These Martha Stewart Glazed Lemon Cookies are so bright and happy with the perfect balance of sweet and tart, you'll want to bottle them up for some instant sunshine on a gloomy day!
When I want dessert, I want dessert. Chocolate. Cookies. Ice Cream. Cake. All sans fruit, please. Don't get me wrong; I'm a huge lover of fruit, I just like to keep it away from my desserts. Usually.
Of course, fruit, and especially citrus, is so light and summery and sometimes I can't resist making a fruity dessert. And occasionally, I actually fall in love with a fruity dessert. Like these glazed lemon cookies.
From this year on, I think I'll have to make these at the advent of every spring. And maybe even in the dead of winter when I'm desperately craving some spring.
If I close my eyes tightly enough, I'm pretty sure I could convince myself the sun is shining, birds are chirping, and it's imperative that I get my AC serviced as soon as possible.
These glazed lemon cookies are that powerful. They're a Martha Stewart recipe that I make over and over again. Try them yourself if you need more convincing.
How to Make Martha Stewart's Lemon Cookies
The best part about these cookies? They're incredibly easy to make and will be ready in no time at all. Meaning, whenever a craving hits or you need a little sunshine in your life, you can have it within the hour.
The batter is simple, but packed with lemon zest and lemon juice. It doesn't need to chill or anything, so right when it's ready, you can pop it in the oven.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest.
In the bowl of an electric mixer or other large bowl with a hand mixer or whisk, beat the butter and sugar together, until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Add in the egg, vanilla, and lemon juice and mix until combined. Slowly mix in the flour mixture until just combined, taking care not to over-mix.
On an un-greased cookie sheet, drop dough by the tablespoon about 1 inch apart.
Bake the cookies for about 15-20 minutes, until edges are golden. Let cool for a couple minutes on the cookie sheets before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
How to Make Lemon Glaze
And while the cookies are baking, you can prepare the glaze, which requires one bowl and about 3 minutes. My kitchen smelled like so much lemon happiness at this moment.
Simply whisk together confectioners’ sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice, until smooth.
Spread the glaze onto those lemon cookies! And then you're ready to bite into a light, refreshing Martha Stewart glazed lemon cookie.
These are totally the kind of cookies you could eat 10 of, no problem. They're soft, but with a little bit of crisp around the edges. Just how I like them.
And they're incredibly tangy and lemony without being too pucker your lips sour.
You should definitely add these lemon cookies to your must-make cookie list. You do have one of those, don't you? If not, start one now. These cookies are quick and super simple, but totally tasty.
Perfect for if you're invited to a last-minute summer BBQ or party and need something to bring along. I don't know about you, but I almost always have all the ingredients necessary for these lemon cookies in my pantry and fridge.
More Lemon Dessert Recipes
If you're as excited about the potential of spring and sunshine as I am, you likely have a major lemon craving! These lemon desserts will help you get your fix:
- No-Bake Lemon Cookie Dough Bars
- Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Cups
- Lavender Lemon Cookies
- Blueberry Lemon Bread
- Blueberry, Lemon, and White Chocolate Chunk Cookies
- Tuscan Lemon Muffins
- Blueberry Vodka Lemonade (fine, not a dessert, but a necessary lemon cocktail!)
- Lemon Meringue Pie (from Grandbaby Cakes)
- Lemon Cream Cheese Muffins (from OMG Chocolate Desserts)
Now, I wonder how these cookies would taste with some chocolate chips involved. Just kidding. Kind of. (Seriously though, white chocolate? Now, that could be awesome).
Are you a fruity dessert person or do you prefer your fruit more as a healthy snack?
Glazed Lemon Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp finely grated lemon zest
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Lemon Glaze (recipe below)
Lemon Glaze
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 2 Tbsp finely grated lemon zest
- ⅓ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer or other large bowl with a hand mixer or whisk, beat the butter and sugar together, until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add in the egg, vanilla, and lemon juice and mix until combined.
- Slowly mix in the flour mixture until just combined, taking care not to over-mix.
- On an un-greased cookie sheet, drop dough by the tablespoon about 1 inch apart.
- Bake the cookies for about 15-20 minutes, until edges are golden. Let cool for a couple minutes on the cookie sheets before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
- When cookies are completely cooled, spread with lemon glaze.
Lemon Glaze
- In a medium bowl, whisk together confectioners’ sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice, until smooth.
Notes
View web story for this recipe.
Erica says
These remind me a lot of the lemon cookies Maria (two peas and their pod) makes- it looks so yummy. i am definitely a fruity dessert person. For some reason, I'm not a huge chocolate person. In fact, the only time I've really enjoyed chocolate (a specific chocolate- the baking chunks) has been during pregnancy! Odd ball I am 🙂 I wish I was going to BlogHer! Have so much fun
Maris says
I must admit that fruit is more of a snack and sweets are more of a dessert, These lemon cookies look like a perfect dessert!
Simply Life says
oh they look like the perfect spring/summer cookie!
emily @ the happy home says
i am so with you on the fruit thing. i'm all chocolate and sweet all the time until BAM! i need something with fruit. these look so good! (and is there anything more delectable than looking at butter and sugar creamed together?)
Julie Q says
I'm usually a fruit as a snack kind of girl, but if it sneaks into my desserts, I don't turn it away 😉
Jeannie says
I love anything with lemons and these cookies of yours looks yummy! I love fruits in cakes e.g. stone fruit cakes or tortes:) But I love fruits in salads too!
Pam says
They look refreshing and delicious - yum!
Sharon says
These cookies were incredible...so, so good!
Maria @ Scandifoodie says
I normally eat fruit as a dessert, it's a perfect way to end a meal (even though they say you should actually eat your fruit BEFORE a meal because it digests differently). These cookies look great, I love lemony treats.
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
I think the same thing when choosing dessert, but lately lemon has much more appeal. These cookies sound wonderful and refreshing!
Alicia Fidalgo says
I love lemon desserts! and these cookies seem like 'anytime' cookies. Like, I always have all of these ingredients in the house and could make them at anytime. I'll have to bookmark this for the next time I'm craving something sweet and homemade!
Michelle says
I definitely prefer fruity desserts over chocolate desserts!
Jenn's Food Journey says
I have a recipe very similar to this that a friend of mine's mom gave me. I love them.... they are my second favorite cookie! And honestly, I think white chocolate chips would actually work really well in these cookies....but if I can find a way to put chocolate in something, I will 🙂
brandi says
i've been loving lemon desserts lately!
Lexi says
YUM!
last week, I found a lemon poppyseed cookie in a coffee shop, so now I am loving all things lemon...I want to try both cookie recipes!
Amy says
looks delish, light, summery/springy! yum!
Mary @ Delightful Bitefuls says
Mm mmmm! I LOVE lemon cookies and that addition glaze is to die for!
Shannon says
and for this reason i'm glad i froze down meyer lemon juice 🙂
Joan says
Yum! I made a lemon cake for Easter and have been wanting something lemony ever since. I made this lemon glaze for it and it was sooo good. I will definitely print this cookie recipe. Thanks!
Kelly says
I'm the same way. What urks me the most are dieting websites and cookbooks that suggest fruit is dessert. Plain fruit. Not for me, thanks.
Christina says
Is it wrong that I would eat these as an afternoon snack with the full intention of having something chocolate-y for dessert after dinner? Seriously, I would love these with some iced mint tea. And seeing as how I'm southern, I would probably eat them on a veranda overlooking a lush garden.
Michelle Collins says
These look great! I'm always looking for lighter, non-chocolate desserts in the summertime, so i will definitely be holding on to this recipe!
Susan says
I love lemon desserts and these look wonderful with the bits of lemon zest. I like the idea of white chocolate 😉
Holly says
Mmmmm Lemon is my favorite!! I have got to try these cookies : )
Mary says
These look wonderful. I love lemon and can imagine just how good they must taste. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary
Daisy says
I like fruit in dessert, but i like it more with something chocolatey! These look fantastic, though. what a perfect warm weather cookie.
briarrose says
I usually eat plain fruit as dessert....but rarely include it in my actual desserts....I've never noticed that before. Lemon I usually think of as more of an ingredient than a fruit though since I'd never just nab a slice and nosh it...unless of course liquor of some sort is involved. 😉
Lovely, bright cookies. Perfect for a spring day. Chocolate and lemon....shockingly good combination....I would totally sneak some into these cookies.
Sharlene says
As I get older and the dense chocolate desserts start creeping on my thighs I've come to appreciate the light and more guilt-free option of fruity desserts. I still love my chocolate but these look amazing too now!
Lauren @ Sassy Molassy says
Yes, these are the best. I made them a few weeks ago. I think they're perfect (and sweet enough) without the icing, but that's just my call. I love how light tasting these are (even though they're not healthy). Perfect for summer!
Reeni says
I have been craving lemon cookies like crazy - love these! Tart and sweet are my favorite for desserts!
lena says
these lemon cookies look light to me, i wld love them! couldnt agree more on the aftermath! messy kitchen..so much washing to follow up..!