These lemon crinkle cookies put a delightful spin on the classic chocolate crinkles! They have crispy edges and soft, lemony centers, making them a simple and enjoyable treat that will be a hit with everyone!
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Crinkle cookies combine the chewiness of a cookie with the texture of a snowball cookie! Before baking, they’re coated in powdered sugar, which creates a classic “crinkle” appearance on top as they spread.
You only need a few basic ingredients for these lemon crinkle cookies:
- Lemon extract: It gives a strong lemon flavor without adding too much acidity, which can affect baking. You can find it in paste or liquid form in the baking aisle of your local grocery store.
- Lemon zest: Optional but adds extra flavor. You can grate fresh lemon zest for this.
- Yellow coloring: Optional for a brighter yellow color. Just a few drops of yellow food coloring will do.
Why Chill the Dough?
Chilling the dough is crucial for a few reasons:
- Hydrating the Flour: Allowing the dough to rest lets the flour soak up moisture from the eggs. This helps control the cookie’s spread during baking, resulting in a nice balance of soft centers and crisp edges.
- Keeping Butter Cold: Cold butter prevents the cookies from spreading too much in the oven. We want some spread for the perfect texture, but too much can lead to flat, dry cookies.
- Easier Handling: The dough for these lemon crinkle cookies is soft and sticky. Chilling it makes it much easier to work with and shape into balls before baking.
Recipe FAQ’s:
How long do these cookies stay fresh?
Store the baked lemon crinkle cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will remain fresh for up to 4 days. You can also refrigerate the dough for up to a week and bake them as needed.
Can I freeze the lemon crinkle cookie dough?
Absolutely! Shape the dough into balls, and freeze them in an airtight container for up to 2 months. When ready to bake, thaw for about 30 minutes, roll in granulated and powdered sugar, then bake. You might need to add around 1-2 minutes to the baking time.
Why roll the lemon crinkles in both granulated sugar AND powdered sugar?
Rolling the cookies in granulated sugar first creates a barrier that helps the powdered sugar maintain its texture, giving you that perfect crinkled appearance.
Love cookies? Be sure to check out these other delicious cookie recipes!
Brownies Cookies
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
Italian Ricotta Cookies
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