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Christmas Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 88 reviews

These Christmas Lemon Sugar Cookies are soft, flavorful, and perfect for festive celebrations. With a bright lemon zest and juice infused into a classic sugar cookie dough, these treats offer a delightful citrus twist. Rolled optionally in powdered sugar for an elegant crackled finish, they bake to golden perfection and make a charming addition to your holiday cookie platter.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 ¼ cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tsp lemon zest (about 2 lemons)
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Optional

  • ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar, for rolling

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined. Set this mixture aside for later incorporation.
  3. Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a large mixing bowl, cream the room temperature unsalted butter and granulated sugar on medium speed with a mixer. Continue beating for about 3 to 4 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create tender cookies.
  4. Add Flavoring: Beat in the egg, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and pure vanilla extract to the creamed butter and sugar. Mix until all ingredients are fully combined and fragrant.
  5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed. Stir until just combined, being careful not to overmix, which can make the cookies tough.
  6. Form Dough Balls: If a crackled sugar coating is desired, place the powdered sugar in a shallow bowl. Scoop about one tablespoon of dough at a time, roll into a ball, then gently roll it in the powdered sugar before placing it on the baking sheet. Otherwise, simply roll the dough into plain balls.
  7. Arrange and Flatten: Space the dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets to allow for spreading. Flatten each ball gently to about a ¼ inch thickness using the bottom of a glass or your palm.
  8. Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers have set, indicating they are fully baked yet soft.
  9. Cool: Let the cookies rest on the baking sheets for 5 minutes after removing from the oven to firm up slightly, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.

Notes

  • Using room temperature ingredients, especially butter and eggs, helps achieve a creamier batter and better texture.
  • Do not overmix the dough once the flour is added to keep the cookies tender.
  • Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can reduce spreading and enhance flavor but is optional.
  • Powdered sugar rolling is optional but adds a pretty crackled sugar finish and a touch of extra sweetness.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Keywords: Christmas cookies, lemon sugar cookies, holiday cookies, lemon zest cookies, soft sugar cookies, festive cookie recipe

Find it online: https://kochenmitviktoria.com/christmas-lemon-sugar-cookies-recipe/