Lemon Crinkle Cookies
These lemon crinkle cookies are soft and chewy in the center with lightly crisp edges and plenty of fresh lemon flavor. Made with lemon zest, lemon juice, and a double coating of sugar, they bake with beautiful crackled tops and a bright citrus taste that’s perfect any time of year.
If you love lemon desserts, these cookies are a must-bake. The dough comes together with simple pantry ingredients, chills for a short time, then bakes into tender cookies with a soft center and snowy white crinkles. They’re just as welcome on a holiday cookie tray as they are with an afternoon cup of coffee or tea.
I’ve always loved lemon desserts because they bring a bright, fresh flavor that feels lighter than rich chocolate or caramel treats. These lemon crinkle cookies started as a simple cookie recipe, but after a few rounds of testing, I wanted them softer, chewier, and packed with even more lemon flavor.
The secret was rubbing the lemon zest into the sugar before mixing the dough. It fills the kitchen with the most amazing citrus aroma and gives the cookies a bold lemon flavor in every bite. Finished with a snowy sugar coating and beautiful crackled tops, these cookies have become one of my favorite treats to bake when I’m craving something sweet and sunny.
Why You’ll Love These Lemon Crinkle Cookies
- Bright lemon flavor from both fresh lemon zest and lemon juice.
- Soft and chewy centers with lightly crisp edges.
- Beautiful crackled tops coated in powdered sugar.
- Easy cookie recipe made with simple pantry staples.
- Perfect for holidays, bake sales, gift boxes, or everyday baking.
The Secret to Perfect Crinkle Cookies
The signature crackled appearance comes from rolling the cookie dough in sugar before baking. As the cookies rise and spread in the oven, the sugar coating separates and creates the classic crinkled pattern.
For the best results, chill the dough before baking. Cold dough spreads more slowly in the oven, giving you thicker cookies with soft centers and distinct cracks on top.
Ingredients and Substitutes
- Granulated sugar – Sweetens the cookies and helps create the tender texture. You’ll also need extra sugar for rolling before baking.
- Lemon zest – Provides most of the lemon flavor. Rubbing the zest into the sugar releases the natural oils and intensifies the citrus taste.
- Lemon juice – Adds fresh, bright lemon flavor. Freshly squeezed juice is recommended for the best results.
- Unsalted butter – Melted butter creates soft, chewy cookies with rich flavor. If using salted butter, reduce the added salt.
- Egg and egg yolk – Give the cookies structure while keeping the centers soft and chewy. The extra yolk adds richness and color.
- All-purpose flour – Provides structure and creates a tender cookie without being too cakey.
- Cornstarch – Helps keep the cookies soft and gives them a delicate melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Baking powder – Helps the cookies rise slightly and contributes to the crackled appearance.
- Salt – Balances the sweetness and enhances the lemon flavor.
- Vanilla extract – Adds warmth and rounds out the bright citrus notes.
- Powdered sugar – Essential for the classic snowy crinkle coating and beautiful crackled tops.
Step-by-Step: Best Lemon Crinkle Cookies
Make the lemon sugar
- Add the sugar and lemon zest to a large mixing bowl.
- Rub them together with your fingertips until the sugar feels slightly moist and smells fragrant.
Add the wet ingredients
- Add the melted butter, vanilla extract, and lemon juice.
- Mix until well combined.
- Add the egg and egg yolk, then whisk until smooth.
- Add the gel or powder food color now, if using.
Add the dry ingredients
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
- Mix just until no dry flour remains. Do not overmix.
Chill the dough
- Cover the bowl and chill the dough for at least 2 hours.
- The dough should feel firm enough to scoop and roll.
Prepare the coating
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar and powdered sugar.
Shape and coat the cookies
- Scoop the dough into portions of about 30 to 35 grams each.
- Roll each portion into a smooth ball.
- Roll the dough balls generously in the sugar mixture until fully coated.
- Place the coated cookies on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
Bake
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the tops are crackled and the edges are set.
- The centers should still look slightly soft when removed from the oven.
- Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Storing and Freezing
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
To freeze baked cookies, place them in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
You can also freeze the unbaked cookie dough balls for up to 3 months. Thaw slightly, coat with sugar, and bake as directed.
Lemon Crinkle Cookies
Soft and chewy lemon crinkle cookies bursting with fresh lemon flavor from both zest and juice. Rolled in granulated sugar and powdered sugar before baking, these cookies develop beautiful crackled tops with tender centers and lightly crisp edges.
Video
Ingredients
- 150 g (¾ cup) Granulated sugar
- Zest of 2 lemons
- 70 g (⅓ cup) Unsalted butter melted
- ½ tsp Vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp Fresh lemon juice
- 1 large Egg
- 1 large Egg yolk
- 250 g (2 cups) All-purpose flour
- 1 tsp Baking powder
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch
- ½ tsp Salt
- Yellow food color gel or powder food color.
- 50 g (¼ cup) Granulated sugar
- 90 g (¾ cup) Powdered sugar
Method
- Make the lemon sugar – In a large mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar and lemon zest. Rub the zest into the sugar with your fingertips for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant and slightly damp. This helps release the natural oils from the lemon peel.150 g Granulated sugar, Zest of 2 lemons
- Make the cookie dough – Add the melted butter, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Stir until well combined. Add the egg and egg yolk and whisk until smooth and fully incorporated.70 g Unsalted butter, ½ tsp Vanilla extract, 2 tbsp Fresh lemon juice, 1 large Egg, 1 large Egg yolk
- Add the dry ingredients – In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined. Do not overmix.250 g All-purpose flour, 1 tsp Baking powder, 1 tbsp Cornstarch, ½ tsp Salt
- Chill the dough -Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until firm enough to scoop.
- Prepare for baking – Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar and powdered sugar.50 g Granulated sugar, 90 g Powdered sugar
- Shape the cookies – Scoop the dough into portions of about 30 to 35 grams each (about 1 ½ to 2 tbsp each). Roll each portion into a smooth ball. Roll the dough balls generously in the sugar mixture until fully coated. Place the coated cookies on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
- Bake – Arrange the cookies on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the tops are cracked and the edges are set. The centers should still look slightly soft. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
Notes
- Rub the lemon zest into the sugar for the brightest lemon flavor.
- Chilling the dough helps control spreading and creates thicker cookies with better crinkles.
- Rolling the dough in a mixture of granulated sugar and powdered sugar creates the classic crackled appearance and lightly crisp exterior.
- Do not overbake. The cookies will continue to set as they cool.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freeze baked cookies or uncoated dough balls for up to 2 months.
Equipment you will need
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Mention @veenaazmanov_kitchen or tag #veenaazmanovkitchen!more lemon cookies you may like
- Lemon Thumbprint Cookies
- Lemon Curd Cookies
- Ultimate Lemon Sugar Cookies
- Lemon Butter Cookies Recipe
- Ultimate Lemon Glazed Cookies
Tips for Success
- Rub the lemon zest into the sugar for the best lemon flavor.
- Chill the dough for at least 2 hours before baking.
- Roll generously in powdered sugar for a dramatic crinkle effect.
- Use fresh lemons instead of bottled juice.
- Do not overbake. The centers should still look slightly soft when you remove them from the oven.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Cookies spread too much | Dough too warm | Chill longer before baking |
| Few crinkles on top | Not enough powdered sugar | Coat generously before baking |
| Cookies are dry | Overbaked | Remove while centers still look soft |
| Lemon flavor is weak | Too little zest | Use zest from 2 lemons |
more lemon treats to explore
- Lemon Cupcakes or Lemon Raspberry Muffins
- Perfect Lemon Bars
- Strawberry Lemon Macarons
- Lemon Curd Recipe or Lemon Curd Tart
- Raspberry Lemon Pavlova or Lemon Raspberry Cake
Frequently asked questions
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Chilling firms the butter and hydrates the flour, helping the cookies bake thicker with better crinkles.
Yes. Both baked cookies and unbaked cookie dough freeze very well.
Yes. The dough can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking.
Rubbing the lemon zest into the sugar releases the natural oils from the peel and distributes them throughout the dough. This simple step creates a stronger lemon flavor than simply mixing the zest into the batter.
The granulated sugar creates a barrier that helps the powdered sugar stay visible, giving the cookies their classic crackled appearance.
You can, but the combination of fresh lemon zest and juice provides plenty of natural lemon flavor.
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I want to make these but am unclear- you state to mix the butter, shortening, and sugar in the second step but shortening isn’t listed in the ingredients. Please clarify.
Hey Tracy, No, there is no shortening. Just butter, please. Thanks – it was type error and I fixed it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
This was really good! My kids loved these!
Thank you, Toni. So happy your kids enjoyed these cookies. Appreciate you coming back to write this feedback.
Lovely Veena!! I love anything with lemon, and these crinkle cookies are just delicious!
Thank you, Ashley.
I love that these are made from scratch. Lemon is the best flavor to suit a crowd!
Absolutely, Love lemon any time. Thanks Andrea
These are so delicious. Love lemon cookies, and these turned out fantastic. The kids loved them too!
Thank you, Alison. So happy you enjoyed these cookies. Appreciate you coming back to write this feedback.
I love the addition of fresh lemon zest in the cookie dough for a bright lemon flavor, plus a hint of cardamom for spice would be awesome.. Thank for the recipe inspiration.
Thanks, Calleigh. Cardamom sounds wonderful.