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    Home » Desserts » Cookies

    Glazed Lemon Cookies

    By Jill Baird · Published December 4, 2022 · 15 Comments

    glazed lemon cookies on parchment paper, lemon glazed cookies.

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    Jump to Recipe
    lemon glazed cookies
    glazed lemon cookies

    These light and fluffy Glazed Lemon Cookies are lemony, soft, and topped with a delicious lemon glaze.  They’re made with fresh lemon juice and zest and have the perfect balance of sweet and sour.

    If you love lemons, it will be impossible to resist these buttery, sweet, and perfectly tart Glazed Lemon Cookies.  The dough itself is made with a hefty dose of fresh lemon zest. But, as if that weren’t enough, we top it all off with a light, bright lemon glaze. 

    Jump to:
    • Lemon Glazed Cookies
    • Ingredients in Glazed Iced Cookies
    • Tips & Tricks
    • How to Store Glazed Cookies
    • More Lemon Recipes
    • Glazed Lemon Cookies Recipe

    Lemon Glazed Cookies

    Between the bold lemon flavor and the insanely soft texture, thanks to the cornstarch, these cookies may just become your new favorites.  They’re equally perfect to make during the hot summer, or any time you're craving a burst of lemon goodness. 

    If you're on the hunt for more irresistible lemon recipes, be sure to try my Lemon Blueberry Muffins, Lemon Raspberry Parfait, Lemon Bars, and of course a classic, Lemon Curd. 

    how to make glazed lemon cookies with lemon cookie glaze, best lemon cookies recipe.

    Ingredients in Glazed Iced Cookies

    • Butter - you want your butter to be at room temperature so that it will cream properly with the sugar.  We prefer to use unsalted butter in this recipe.
    • Sugar - use plain white granulated sugar.
    • Eggs - it’s helpful if your eggs and yolks are at room temperature so that they will mix smoothly into the butter and sugar.
    • Vanilla Extract - pure vanilla extract tastes best.
    • Lemon Zest - use fresh lemon zest.
    • Flour - all-purpose flour works great.
    • Cornstarch - this helps to make the cookies nice and soft.  Any type will work.
    • Baking Soda - this helps the cookies to rise a bit in the oven.
    • Salt - we like to use sea salt.
    • Powdered Sugar - we recommend sifting to remove any lumps.
    • Lemon Juice and Zest - use fresh lemons for both the juice and zest as they have a much better flavor than the bottled juice.  If you can find them, you could also try using Meyer lemons for a slightly different flavor.
    recipe for lemon cookies with lemon glaze,  frosted lemon cookies.

    Have you ever done a recipe swap? I'm doing it with a few friends. If lemon desserts are your favorite, you're in luck! You can try out my friend Michaela's original Chewy Glazed Lemon Cookies on her site,  An Affair from the Heart. I have been following her for a while and it's been so fun to get to know her.  Her recipes are always spot on and she has an incredible collection of lemon recipes, yes, please!  You can find the 25+ Lemon Recipes here. 

    Her baked Glazed Lemon Donuts are delish and I can't wait to try her Lemon Sweet Rolls. They're my new favorites. 

    glazed lemon cookie recipe, lemon frosted cookies. lemon glaze recipe.

    Lemon Glaze Recipe for Cookies

    1. In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, fresh lemon juice and lemon zest.  Well until completely smooth, adding a little extra lemon juice or water to thin down as necessary.
    2. Use a spoon to drizzle the cooled cookies with the glaze, then let the glaze set at room temperature before storing.  Enjoy!
    lemon cookies with lemon glaze, cookies stacked up on top of each other. glazed cookie with lemon glaze recipe.

    Tips & Tricks

    • Glaze the cooled cookies. Make sure your cookies have cooled completely before glazing them. Otherwise, the glaze will run off the edges and become very thin.
    • Room temperature ingredients. Make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature so that you can make a cohesive dough. It will also help to prevent you from overmixing.
    • Fresh lemons only. For best results, always use fresh lemons. It doesn’t take much more effort, will taste much better and the lemon zest from the lemons adds so much tart flavor.

    How to Store Glazed Cookies

    • Storing at room temperature.  Store Glazed Lemon Cookies in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 5 days at room temperature.  Make sure the icing has been set completely before transferring them.
    • Storing in the freezer.  You can freeze completely cooled cookies before glazing them for the best results.  Store in freezer bags either in a single layer or in 2 layers separately by parchment paper.  Once you are ready to eat them, thaw them at room temperature and glaze them.
    • Freezing the dough.  You can freeze the unbaked dough to be baked at a later time.  Just make and scoop the dough as directed, then place it on a baking sheet to chill for about 1 hour.  Once they have firmed up slightly, transfer them to freezer bags and store them frozen for up to 2 months.  You can bake them from frozen whenever you get the urge!  Just add a couple of minutes to the baking time.

    More Lemon Recipes

    • Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake
    • Lemon Blueberry Bread
    • Lemon Poppy Seed Bread
    • Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars
    • Lemon Syrup Recipe
    glazed lemon cookies on parchment paper
    Print

    Glazed Lemon Cookies Recipe

    These light and fluffy Glazed Lemon Cookies are lemony, soft and topped with a delicious lemon glaze.  They’re made with fresh lemon juice and zest, and have the perfect balance of sweet and sour.
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Cooling time 5 minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes
    Servings 24 people
    Calories 313kcal
    Author The Carefree Kitchen

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup Butter room temperature
    • 1 ¼ cup Sugar
    • 1 large Egg room temperature
    • 1 large Egg Yolk room temperature
    • 1 ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
    • 2 Tablespoons Lemon Zest
    • 2 ¼ cups All-Purpose Flour
    • 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
    • ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
    • ½ teaspoon Salt

    Lemon Glaze for Cookies

    • 1 cup Powdered Sugar
    • 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
    • 2 teaspoons Lemon Zest

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, or about 3-5 minutes. Slowly add the egg, egg yolk, vanilla and lemon zest and mix on low, scraping the bowl as needed to make sure it is all mixed.
    • In a separate large bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt. Mix until combined, then add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low until the dough is well-combined. Do not overmix.
    • Using spoons or a small ice cream scoop, scoop 1" balls, place them onto a parchment-lined baking sheet about 3 inches apart and then flatten them slightly with the palm of your hand.
    • Bake in a preheated oven for 9-11 minutes, or until slightly golden on the edges. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for a couple minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

    How to Make Lemon Glaze for Cookies

    • In a small mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest. Well until completely smooth, adding a little extra lemon juice or water to thin down as necessary.
    • Use a spoon to drizzle the cooled cookies with the glaze, then let the glaze set at room temperature before storing. Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 313kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 214mg | Potassium: 75mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 278IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1mg

    Take a look at all of our 2021 Freaky Friday Spring Edition Recipes:

    1. A Dish of Daily Life - Smoky Chicken Street Tacos
    2. An Affair from the Heart - Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas with Cilantro Lime Butter
    3. An Affair from the Heart - Blueberry Mojitos
    4. Aunt Bee's Recipes - Easy Chile Relleno Casserole
    5. The Carefree Kitchen - Glazed Lemon Cookies
    6. The Culinary Compass - Easy Candied Pecan Recipe
    7. Devour Dinner - Cheese Stuffed Meatloaf
    8. The Foodie Affair - Keto Broccoli Salad
    9. The Fresh Cooky - Bowtie Pasta Recipe
    10. Hostess at Heart - No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake 
    11. House of Nash Eats - Roast Beef Sliders
    12. Lemon Blossoms - Lemon Blueberry Crumb Bars
    13. Lemoine Family Kitchen - Lemon Blueberry Bread
    14. Life, Love & Good Food - Sandwich Cubano
    15. Off the Eaten Path - Grilled Vegan Guacamole
    16. Or Whatever You Do - Blackstone Mexican Style Street Corn
    17. The Speckled Palate - Lemon Bars
    18. Take Two Tapas - Pepperoni Pizza Pinwheels

    If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest,  feel free to leave a comment and photo there too.  Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

    Glazed Lemon Cookie Pinterest Pin

    Between the bold lemon flavor and the insanely soft texture, these Glazed Lemon Cookies may just become your new favorites.  They're made with fresh lemon juice and zest and have the perfect balance of sweet and sour.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Brandi Burgess

      May 13, 2021 at 10:50 pm

      I love all things lemon! These look like the perfect cookies!

      Reply
    2. Rebecca

      May 11, 2021 at 11:05 am

      Lemon is so refreshing and delicious. I love a light and zesty cookie recipe!

      Reply
    3. Erin

      May 10, 2021 at 7:53 pm

      I am obsessed with all lemon desserts and these cookies are an utter dream! Combined with that glaze... wow. Just WOW.

      Reply
    4. Sam

      May 10, 2021 at 9:00 am

      Lemon desserts are my favorite! I can't wait to make these for my family!

      Reply
    5. Jennifer Stewart

      May 10, 2021 at 7:13 am

      The light and bright cookies are perfect for Spring! Lemon goes well with everything in my opinion!!

      Reply
    6. Amy Nash

      May 09, 2021 at 10:39 pm

      I'm a sucker for lemon desserts! They are such a nice change of pace! And the glaze on these is divine!

      Reply
    7. Chrissie

      May 09, 2021 at 8:10 am

      I love lemon flavored desserts the most! These look amazing!

      Reply
    8. Angela

      May 08, 2021 at 8:20 pm

      These look perfect! I too am a huge lemon in desserts fan. Heck, I even chose a lemon blueberry bread for our swap. These cookies are definitely going on the must make list.

      Reply
    9. Michaela Kenkel

      May 08, 2021 at 9:55 am

      This is one of my FAVORITE cookie recipes EVER!! I am so happy that you loved them, too!!

      Reply
    10. Sandra Shaffer

      May 07, 2021 at 11:17 pm

      Fresh baked cookies are my favorite dessert, and anything lemon is always a hit at my house. I'm going to try to freeze have the batch to make them last a little longer!

      Reply
    11. Kathy

      May 07, 2021 at 8:55 pm

      I love lemon everything and these cookies are pure perfection!! Such a nice texture and flavor. A winner for sure.

      Reply
    12. Sheila Thigpen

      May 07, 2021 at 6:27 pm

      Lemon iced cookies are my favorite! I love that cornstarch tip for giving them such a dreamy texture. They look delish!

      Reply
    13. Kathleen P

      May 07, 2021 at 4:22 pm

      Lemon is my absolute can't say no to ingredient! Something about it's pucker power paired with sweet that just makes my tongue sing! I cannot wait to try these cookies!

      Reply
    14. Michelle

      May 07, 2021 at 2:11 pm

      Lemon desserts are the best. These are delicious!!!

      Reply
    15. Nicole Johnson

      May 07, 2021 at 8:31 am

      Lemon cookies just scream SPRING to me. These are beautiful!

      Reply

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    Hi! I'm Jill.

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