Soft Lemon Crinkle Cookies Easy Homemade Zesty Powdered Sugar Recipe
Soft lemon crinkle cookies with crackled tops dusted in zesty powdered sugar, offering a bright, refreshing, and tender texture perfect for spring and summer gatherings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour, sifted
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- Zest from 2 medium lemons (about 2 tablespoons)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon lemon zest and a pinch of salt for coating
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Whisk together dry ingredients: sift or whisk 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, and ¼ teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar: beat ¾ cup softened unsalted butter with 1 cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add eggs and flavorings: beat in 2 large eggs one at a time, then mix in lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed or folding gently until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Chill the dough: cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 20-30 minutes.
- Prepare the powdered sugar coating: mix 1 cup powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon lemon zest and a pinch of salt in a shallow bowl.
- Shape and coat the cookies: scoop dough with a tablespoon or small cookie scoop, roll into 1 inch diameter balls, then roll each ball generously in the lemon powdered sugar mixture.
- Bake: place coated dough balls about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until set but still soft in the center with cracks on top.
- Cool: let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Chilling the dough for 20-30 minutes is essential to maintain the cookie shape and achieve the classic crinkled tops. Use fresh lemon zest and juice for the best flavor. Roll cookies generously in the lemon powdered sugar coating for a perfect contrast of texture and taste. Rotate baking sheet halfway through baking for even cooking. If cookies spread too much, chill dough longer or ensure butter is not too warm.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10
- Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 17
- Protein: 1.5
Keywords: lemon cookies, soft cookies, crinkle cookies, lemon zest, powdered sugar coating, easy cookies, homemade cookies, spring dessert, summer dessert