Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies (Printable Version)

Soft-baked treats with fresh citrus essence and delicate crunch from poppy seeds. Finished with optional tangy glaze.

# 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 Make It:

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, approximately 2-3 minutes.
03 - Mix in egg, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds until evenly distributed.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
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. Centers should appear slightly underbaked.
08 - Let cookies rest on baking sheet 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 glaze to set before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • They strike that perfect balance between tart and sweet without being overwhelming
  • The texture is soft in the middle with just enough crisp at the edges
  • They come together quickly but taste like you put in way more effort
02 -
  • Overmixing once you add flour makes cookies tough, so stop as soon as everything comes together
  • They might look slightly underbaked when you pull them out, but they firm up perfectly while cooling
  • The glaze is worth the extra 2 minutes, especially if you are serving them to guests
03 -
  • Roll the dough balls in extra sugar before baking for a sparkly crunchy exterior
  • If your dough feels too soft, chill it for 15 minutes before scooping

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