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Soft Lemon Drops

February 13, 2020 By Dawn 6 Comments

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Soft lemon drops are a thick and soft cookie that offers a burst of lemon in every bite. The cookies are easy to make and I love the sweet and tart taste of these cookies.

Frosted lemon cookies on a white plate.

There is something about the winter months when the days are short and the air is cold that makes me want to incorporate citrus into my cooking and baking.

Frosted cookies piled on a white plate with a napkin under the plate.

These soft lemon drops are the perfect way to use citrus, not only do these cookies have lemon juice and zest in them, but the frosting also features lemon juice. So you get a double dose of the great taste of lemon.

These are the ingredients you will need:

  • Sugar
  • Butter
  • Sour Cream- Yogurt can be used in place of the sour cream.
  • Eggs
  • Lemon zest
  • Lemon juice
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Powdered sugar – This if for the icing.

Helpful Tips:

  • As always when it comes to baking cookies you will want your ingredients to be at room temperature. Just remember to take the refrigerator ingredients out the refrigerator about 20 to 30 minutes before you plan to bake with them.
  • If you want to replace the lemon zest or lemon juice with lemon extract here is the rule of thumb for substituting amounts. For the lemon juice, one tablespoon of juice equals one-half teaspoon of lemon extract. For the lemon zest, two teaspoons equal one teaspoon of lemon extract.
  • You will know these cookies are done when the edges begin to brown slightly. Remember cookies keep baking after they are taken out of the oven, so don’t leave them in the oven too long.
  • Remove the cookies from the baking pan and set on the cooling rack to cool completely before you frost them with the icing.

Three frosted cookies on a white plate sitting on a plaid napkin.

Variations of these lemon drop cookies:

  • Try substituting lime or orange juice and zest for the lemon. Or mix up the citrus by using the zest of one fruit and the juice of another fruit. Have fun with the flavors.
  • Try using lime or orange juice for the icing with the lemon cookies.

Can these cookies be frozen?

Yes, they sure can. In fact, my family likes to eat them right out of the freezer. If you prefer to eat them after they thaw, just place the container of cookies on the counter until the cookies are room temperature.

When freezing these cookies make sure to store them in an airtight container. They can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Steps for making Soft Lemon Drops:

Step One:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare the baking pans by lightly greasing them with vegetable shortening or lining them with parchment paper.

Butter, sugar, and sour cream in a glass bowl.
Eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice added to the batter.

Step Two:

Combine the butter, sugar, and sour cream in a large mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed until the ingredients are creamy.

Step Three:

Add the eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice, continue to beat until the ingredients are mixed well using an electric mixer.

Wet ingredients for cookie batter is added in a glass bowl.
Flour, baking powder, and salt in a glass bowl.

Step Four:

Mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Beat the dry ingredients into the batter using the low speed on the mixer.

Step Five:

Drop the dough by rounded teaspoons about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking pan.

Cookie dough in a glass bowl.
Cookie dough is dropped on the baking pan.

Step Six:

Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.

Step Seven:

Remove the cookies from the oven and cool on the cooling rack while the cookies are still on the baking pan for a minute or two. Remove from the baking pan and continue to cool on the cooling rack until completely cooled.

Baked cookies on a baking pan.
Icing for the cookies in a glass bowl with a spoon.

Step Eight:

Combine the powdered sugar and enough lemon juice for the desired spreading consistency in a small bowl. Once the cookies are completely cooled frost.

If you are looking for more cookie recipes take a look at these:

  • Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies
  • Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

Frosted cookies piled on a white plate.

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Frosted lemon cookies on a white plate.

Soft Lemon Drops

Dawn
Soft lemon drops are a thick and soft cookie that offers a burst of lemon in every bite. The cookies are easy to make and I love the sweet and tart taste of these cookies.

5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 12 minutes mins
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 25 cookies
Calories 156 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest from about one lemon
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Icing

  • 3 1/2 to 4 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare the baking by lightly greasing with vegetable shortening or line the pan with parchment paper.
  • Combine the sugar, butter, and sour cream with an electric mixer beat on medium speed until the mixture is creamy and well blended.
  • Add the eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice and continue to beat until the mixture is well mixed.
  • Mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt and add it to the wet ingredients. Using the electric mix on low-speed mix the batter until the dry ingredients are mixed in.
  • Drop by rounded teaspoons onto the prepared baking pan about two inches apart.
  • Place the cookies into the preheated oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are lightly browned.
  • Remove from the oven place the baking pan on a cooling rack and let the cookies sit for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the baking pan and set the cookies on the cooling rack and cool completely.
  • Once the cookies are cooled prepare the icing.
  • Beat the powdered sugar and enough of the lemon juice until the icing is the right consistency for spreading. Gradually add the lemon juice do not add all at once.
  • Store in an airtight container.

Notes

  1. Take out the refrigerator ingredients about 20 to 30 minutes before you are going to start baking. They should be room temperature.
  2. Bake the cookies just until the edges start to turn brown. 
  3. Store the cookies in an airtight container.
  4. These cookies freeze well. They can be kept frozen for up to 3 months.
 
 
 
 
 
Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary with brands of ingredients used.
Keyword soft lemon drops, lemon drop cookies, lemon cookies

This recipe was originally published on October 8, 2013. It has been updated with new content and pictures on February 13, 2020.

 


Filed Under: Cookies and Bars, Desserts

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Joanne

    October 8, 2013 at 10:43 am

    I’m a big fan of lemony sweet treats also and i just know I’d adore these cookies!

    Reply
  2. Pam

    October 8, 2013 at 5:08 pm

    Lemon desserts are my favorite – these look wonderful!

    Reply
  3. Kitchen Riffs

    October 9, 2013 at 5:07 pm

    One can never have too many recipes for lemon cookies! These look wonderful – thanks so much.

    Reply
  4. angiesrecipes

    February 14, 2020 at 2:52 am

    They remind me of lemon biscuits that I adore. Yum!

    Reply
  5. Alexandra

    February 15, 2020 at 7:37 pm

    5 stars
    My kind of delicious sweet treat – I love lemon desserts. Perfect with a cup of tea!

    Reply
  6. David @ Spiced

    February 18, 2020 at 7:31 am

    5 stars
    These remind me of an Italian lemon cookie that one of my friends used to make. I haven’t had those in so long! I love lemony desserts during this time of the year, so I know I would love a batch of these!!

    Reply

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Dawn

Welcome to Words of Deliciousness!
My name is Dawn! I am a wife, mom, grandma and the blogger behind Words of Deliciousness! I love sharing my favorite recipes and I hope some of these become your favorites too.
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Updated on February 18, 2020