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Frosted Lemon Sugar Cookies are buttery soft, with the perfect hint of lemon. They’re a perfect treat for lemon lovers!

We love Sugar Cookies and especially love this Lemon Sugar Cookies version. If you love sugar cookies as much as we do, you’ll also love our Sugar Cookie Bars and Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizza!

Lemon Sugar Cookies frosted with lemon frosting.
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Soft Lemon Sugar Cookies

If you love lemon desserts, I have the perfect cookie for you! I took a favorite Sugar Cookie recipe and adapted it to make Lemon Sugar Cookies.

I am a huge fan of anything lemon, and I was thrilled with how these cookies turned out. They are the perfect cookie for anyone who loves lemon. With such a soft, delicious cookie topped with lemon frosting, it was hard not to love them.

One thing I love about Frosted Lemon Cookies is that you don’t have to roll them out with a rolling pin. No hassle at all. Just roll them into balls and place them on greased or silicone-lined cookie sheets.

Lemon sugar cookie dough balls ready to bake.

Making these Chewy Lemon Cookies

With no rolling, these cookies are so simple!!

PREP. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease cookie sheets and set aside.

WET INGREDIENTS. Cream butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat in eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest until well combined.

DRY INGREDIENTS. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt.

SHAPE. Roll dough into tablespoon-sized balls and place on cookie sheets. Flatten with a glass dipped in sugar.

BAKE. Bake for 9-10 minutes, or till barely light brown on the bottom. Let sit for 3-4 minutes on the pan, then remove to a wire rack to cool.

Cool cookies completely before frosting.

LEMON FROSTING. Beat together butter, powdered sugar, salt, lemon zest, and lemon juice till creamy, adding milk if needed.

If piping the frosting, it needs to be thick. I piped frosting on with a 1M star tip. If spreading it on, add more liquid to make a Lemon Icing Recipe.

Lemon sugar cookies flattened on baking sheet.

Recipe Tips

Lemon flavor. Each lemon contains about 2 tablespoons of juice and about 1 tablespoon of zest. The easiest way to zest a lemon is to use a citrus zester, the small side of a cheese grater, or scrape it with a paring knife. To adjust the lemon flavor decrease or increase the lemon zest.

Thin cookies. If the cookies come out too thin try adding a bit more flour or chilling the dough.

Do not overbake. Be sure to remove the cookies before they begin to brown. They may even seem to be a little undercooked, but they will finish cooking as they cool on the hot pan.

Don’t overmix the dough as it can create a tougher texture.

Room temperature ingredients. Room-temperature eggs incorporate better into the dough. Use this post on How to Soften Butter Quickly

Easy clean-up. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

Cookie size. Use a cookie scoop to easily make equal-sized cookie dough balls.

Variations. These Frosted Lemon Cookies are simply yummy, but if to change them up I have a few ideas:

  • Add poppy seeds to the dough.
  • Top the frosting with fresh raspberries.
  • Drizzle white chocolate onto the cookie then top with frosting.
  • Sprinkle sliced macadamia or almonds on top.
  • For other citrus flavors, try zesting and juicing oranges or lime.
Frosted lemon sugar cookies lined up on a cooling rack.

Storing Info

STORE Lemon Sugar Cookies in an air-tight container on the counter for up to 4 days. Place in the fridge to extend that storing time for an extra day or two.

FREEZE. Unfrosted cookies will freeze better. Either way, stack them in an airtight container separated by sheets of wax paper. They should stay good for up to 3 months.

Let them defrost before adding frosting, and serving.

Frosted Lemon sugar cookie recipe topped with lemon frosting.

Recipe FAQ

What are the best toppings for Lemon Sugar Cookies?

Along with our frosting, we love a fun sprinkle or even some lemon zest.

How long do these cookies last?

Stored in the refrigerator, these cookies can last about a week. In a container, on the counter, they last about 4 days. These cookies can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

For more lemon recipes

4.99 from 171 votes

Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Frosted Lemon Sugar Cookies are buttery soft, with the perfect hint of lemon. They're a perfect treat for lemon lovers!
Servings: 30 cookies
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

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 

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

Lemon Frosting

  • Beat together butter, powdered sugar, salt, lemon zest, and lemon juice 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.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 198kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 31mg, Sodium: 112mg, Potassium: 33mg, Sugar: 22g, Vitamin A: 250IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 13mg, Iron: 0.6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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4.99 from 171 votes (112 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




131 Comments

  1. Rachel S. says:

    5 stars
    Almost forgot to come back and review – I’ve been using this recipe for years now and LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!!! It’s one of the few recipes I haven’t modified much, other than to note on my copy it is best with salted butter in both the cookie and frosting.!

  2. Linda Fewkes says:

    Thanks for the easy & delicious lemony cookie. Lemon anything is delicious

  3. Anna M says:

    5 stars
    Made these cookies today and they turned out great! I bought the biggest lemon I could find and used every bit of the zest. For the frosting, I only used 3 cups of the powdered sugar, because I wanted it less sweet and more focus on the lemon. The consistency was perfect to spread on and no need to add milk. And I still had enough frosting to cover all the cookies. My small cookie scoop made close to 40. This recipe is a keeper 🙂

  4. Sherri says:

    Can this cookie dough be made and refrigerated or frozen ahead of time?

  5. Shelley Bishop says:

    I made a recipe that had lemon extract, my husband spit them in the trash.
    This was my next attempt. They are soft,delicious. The frosting is as yummy. I had more frosting than cookies so I get to find something yummy to use it on. Thank you, I will be making these again and again!!!

  6. Joni Hacker says:

    5 stars
    Love lemon 🍋. These Lemon Sugar cookies are the best.

  7. Diane says:

    I think a little bit of raspberry swirled in would be a great pairing with the lemon.

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Ooh that would be delicious!