Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies (Printable Version)

Bright, zesty treats with fresh lemon flavor and subtle poppy seed crunch. Ready in 32 minutes for the perfect afternoon bite.

# 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 flour, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds until evenly distributed.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
06 - Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
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 Tips:

01 -
  • The texture is wonderfully soft with tiny crunchy surprises in every bite
  • Fresh lemon makes these taste like sunshine even on the grayest days
  • They come together so quickly you can bake them on impulse
02 -
  • Overbaking by even a minute will make these dry—watch those edges closely
  • The glaze needs fully cooled cookies or it will slide right off
03 -
  • Zest your lemons before juicing them—its nearly impossible afterward
  • Room temperature ingredients prevent the dough from seizing up

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