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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Recipe FAQ
Along with our frosting, we love a fun sprinkle or even some lemon zest.
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
Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 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
Lemon Frosting
- ½ 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.
Ooh! I feel like the lemon would balance out the sweetness of a sugar cookie- these look so tasty!!
Let me know how you like them if you try the recipe out. I would love to hear!
These are so bright with lemon flavor and bake up great every time. I love them especially as springtime treats!
What are the nutrition facts per cookie without frosting. My husband is diabetic. I am concerned about sugars & carbs.
Recently made these lemon sugar cookies, so delicious, perfect amount of lemon flavor, the cookie was amazing, thank you for sharing this recipe
You’re welcome!! I’m so glad you enjoyed the cookies!
They look yummy. I am going to make them when i am off next week.
I hope you enjoy the cookies!!
I’m not a fan of desserts that require fresh lemons. But in this cookie recipe I certainly made an exception.. delicious cookies!
I’ve made these 4 times now. Everyone loves them. I do making the cookies bigger then what the recipe say so it only makes about 18 cookies. I’ve tried it with limes instead of lemons and is just as good.
These came out so good. Making them again.
Not bad, but I have tasted better. The cookie has a bit to much of a flour taste. Not very rich and buttery.
This is the best lemon cookie recipe that i have tried! My husband loves these cookies! Since i found this recipe for lemon cookies, its the only recipe i need, its absolutely perfect! i make these occasionally now! Thank you LIL LUNA!
These are such delicious cookies! I made them over a year ago, and can’t remember if I used salted or unsalted butter. Which do you recommend for the cookies and for the frosting? I’m going to make some for a neighborhood gathering, and I want to get it right.
Thanks! I. Can’t wait to enjoy this recipe again!
I just made these and they came out great! Taking to a party today! I will make these again!
These are the best cookies! I’m trying them with oranges today! MMMMM!
Ooh that sounds yummy! You’ll have to let us know how they turned out.
Excellent cookies! I followed the recipe exactly and they came out perfect. Bravo Lilluna!
Best cookies I’ve EVER made!
Excellent
I made these lemon cookies and they were absolutely delicious! My grandchildren loved them and I will definitely be making them on Christmas Eve and other special occasions. Thank you for sharing your amazing recipes.
I love to use these pages for the recipes BUT unfortunately it get so cluttered with thousands of ads all over the page… It is awful 😖
Sooooo good and easy! Family LOVED THEM! My brother is coming up from Miami in May, so I’m going to try making orange cookies for him since that is his favorite flavour. Excellent recipe.
That sounds yummy! Glad your family loved them!! I hope the orange ones are a hit!
Can these be frozen?
Yes!! Freezing instructions are included in the post too. 🙂
We love these cookies! I made them for the first time, and my family keeps asking for more.
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that!