Description
Delightful lemon crinkle cookies bring zesty sunshine to classic cookie comfort. Sweet-tart crinkled edges and powdered sugar coating promise refreshing citrus joy you’ll savor with every delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (113 grams) butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5–8 drops yellow food coloring (optional)
Coating Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup (90 grams) powdered sugar
Instructions
- Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl, setting aside for later use.
- Cream softened butter and sugar in a stand mixer until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Incorporate egg, lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and optional yellow food coloring into the butter mixture, blending until thoroughly integrated.
- Gradually fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture on low speed, ensuring minimal mixing to maintain a soft, slightly tacky dough consistency.
- Refrigerate the dough for a minimum of 2 hours, allowing it to firm up and enhance flavor development.
- Heat oven to 350°F and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper for optimal cookie release.
- Portion dough using a cookie scoop, forming uniform spherical shapes for consistent baking.
- Create a dual-layer sugar coating by first rolling dough balls in granulated sugar, then generously dusting with powdered sugar to achieve signature crinkled texture.
- Arrange sugar-coated dough balls on prepared sheets, maintaining 2-inch spacing, and bake for 10-12 minutes until edges turn golden and centers remain tender.
- Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to complete cooling process before serving.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent excessive spreading and enhance the cookie’s texture, aiming for at least 2 hours of refrigeration.
- Use fresh lemon zest and juice for the most vibrant citrus flavor, avoiding bottled alternatives that can taste less bright and authentic.
- Adjust sugar coating by rolling in granulated sugar first, then generously coating with powdered sugar to achieve the signature crinkle effect and prevent sticking.
- Customize the recipe by experimenting with different citrus zests like orange or lime for unique flavor variations that maintain the cookie’s delicate structure.
- Prep Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg