Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies (Printer-friendly)
Zesty lemon cookies with poppy seed crunch. Quick and easy homemade treat perfect for any time of day.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Wet Ingredients
01 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
05 - 2 teaspoons lemon zest
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Dry Ingredients
07 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
08 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
10 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
→ Optional Lemon Glaze
11 - 1 cup powdered sugar
12 - 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
# How-To Guide:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
03 - Mix in egg, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, mixing just until combined.
06 - Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
07 - Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
08 - Let cookies rest on pan for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Whisk powdered sugar with lemon juice until smooth. Drizzle over cooled cookies and allow to set.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The combination of fresh lemon juice and zest creates an authentic citrus flavor that never feels artificial or overwhelming
- These cookies strike that perfect balance between cakey and chewy with a delightful little crunch from the poppy seeds
02 -
- Overbaking these cookies will make them dry rather than chewy, so pull them out when edges are just barely golden
- The glaze adds significant sweetness, so taste a plain cookie first to decide how much you actually need
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients mix together more evenly and create a better texture
- Zest your lemons before juicing them to get the most out of each fruit