cookies.
Once the dough has chilled, take it out and start rolling it into small balls. Then, generously coat each ball with the reserved granulated sugar, ensuring a sweet and crunchy exterior. Arrange the sugar-coated dough balls on a parchment paper or silicone mat-lined baking sheet, ready to be transformed into the best lemon cookies
you've ever tasted!
Place the baking sheet in the oven and let the cookies bake until the edges turn a beautiful golden brown. The aromatic scent of citrus will fill your kitchen, and when you take that first bite, you'll be greeted with a heavenly combination of fluffy texture and vibrant lemon flavor.
Get ready to indulge in these delightful treats that perfectly balance sweetness and tanginess. These fluffy and moist lemon cookies are worth the wait and effort, so enjoy every bite and savor the citrusy bliss they bring!
Baking Instructions:
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
Zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (or store-bought lemon juice)
Additional granulated sugar for rolling
Instructions:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the egg, egg yolk, lemon zest, and lemon juice to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix well to combine.
Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Use a hand mixer or mix by hand until the dough comes together. Be careful not to overmix.
Set aside an additional 1/4 cup (or more) of granulated sugar for rolling the dough.
Wrap the dough in cling wrap and refrigerate it for 1-2 hours. This will help firm up the dough and make it easier to handle.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Roll the chilled dough into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter. Roll each ball in the reserved granulated sugar, coating it evenly.
Place the coated dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each cookie.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies turn golden brown.
Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy your fluffy and moist lemon cookies! Serve them with a smile and savor the burst of lemony goodness.
Did you try this recipe? Let me know how it turned out! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Tik Tok to stay up to date on my latest posts, recipes, and favorite products!
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