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Home » Recipe Index » Lemon Sugar Cookies with Lemon Frosting

Lemon Sugar Cookies with Lemon Frosting

May 31, 2019 by Kara Cook 20 Comments

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frosted lemon sugar cookies pinterest pin

Lemon Sugar Cookies – these perfectly soft and chewy cookies have a hint of lemon, and they are so easy to make. Topped with a luscious lemon frosting, they are unbeatable!

frosted lemon sugar cookies on a wire rack

 

Lemon Sugar Cookies with Lemon Frosting

I am a sucker for just about any lemon dessert, and homemade cookies are one of my very favorite treats. I tweaked a favorite sugar cookie recipe by adding some lemon zest and fresh lemon juice. The cookies have just a hint of lemon flavor, and they are so good.

But of course, I didn’t stop with just the cookie. I topped them with some melt in your mouth lemon frosting that is just out of this world. Trust me, if you love lemon you will want to just eat it by the spoonful. These incredible lemon cookies are a new favorite!

A soft, homemade buttery lemon cookie topped with creamy lemon frosting. What lemon lover can resist? I took them to a church potluck and they were gone within minutes! They were a hit with both adults and kids alike.

One of the best things about this sugar cookie recipe is that you don’t have to roll out the dough with a rolling pin and use cookie cutters. No need to chill the dough, no messy counter to clean off, and no cookie cutter to wash. You will love how easy they are! 

After the cookies are baked and completely cooled you top them with a delicious lemon buttercream frosting. I used a star tip to pipe my frosting on, and I think they turned out so pretty! But of course you can just spread the frosting on with a knife or offset spatula, they will still taste amazing!

(To skip my tips and just see the full recipe card, scroll to the very bottom of the post.)

How to make Lemon Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

  • butter (I used regular salted butter.)
  • granulated sugar
  • eggs
  • fresh lemon juice
  • lemon zest
  • all purpose flour
  • baking powder
  • salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest; beat till well combined. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Roll dough into tablespoon sized balls and place on lightly greased baking sheets about 1 1/2 – 2 inches apart.

lemon sugar cookie dough balls on a silpat lined cookie sheet

Flatten with a glass dipped in sugar. No cookie cutter required!

 

flattened balls of dough on a cookie sheet

Bake at 350° for 9-10 minutes, or till barely light brown on the bottom. Let sit 3-4 minutes on pan, then remove to cooling racks.

I told you it was easy!

Cool cookies completely, then frost. I piped frosting on with a 1M star tip.

overhead shot of frosted lemon sugar cookie

How to make Lemon Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients:

  • soft butter
  • powdered sugar
  • lemon zest
  • fresh lemon juice
  • salt
  • milk

Beat together butter, powdered sugar, salt, lemon zest, and lemon juice with a hand mixer!!!!! till creamy, adding milk if needed. If you are piping the frosting, it needs to be thick. If you are just spreading it on, you can add more milk.

frosted lemon cookie on a cupcake stand with lemons in the background

How can I store my lemon sugar cookies?

I like to layer leftovers in a large tupperware container with parchment paper between each layer.  If I’m taking them to a bridal shower or potluck, I don’t stack them because I don’t want the frosting to get smashed. They will last at least 3-5 days at room temperature.

Can I freeze these sugar cookies?

You can definitely freeze them, but I recommend freezing them before you frost them. Carefully place them in a gallon sized freezer ziplock bag and squeeze out as much air as you can before sealing the bag. They will last up to four months. When you are ready to serve them, let them thaw, then frost them.

Not only are these sugar cookies gorgeous, they taste incredible. I promise all lemon lovers will be in heaven with every bite!! 

If you give them a try, let me know what you think.

lemon cookies with lemon frosting tall pinterest collage

For more lemon recipes, check out:

  • Pink Lemonade Pie
  • Butter Cookies with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Lemon Berry Puff Pastries
  • Lemon Pound Cake

MORE TASTY COOKIE RECIPES

  • Pecan Sandies
  • Toasted Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Double Chocolate Kiss Cookies
  • Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Lemon Sugar Cookies with Lemon Frosting

Yield: 30 cookies

Lemon Sugar Cookies

Lemon Sugar Cookies

Soft, buttery sugar cookies with a hint of lemon, topped with creamy lemon frosting.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

Cookie Dough

  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 Tbsp lemon zest
  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • Frosting:

Lemon Frosting

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 dash salt
  • 1 Tbsp lemon zest
  • 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1-2 Tbsp milk, if needed

Instructions

  1. Cream butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat in eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest till well combined.
  2. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Roll dough into tablespoon sized balls and place on lightly greased cookie sheets. Flatten with a glass dipped in sugar.
  4. Bake at 350° for 9-10 minutes, or till barely light brown on the bottom. Let sit 3-4 minutes on pan, then remove to cooling racks.
  5. Cool cookies completely, then frost. I piped frosting on with a 1M star tip.

Frosting:

  1. Beat together butter, powdered sugar, salt, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a mixing bowl till creamy, adding milk if needed. If you are piping the frosting, it needs to be thick. If you are just spreading it on, you can add more liquid.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn a small amount from your purchase, no cost to you.

  • Wilton 1M Star Piping Tip
    Wilton 1M Star Piping Tip
  • Cuisinart Hand Mixer
    Cuisinart Hand Mixer
  • Microplane Zester/Grater
    Microplane Zester/Grater

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

30

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 194Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 127mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 0gSugar: 21gProtein: 2g
© Kara
Cuisine: American / Category: Dessert: Cookies

 

Filed Under: Dessert: Cookies, Recipe Index Tagged With: lemon zest, powdered sugar

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Steph

    October 21, 2020 at 6:18 pm

    I MUST try these, my honey is a super fan of anything lemon! Good work!

    Reply
    • Kara Cook

      October 24, 2020 at 3:27 pm

      If he likes lemon, I bet he’ll love them! I sure do. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Brenda Carpenter

    October 16, 2020 at 11:25 pm

    I made these for my father tonight and he loved them. I did some with cranberrys and lemon frosting and some with chocolate ganache. Thank you so much for great recipie

    Reply
    • Kara Cook

      October 18, 2020 at 9:25 pm

      So glad he loved them! Thanks for sharing your variations – they sound amazing!

      Reply
  3. Sarah

    September 27, 2020 at 8:04 am

    I LOVE these cookies. Is there a way to make them so a cookie cutter can be used? I want to make them in shapes for a themed party, but I really love this specific recipe!

    Reply
  4. Mary R

    July 24, 2020 at 11:01 pm

    I made these cookies without the frosting and my family raved about them. I want to try vanilla and anise extracts to see if this recipe is versatile enough to still taste good.

    Reply
  5. Shivonne

    July 15, 2020 at 11:10 am

    I made a half batch and used 3 tablespoons of lemon extract. Great lemon flavor once I added more. I also used more flour to counteract the additional liquid, in small amounts until no longer sticky. Great cookie recipe otherwise. Will be frosting them later, after they cool. Will taste test the frosting too to ensure the lemon flavor is not just a hint lol.

    Reply
  6. Gloria

    July 5, 2020 at 5:32 am

    Hi. I tried your recipe making sure all ingredients were correct. My dough is thin so I can’t roll it up. Should I add another 1/2 cup flour?

    Reply
  7. Katie

    June 11, 2020 at 12:53 pm

    How many does it make?

    Reply
    • Kara Cook

      June 12, 2020 at 6:59 pm

      I got about 30 cookies, but it depends on the size you make them.:)

      Reply
  8. Fiona

    May 28, 2020 at 7:24 am

    These turned out amazing! Definitely one of my favorite cookies so far. Some crazy people in my family don’t like lemon so I made another batch but swapped out the lemon stuff for vanilla and they also are amazing.

    Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Kara Cook

      June 12, 2020 at 9:08 pm

      So happy to hear that you loved them! And it’s good to know that they are still tasty as vanilla cookies. 🙂

      Reply
  9. Karen

    May 16, 2020 at 4:57 pm

    These sound amazing and the recipe seems easy enough…but i dont see the measurements on how much of each ingredient..is that just me or is it missing? Thanks, id love to try and make these

    Reply
    • Kara Cook

      May 23, 2020 at 8:57 am

      You will find the recipe card at the bottom of the post. 🙂

      Reply
  10. Kelley

    April 6, 2020 at 1:37 pm

    Very good I was looking for soft sugar cookie recipe after being diagnosed with Achalasia and having surgery on my esophogus. I’m more than a month past and was hungry for soft cookie. These are delicious thx u!

    Reply
    • Kara Cook

      April 15, 2020 at 11:01 pm

      Oh goodness, so sorry about your surgery. That sounds awful! I’m glad these cookies were able to bring you a little happiness!

      Reply
  11. Valentina

    January 28, 2020 at 3:55 pm

    These soft and chewy lemon sugar cookies is my FAVORITE recipe. My kids love these cookies, especially the frosting! 🙂

    Reply
  12. Pam Dana

    January 28, 2020 at 3:55 pm

    This recipe was perfect! Soft, perfect flavor and my family all loved it!

    Reply
  13. Krissy Allori

    January 28, 2020 at 3:18 pm

    These cookies are great. I love that I can enjoy the lemon flavor without it being so overpowering.

    Reply
  14. Jodie

    November 25, 2019 at 1:58 pm

    The cookies have a very light lemon taste. I increased the lemon taste in the frosting by adding 1/4 t. of lemon extract.

    Reply

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Hi. I’m Kara, and I love to create! I share recipes, DIY tutorials, craft projects, and thrifty home decor. I hope that I can inspire you to create something! Read More…

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