A butter cookie that melts in the mouth with the flavor of rich lemon from the zest and juice of fresh lemons. This simple, easy and effortless recipe for lemon butter cookies is as easy as a cookie recipe can get. Takes no special skills, techniques or tools and gets done in less than half hour including 10 minutes of resting.
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5 from 14 votes

Lemon Butter Cookies aka Zesty Lemon Cookie Recipe

A butter cookie that melts in the mouth with the rich flavor of fresh lemon zest and juice. This simple, easy and effortless recipe for lemon butter cookies is as easy as a cookie recipe can get. Takes no special skills, techniques or tools and gets done in less than half an hour.
Course Breakfast, High Tea
Cuisine American
Keyword Lemon Butter Cookie Recipe, Lemon Butter Cookies
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 133kcal
Author Veena Azmanov

Ingredients

  • 228 grams Unsalted butter (2 sticks)
  • 125 grams Powdered sugar
  • 220 grams All-purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp Baking powder
  • 30 grams Semolina
  • 1 Egg yolk (large)
  • 1 tbsp Lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp Lemon zest
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Lemon extract
  • 1 drop Yellow food color (optional)
  • 30 grams Powdered sugar for coating
Metric - US customary

Instructions

Prepare

  • Combine together the flour, semolina, baking powder, and salt.
  • Set aside.

Prepare cookie dough

  • Lightly cream together butter and powdered sugar.
  • Add the egg yolk, lemon juice, zest, and food color if using - combine well.
  • Gently fold in the flour mixture.
  • Lastly, add the lemon extract.
  • Gather into a ball, wrap in a plastic wrap.
  • Chill dough for 15 to 20 minutes until firm.

Make balls and coat cookies

  • Preheat the oven to 180 C / 360 F.
  • Roll small portions of chilled dough into balls with your hands.
  • Roll into powdered sugar.
  • Place on a cookie tray.

Bake

  • Bake in a preheated oven on the middle shelf.
  • Depending on the size of your cookies and the oven they take - 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Mine took 8 minutes - watch the sides - a slight color on the sides is all it needs.
  • Cool on a wire rack before you store them in a cookie jar.

Storage

  • These will stay good for about 2 weeks.
  • But they taste their best in the first week of baking.
  • The dough freezes beautifully for up to six months.
  • The cookies keep well frozen too!

Nutrition

Calories: 133kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 26mg | Potassium: 19mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 5% | Vitamin C: 0.4% | Calcium: 0.7% | Iron: 2.8%