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Lemon Crinkle Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 88 reviews

Delightfully tangy and soft lemon crinkle cookies that are perfectly coated in sugar for a sweet, crackled finish. These cookies have a subtle lemon flavor enhanced with fresh lemon juice and zest, with an option to boost the lemon punch using lemon extract. They offer a chewy texture with a bright citrus aroma, perfect for any occasion or a refreshing treat to brighten your day.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (double for stronger flavor)
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 5–8 drops yellow food coloring (optional)

For Rolling

  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar (aka icing sugar or confectioners sugar)

Instructions

  1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the all purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix thoroughly and set aside for later incorporation.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a stand mixer, beat the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which usually takes about two minutes.
  3. Add Wet Ingredients: To the creamed butter and sugar, add the egg, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and food coloring if using. Mix until all ingredients are well combined.
  4. Combine Dry and Wet: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients in the mixer, mixing until just incorporated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for 2 hours to firm up.
  5. Prepare for Baking: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
  6. Form Dough Balls: Using a small cookie scoop or spoon, scoop out dough portions and roll them into balls. If the dough feels too soft, chill it again in the fridge or freezer to prevent spreading.
  7. Coat Dough Balls: Roll each dough ball first in sugar and then generously coat in powdered sugar. This double sugar coating creates the signature crackled appearance upon baking.
  8. Arrange and Bake: Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spaced about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, until the cookies are set and crackled on the surface.
  9. Cool Down: Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents breakage and finishes the baking process.

Notes

  • For a stronger lemon flavor, consider adding lemon extract instead of increasing lemon juice to avoid excessive cookie spreading.
  • Ensure the dough is chilled properly to prevent cookies from spreading too much during baking.
  • Using a small cookie scoop helps maintain uniform cookie size for even baking.
  • The crackled sugar coating not only adds sweetness but also gives the cookies their signature look.

Keywords: Lemon Crinkle Cookies, Lemon Cookies, Citrus Cookies, Soft Cookies, Crinkle Cookies, Lemon Zest, Baked Cookies, Dessert Cookies

Find it online: https://mixitwitjoe.com/lemon-crinkle-cookies-recipe/