These lemon sugar cookies are super soft, and so easy to make. Lemon sugar cookies with soft lemon frosting – they make the perfect treat!
Sugar cookies are not typically my cookie of choice.
I’ll admit it. Just not my favourite. I know it’s weird, everyone loves sugar cookies.
But I’ve just never really been a fan.
Until trying Swig Sugar Cookies that is. That’s when I discovered that they just need to be the right kind of sugar cookie for me to like them.
It’s maybe not ideal that I discovered this.
If you’ve never tried Swig sugar cookies, they’re super soft sugar cookies, with a soft sour cream based frosting, that are made without chilling or rolling out the dough.
Also part of the reason I like this style of sugar cookie – there’s way less hassle involved.
These lemon sugar cookies are the most recent version of Swig sugar cookies that I’ve tried, and they might be even better than the original version.
Lemon desserts of any kind are always a hit around here, and these lemon sugar cookies were no exception.
So easy to make, and so tasty, these lemon sugar cookies are the perfect treat!
Are cream of tartar and baking soda the same thing?
Cream of tartar and baking soda are not the same thing. They react with each other to produce carbon dioxide bubbles which is what produces the leavening in these cookies, so don’t leave one out.
How much juice is in a lemon?
One lemon typically averages about 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.
This recipe calls for 6 tablespoons of lemon juice, so plan on about 3 lemons.
How much zest do you get from one lemon?
One lemon typically averages about 1 tablespoon of lemon zest.
For this lemon sugar cookie recipe you will need 4 tablespoons lemon zest total, so plan on about 4 lemons for this amount.
How to make Lemon Sugar Cookies:
- You will need a 2 1/2 inch wide glass to press the cookies down and end up with that rough edge – I find a 250mL (8oz) mason jar works perfectly for this.
- These cookies are quite large, I’ve also made them small enough that I get 48 cookies (instead of 36). For that size of cookie the bake time was 7-8 minutes rather then 8-10, and the cup I used to press them down was about 2” wide. Roll the dough into balls that are about 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough instead of about 2 tablespoons each for smaller cookies.
- I store these cookies in the fridge as there is sour cream in the frosting. We like them best cold anyways, and they are still super soft straight out of the fridge.
Here are a few more fantastic cookie recipes for you:
- Chocolate Swig Sugar Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies
- Raspberry Lemon Cookies
- Rainbow Cream Cheese Cookies
- Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies
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If you love this recipe, be sure to check out our favorite lemon desserts!
Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter
- 3/4 cup Vegetable Oil
- 1 1/4 cups Granulated Sugar
- 3/4 cup Powdered Sugar
- 3 tablespoons Lemon Zest
- 4 tablespoons Lemon Juice
- 2 large Egg
- 5 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/2 teaspoon Cream Of Tartar
- 1/4 cup Unsalted Butter
- 6 tablespoons Sour Cream
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Zest
- 4 cups Powdered Sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons Lemon Juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Cream together the butter, oil, sugar, powdered sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and eggs until smooth and well combined.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda and cream of tartar.
- Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition, until all of the dry ingredients have been incorporated into the dough.
- Roll the dough into golf ball sized balls and place them 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet.
- Dip the bottom of a glass (about 2 1/2 inches wide) in some granulated sugar and then press down on one of the cookie dough balls until it is about 1/2” thick. This will leave a flat middle section with a rough edge.
- Repeat with the rest of the cookie dough balls.
- Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, or until they are just set. They stay soft, so make sure not to over bake them.
- Let them cool for 5-10 minutes on the cookie sheet then move them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the frosting, cream together the butter, sour cream, and lemon zest until well combined.
- Add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Add 2-3 tablespoons of lemon juice to thin the frosting to your desired consistency (start with 2 tablespoons).
- Whip the frosting for one minute, then spread about 1 tablespoon of frosting on each cookie.
- Allow it to set, and then store the cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week, or freeze for up to 3 months.