If you adore fresh, bright flavors with a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture, you are going to fall head over heels for this Soft Lemon Frosted Cookies with Zesty Glaze Recipe. These cookies combine the perfect balance of soft, buttery dough with vibrant lemon zest and juice that awaken your senses. The smooth lemon frosting adds a luscious creaminess while the zesty glaze on top creates a delightful tangy finish. Whether you want to impress guests or treat yourself on a sunny afternoon, this recipe will quickly become a cherished favorite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The simplicity of this Soft Lemon Frosted Cookies with Zesty Glaze Recipe lies in its thoughtfully chosen ingredients, each playing a key role in creating the perfect bite. From the soft texture brought by softened butter and buttermilk to the refreshing brightness of fresh lemon zest and juice, these ingredients are easy to find yet essential to the soul of the recipe.
- All-purpose flour: Provides the sturdy yet tender base for the cookies.
- Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise slightly and stay soft.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
- Unsalted butter, softened: Ensures a rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the dough and aids in browning.
- Eggs: Bind everything together while adding moisture.
- Lemon zest and juice: Deliver the signature tangy, fresh lemon flavor.
- Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and depth to the lemon notes.
- Buttermilk: Keeps the cookies soft and tender.
- Powdered sugar: Used for a smooth, sweet frosting and glaze.
- Milk (optional): Adjusts frosting consistency for easy spreading.
How to Make Soft Lemon Frosted Cookies with Zesty Glaze Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Dry Ingredients
Start by heating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While it warms, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. This simple step ensures all the dry ingredients are evenly mixed and ready to be incorporated.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This crucial step introduces air, making the cookies super soft and tender after baking.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Lemon Flavors
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each to incorporate fully. Then, stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. This creates that irresistible lemony aroma and taste that will brighten your cookie dough.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients and Buttermilk
Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring just until combined to avoid overworking the dough. Next, pour in the buttermilk, which helps keep your cookies lovely and moist.
Step 5: Shape and Bake the Cookies
Use a tablespoon or cookie scoop to drop dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart. Lightly flatten each cookie with the back of a spoon or your fingers to encourage even baking. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until edges are golden and centers are set but still soft.
Step 6: Cool and Frost
Let the cookies cool briefly on the baking sheets, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. While cooling, whip together the frosting ingredients—powdered sugar, softened butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest—and adjust thickness with a little milk if needed. Spread this luscious frosting generously over each cooled cookie.
Step 7: Drizzle the Zesty Glaze
Finally, whisk together the glaze ingredients until smooth, then drizzle the zesty glaze over the frosted cookies. Allow the glaze to set for a few minutes before indulging in these delightful treats packed with fresh citrus flavor.
How to Serve Soft Lemon Frosted Cookies with Zesty Glaze Recipe
Garnishes
For an extra pop of elegance and flavor, sprinkle finely grated lemon zest or edible flower petals over the glazed cookies. A light dusting of powdered sugar can also add a charming touch that makes these cookies look as fabulous as they taste.
Side Dishes
These lemon frosted cookies pair wonderfully with a hot cup of tea, especially Earl Grey or chamomile, which complement the citrus notes beautifully. A dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream can also elevate the indulgence factor if serving as a dessert.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange these delightful cookies on a pretty platter with fresh lemon wedges and sprigs of mint for a stunning presentation. You can even stack them with a layer of lemon curd in between for a mini sandwich-style treat that’s perfect for special occasions or gatherings.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your Soft Lemon Frosted Cookies with Zesty Glaze Recipe fresh by storing leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. They will maintain their soft texture for up to three days, though they are rarely around that long!
Freezing
If you want to save them for later, freeze unfrosted cookies on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. When ready to enjoy, thaw and then frost and glaze freshly to keep that fresh lemon zing intact.
Reheating
Soft lemon cookies are best eaten at room temperature, but if you prefer a warm treat, gently reheat them in a microwave for about 10 seconds. Avoid overheating as it can make the frosting runny and the cookies too soft to hold their shape.
FAQs
Can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk?
Yes! If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, mix one tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar into a cup of milk and let it sit for 5 minutes. This homemade substitute will mimic the acidity and help keep the cookies tender.
How thick should the frosting be?
The frosting should be thick enough to spread easily without sliding off. If it feels too stiff, add milk a teaspoon at a time until you reach a smooth, spreadable consistency perfect for frosting the cookies.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Absolutely! Simply replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend suitable for baking. You may want to add a little xanthan gum if your blend doesn’t include it to help with texture and binding.
What’s the best way to zest a lemon?
Use a microplane or fine grater to remove just the vibrant yellow outer skin, avoiding the white pith underneath, which is bitter. Freshly grated zest adds the best aroma and flavor to brighten your cookies.
How long do these cookies stay fresh?
When stored in an airtight container, these soft lemon frosted cookies remain fresh and delicious for about three days. Beyond that, they may start to dry out and lose some of their tender texture.
Final Thoughts
I can’t encourage you enough to try this Soft Lemon Frosted Cookies with Zesty Glaze Recipe. It’s such a joyful way to bring sunshine to your kitchen and share bright, soft, and zesty flavors with people you love. Whether for a special occasion or a simple treat, these cookies promise to delight your taste buds and warm your heart.
Print
Soft Lemon Frosted Cookies with Zesty Glaze Recipe
- Prep Time: 0h 20m
- Cook Time: 0h 12m
- Total Time: 0h 32m
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Soft Lemon Frosted Cookies with Zesty Glaze are a delightful treat featuring a tender, buttery cookie base infused with fresh lemon zest and juice. Topped with a creamy lemon frosting and a tangy lemon glaze, these cookies offer the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors, making them ideal for any occasion or a refreshing dessert.
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
For the Frosting
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 – 2 teaspoons milk (if needed for consistency)
For the Glaze
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the desired temperature for baking the cookies evenly.
- Prepare Baking Sheets: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent the cookies from sticking and to promote even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. This helps distribute the leavening and salt throughout the flour.
- Set Dry Mixture Aside: Keep the dry ingredients separate until ready to combine with wet ingredients.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender texture.
- Add Eggs: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to ensure proper emulsification and structure.
- Add Lemon and Vanilla: Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until the mixture is well combined and aromatic.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until just incorporated to avoid overdeveloping the gluten.
- Add Buttermilk: Pour in the buttermilk and stir until the cookie dough comes together, ensuring a soft texture.
- Scoop Dough: Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, drop spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Flatten Cookies: Lightly press down each dough ball with the back of a spoon or your fingers to flatten slightly for even baking.
- Bake: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are set.
- Cool Cookies: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Frosting: While the cookies cool, beat together powdered sugar, softened butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a bowl until smooth and creamy.
- Adjust Frosting Consistency: If the frosting is too thick, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of milk until it reaches a smooth, spreadable consistency.
- Frost Cookies: Spread a generous amount of the lemon frosting over the top of each cooled cookie.
- Make Glaze: Whisk powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest together in a small bowl until smooth and pourable.
- Drizzle Glaze: Drizzle the lemon glaze over the frosted cookies and let it set for a few minutes before serving to enhance flavor and appearance.
Notes
- For softer cookies, avoid overmixing the dough after adding the dry ingredients.
- If you prefer a more tart flavor, increase the amount of lemon zest and juice slightly.
- Ensure cookies are fully cooled before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
- Use fresh lemons for the best flavor in both frosting and glaze.
- You can store the cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days for optimal freshness.
