Soft Lemon Cookies

Lemon is a flavor that my two oldest girls love, so several years ago I made them Soft Lemon Cookies. They were a hit!

Since that time, these cookies have been one of my go-to dessert recipes for summer picnics and BBQs. They are always popular at these get togethers. You’ll see why if you give them a try.

Ingredients

(Adapted from this recipe.)

For the cookies

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons lemon extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Yellow food coloring (optional)

For the glaze

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk
• A couple drops of lemon extract
• Yellow food coloring (optional)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

In a separate bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time. Once the eggs are thoroughly incorporated, beat in the lemon juice, lemon extract, and vanilla extract. If desired, add a few drops of yellow food coloring. Gently stir into the flour mixture until just incorporated.

Chill the dough for about 30 minutes, then roll into 1-inch balls. Place the balls 2 inches apart on baking sheets that are covered in parchment paper.

Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes, or until the cookies are set and just beginning to brown at the edges. Allow to cool on the baking sheets for 1-2 minutes before moving to racks to finish cooling.

While the cookies are cooling, prepare the glaze. In a medium bowl, mix the powdered sugar, milk, and a couple drops of lemon extract. For thicker glaze, add less milk; for thinner glaze, add more milk. If desired, add a couple drops of yellow food coloring.

Drizzle the glaze over the tops of the cookies once they are cool. Yield: 4 dozen cookies.

Notes

My girls adore these cookies! Even my husband, who is not a big fan of sweets, eats unglazed versions of them. They have a light lemon flavor and are pillowy soft.

They are pretty easy to prepare and, like I said above, are great for summer get togethers. The lemon flavor seems to be a great complement for outdoor fun on warm days! Tools I found useful when preparing these cookies include Air Insulated Cookie Sheets, Pot Holders with Silicone Grips, and Disposable Piping Bags.

What are your go-to desserts and treats for summer days?