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Home » Popular » American Recipes » Glazed Lemon Cookies

Glazed Lemon Cookies

April 17, 2012 by Savoring Italy

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Glazed Lemon Cookies are made with a super simple slice-and-bake dough. Topped with a tart lemon glaze made with freshly squeezed lemon juice, these cookies are perfect for the holidays or any time of the year.

Most people may not typically think of Glazed Lemon Cookies as a traditional Christmas cookie. Over here they thought about during Christmas and I am not sure how the tradition started. It may just be my tradition because they are one of my favorites on the cookie tray.

As irresistible as they are, they are no longer baked just for Christmas. This batch was made during Christmas and it has taken me almost 4 months to post them. I was overloaded with cookies and thought I would give cookie recipes here a break. I was looking through my photos and came across them. These are the almost forgotten and most wonderful cookies that must be shared.

overhead image of glazed lemon cookies

I found this recipe in a Real Simple magazine and then lost the magazine. I sometimes forget you can just google a recipe and most likely find it. Instead I searched frantically through my piles of magazines. I found an older Real Simple of mine…the December issue from 2009 (I especially love to save holiday magazines, do you?).

The recipe in that issue was actually for Orange-Glazed Cookies. I finally got on the computer googled the Real Simple lemon version and found the link to their site with the recipe (why didn’t I think of that sooner).  If you prefer an orange glaze, go ahead and switch out the lemons to oranges. I made a batch at Christmas time with clementines and they were also wonderful.

overhead image of glazed lemon cookies

What makes these cookies as irresistible as they are?

There is something about the lightness of the cookie that has a slight crisp on the edges. The inside is not too soft; it has the perfect cookie texture topped with the tangy lemon glaze that is just the right sweetness. Not too tart and not overly sweet.

The kind of cookie I could eat a dozen of if I had absolutely no self-control. And the fun part is, no stress in decorating them. Really! You just spoon on the glaze or dip the cookie on one side in the glaze and swirl it around. Voila’…it’s shiny and pretty! No-fuss cookies that you need to bake for your sweetie pies or just for yourself like I sometimes do. Go ahead! You deserve them!;)

What ingredients are needed to make glazed lemon cookies?

  • unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • sugar
  • egg yolks
  • pure vanilla extract
  • kosher salt
  • all-purpose flour

For the Lemon Glaze

  • confectioners’ sugar
  • fresh lemon juice, plus more if necessary
  • grated lemon zest

How do you make glazed lemon cookies?

With an electric mixer, beat the butter and granulated sugar until fluffy. Add the egg yolks, vanilla, and salt and beat to combine. Gradually add the flour, mixing until just incorporated.

Divide the dough in half and shape into 1 1/4-inch-diameter logs. Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.(don’t mind the odd shape of my log. I tried to make it a perfect log…I tried;)

overhead image of sliced cookie dough on baking sheet

Heat oven to 350° F. Slice the logs into 3/8-inch-thick pieces and space them 1 1/2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until lightly golden, 16 to 20 minutes (my cookies were done in about 14-15 minutes. Be sure to check yours at about 13 minutes. Every oven is different). Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks to cool completely.

In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, lemon juice, and zest until it forms a thick but pourable glaze (add more lemon juice if necessary). Dip the top of each cookie into the glaze and let set, about 15 minutes.

*Be sure to use a cool cookie sheet for each batch of cookies. This will ensure that the cookies all bake the same.

Some other cookie recipes to try this holiday:

  • Chocolate Crackle Cookies
  • Cuccidati-Sicilian Fig Cookies
  • Italian Lemon Knot Cookies
  • Sicilian S Cookies
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Glazed Lemon Cookies

Glazed Lemon Cookies are made with a super simple slice-and-bake dough. Topped with a tart lemon glaze made with freshly squeezed lemon juice, these cookies are perfect for the holidays or any time of the year.
Prep Time1 hr
Cook Time20 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Christmas cookie, Cookies
Servings: 48 cookies
Author: Lora

Ingredients

  • Cookie Dough
  • 3/4 cup 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • Lemon Glaze
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice plus more if necessary
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Instructions

  • With an electric mixer, beat the butter and granulated sugar until fluffy. Add the egg yolks, vanilla, and salt and beat to combine. Gradually add the flour, mixing until just incorporated.
  • Divide the dough in half and shape into 1 1/4-inch-diameter logs. Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
  • Heat oven to 350° F. Slice the logs into 3/8-inch-thick pieces and space them 1 1/2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until lightly golden, 16 to 20 minutes (my cookies were done in about 14-15 minutes. Be sure to check yours at about 13 minutes. Every oven is different). Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks to cool completely.

Notes

Freeze: Dough could be frozen for up to 2 months. When ready to bake, follow the recipe instructions, cutting and baking the dough from frozen, and bake for 20 minutes (could be done sooner, be sure to check your cookies at 16 minutes, depends on your oven).
Tried this recipe?Mention @savoringitaly or tag #savoringitaly!
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Comments

  1. Chic & Gorgeous Treats says

    April 17, 2012 at 2:45 am

    oOO I love cookies glazed in lemon glazed!! can never resist anything with citrus too.. Simple and a perfect for anytime of day.. Have a good week ahead Lora!! Take care.. xoxo

    Reply
  2. Shulie says

    April 17, 2012 at 2:50 am

    Love these cookies Miss Lora. Lemon flavored actually are my favorite. We've all been busy but missing you!!

    Reply
  3. fromcupcakestocaviar@gmail.com says

    April 17, 2012 at 3:33 am

    mmmm, lemon and glaze. You won em over! And yep, I'm a magazine saver too. I used to save just about all of them but when I realized we were close to needing a new house just for magazines, I cut it down to just the special ones, like the Christmas issues of good magazines 🙂

    Reply
  4. Dionne Baldwin says

    April 17, 2012 at 4:08 am

    Don't tempt me! I love a good lemon cookie! That citrus burst hits me in the mouth just right!

    Reply
  5. Jamie says

    April 17, 2012 at 7:34 am

    Oooh who doesn't love lemon desserts? These cookies look perfect and the sweet and tangy glaze kicks them up a couple of notches in my book. Love!! Perfect summer cookies, right?

    Reply
  6. Maureen @ Orgasmic Chef says

    April 17, 2012 at 8:38 am

    I love lemon cookies! These sound absolutely perfect. Grab a cup of tea, put my feet up and eat a couple of these and I'd be a happy woman.

    Reply
  7. Marnely Rodriguez-Murray says

    April 17, 2012 at 10:44 am

    Love Lemon cookies, specially glazed! And I'm just like you, make something, photograph it and months later, hey! 🙂

    Reply
  8. Paula says

    April 17, 2012 at 1:43 pm

    Lemon cookies (though perhaps not as much as)shortbread and gingerbread are always so enjoyable I don't know why we tend to think they are just to be baked at Christmas time. Glad you found the pictures and posted this.

    Reply
  9. Kiri W. says

    April 17, 2012 at 3:32 pm

    Mmm, these look like perfect little treats with a tang. Lovely 🙂

    Reply
  10. Karriann says

    April 17, 2012 at 3:51 pm

    Mmm… I really can't resist anything lemon glazed! Yum!

    "Happy Cooking"

    Reply
  11. Carolyn says

    April 17, 2012 at 6:22 pm

    Deeee-lishus! I am tweeting these!

    Reply
  12. A Thought For Food says

    April 17, 2012 at 10:37 pm

    Lemon glaze always elevates the flavors in a cookie… and it's one of my favorite things to add to any baked good. This looks so good, Lora. Seriously fabulous.

    Reply
  13. Jean (Lemons and Anchovies) says

    April 17, 2012 at 11:48 pm

    I love everything about these cookies–"not too tart and not overly sweet"–sounds perfect to me!

    Reply
  14. Cookin' Canuck says

    April 18, 2012 at 3:57 am

    This is exactly the kind of cookie I would like to nibble while drinking my afternoon cup of tea. I love that they're not to sweet, with a little tang from the lemon.

    Reply
  15. recipeland says

    April 18, 2012 at 3:34 pm

    These cookies look so cute and I am sure the flavor is just as good as they look 🙂

    Reply
  16. Lisa says

    April 18, 2012 at 3:50 pm

    I always think of lemon cookies as summer cookies lol Not that I don't love them all year 'round, but a bite into tart and sweet lemon is sunshine to me. These cookies look amazing..so glad you finally got them up! LOVE the glaze!

    Reply
  17. Lizzy says

    April 18, 2012 at 4:11 pm

    Simple and delicious!!! Perfect sweet to go with my cup of English breakfast tea 🙂

    Reply
  18. Asmita says

    April 20, 2012 at 12:57 am

    These cookies look wonderful! Perfect with my cup of hot "chai".

    Reply
  19. Cathleen says

    April 20, 2012 at 2:46 pm

    Oh wow. I love baking with lemon, but I still don't have a microplane! I'm waiting on that to bake something lemony, but until then, I will bookmark this 😉

    Reply
  20. Kim - Liv Life says

    April 20, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    Oh, Lora!!! What a treat these little gems are!!

    Reply
  21. kita says

    April 21, 2012 at 2:26 am

    I am so glad that I am not the only one with a stash or recipes that I haven't posted yet! My step mom absolutely loves lemons and I have had a few strays rolling around my counter tops (literally) lately. It's time to give them a cause. 😀

    Reply
  22. Claire says

    April 22, 2012 at 5:16 am

    These are a favorite! I am rounding up a group of food bloggers for a virtual baking club; let me know if you might be interested!

    Reply
  23. Barbara | Creative Culinary says

    April 23, 2012 at 3:19 am

    Wish I had some of these right now. I actually made myself a real dinner tonight but alas…no dessert. boo hoo.

    Reply
  24. Lo-mo says

    April 29, 2012 at 6:02 pm

    These are the perfect spring time cookie…they look fabulous!

    Reply

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Welcome to our Italian kitchen! We are Lora and Gabriella, the mother-daughter team behind Savoring Italy. We work hard to create recipes that are inclusive of many sorts of diets, but do not follow one diet. Read More

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