Description
Lemon crinkle cookies dance with zesty brightness, promising pure citrus delight. Powdered sugar coating and tender texture create irresistible Mediterranean-inspired magic you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Lemon Flavoring:
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 58 drops yellow food coloring (optional)
For Rolling:
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Whip softened butter and sugar in a mixer until airy and pale, creating a fluffy base for the cookie dough.
- Incorporate egg, tangy lemon juice, fragrant zest, vanilla, and optional yellow food coloring, blending until smooth and integrated.
- Gradually fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until a uniform dough forms without overmixing.
- Wrap the dough in plastic and chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours to enhance flavor and prevent spreading during baking.
- Heat the oven to 350°F and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cookie removal.
- Remove chilled dough and let sit briefly at room temperature to soften slightly for easier scooping.
- Scoop dough into uniform balls, returning to refrigerator if too soft to handle comfortably.
- Create a two-stage coating by first rolling each dough ball in granulated sugar, then generously dusting with powdered sugar for a classic crinkle effect.
- Arrange sugar-coated cookies on prepared baking sheets, spacing them to allow gentle spreading during baking.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for set edges and slightly soft centers – a key indicator of perfectly textured cookies.
- Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for five minutes to firm up, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling.
Notes
- Refrigerate dough for at least 2 hours to prevent spreading and enhance flavor development during baking.
- Use room temperature ingredients, especially butter and egg, to ensure smooth and even mixing for a consistent cookie texture.
- Avoid overmixing the dough to prevent tough cookies; mix just until ingredients are combined for a tender, soft result.
- Experiment with different citrus zests like orange or lime for unique flavor variations while maintaining the crinkle cookie technique.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg