🎉 Introduction
These Lemon Crinkle Cookies are soft, tangy, and bursting with fresh lemon flavor. Each bite delivers a perfect balance of sweet and tart, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture and a light, crinkled sugar coating that makes them as pretty as they are delicious.
They’re the ultimate spring or summer cookie — fresh, bright, and irresistibly tender. Made with real lemon juice and zest, these cookies are perfect for lemon lovers and add a touch of sunshine to any dessert table.
🧰 Equipment Needed
You’ll need:
- Mixing bowls (large and medium)
- Hand or stand mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Cooling rack
- Fine grater or zester
🛒 Ingredients
Fruits & Vegetables
- 1 tsp Lemon zest
Fresh Products
- 1 Large egg
Condiments
- 2 tbsp Fresh lemon juice
Dry & Flavoring Ingredients
- 2 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 tsp Baking soda
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1 1/4 cups Granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup Powdered sugar (for coating)
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
- 5 drops Yellow food coloring (optional, for color)
Dairy
- 1/2 cup Unsalted butter, softened
👩🍳 Directions
step1:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
step2:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
step3:
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy — about 2–3 minutes.
step4:
Add the egg, lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and yellow food coloring. Beat until smooth and well combined.
step5:
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms.
step6:
Scoop 1–1.5 tablespoon-sized dough balls. Roll each one in powdered sugar until generously coated.
step7:
Place coated dough balls onto prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie.
step8:
Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until the tops are cracked and just set. The centers should remain soft.
step9:
Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
🍽️ Servings & Timing
- Makes: About 20–22 cookies
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Bake time: 10 minutes
- Cooling time: 20 minutes
- Total time: ~45 minutes
🧊 Storage & Reheating
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Refrigerate for up to 1 week.
- Freeze baked cookies for up to 2 months.
- To revive softness, warm for 5 seconds in the microwave before serving.
🥄 Variations
- Glazed Lemon Crinkles: Drizzle cooled cookies with a simple lemon glaze made from powdered sugar and lemon juice.
- Lemon-Lime Twist: Add 1 tsp lime zest for a tangy tropical flavor.
- Frosted Version: Spread a thin layer of lemon cream cheese frosting on top for a bakery finish.
- Poppy Seed Lemon Cookies: Stir in 1 tbsp poppy seeds for texture and charm.
- Sugar-Free Option: Substitute with your favorite 1:1 sugar replacement.
❓ 10 FAQs
1. Why are they called “crinkle” cookies?
Because the tops crack beautifully as they bake, creating a crinkled sugar pattern.
2. Can I use bottled lemon juice?
Fresh lemon juice gives the best flavor, but bottled works in a pinch.
3. Why roll in powdered sugar?
It creates the signature crinkled appearance and adds sweetness.
4. Can I chill the dough?
Yes — chill for 20–30 minutes for thicker cookies and less spreading.
5. Can I skip the food coloring?
Of course! It’s only for a bright yellow color — flavor stays the same.
6. Can I use salted butter?
Yes, just reduce the added salt to a pinch.
7. Can I make them gluten-free?
Yes, use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend.
8. Why did my cookies spread too much?
Your butter may have been too soft; chill dough slightly before baking next time.
9. How do I make them extra lemony?
Add an extra 1/2 tsp lemon zest or a few drops of lemon extract.
10. Can I freeze the dough?
Yes! Freeze dough balls and roll in powdered sugar right before baking.
🏁 Conclusion
These Lemon Crinkle Cookies are the perfect mix of soft, chewy, and tangy sweetness. Their bright lemon flavor and crinkled sugar coating make them both beautiful and refreshing — a cookie that truly tastes like sunshine. ☀️
Whether for tea time, holidays, or summer picnics, these cookies are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that bring smiles with every bite.
Lemon Crinkle Cookies – Soft, Zesty & Bright as Sunshine
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Ingredients
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Discover more than 1700+ delicious recipes you can cook at home. Easy, step-by-step instructions with new recipes added every day.
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Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy — about 2–3 minutes.
- Add the egg, lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and yellow food coloring. Beat until smooth and well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms.
- Scoop 1–1.5 tablespoon-sized dough balls. Roll each one in powdered sugar until generously coated.
- Place coated dough balls onto prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie.
- Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until the tops are cracked and just set. The centers should remain soft.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Because the tops crack beautifully as they bake, creating a crinkled sugar pattern. 2. Can I use bottled lemon juice?
Fresh lemon juice gives the best flavor, but bottled works in a pinch. 3. Why roll in powdered sugar?
It creates the signature crinkled appearance and adds sweetness. 4. Can I chill the dough?
Yes — chill for 20–30 minutes for thicker cookies and less spreading. 5. Can I skip the food coloring?
Of course! It’s only for a bright yellow color — flavor stays the same. 6. Can I use salted butter?
Yes, just reduce the added salt to a pinch. 7. Can I make them gluten-free?
Yes, use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend. 8. Why did my cookies spread too much?
Your butter may have been too soft; chill dough slightly before baking next time. 9. How do I make them extra lemony?
Add an extra 1/2 tsp lemon zest or a few drops of lemon extract. 10. Can I freeze the dough?
Yes! Freeze dough balls and roll in powdered sugar right before baking. 🏁 Conclusion These Lemon Crinkle Cookies are the perfect mix of soft, chewy, and tangy sweetness. Their bright lemon flavor and crinkled sugar coating make them both beautiful and refreshing — a cookie that truly tastes like sunshine. ☀️ Whether for tea time, holidays, or summer picnics, these cookies are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that bring smiles with every bite.
