Lemon Crinkle Cookies – Soft, Bright & Covered in Sweet Powdered Sugar Crinkles

🎉 Introduction

These Lemon Crinkle Cookies are a burst of sunshine in cookie form — soft, chewy, slightly cakey, and rolled in powdered sugar that bakes into beautiful snowy crinkles. Every bite is fresh, citrusy, sweet, and irresistibly tender.

If you love lemon bars, lemonade, or anything bright and zesty, these cookies will be an instant favorite. They’re perfect for spring, holidays, baby showers, tea parties, or anytime you want a refreshing dessert that feels light yet indulgent.

These cookies deliver everything: brightness, softness, simplicity, and that classic powdered sugar crinkle that makes them look as good as they taste.

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Mixing bowls
• Hand mixer or stand mixer
• Microplane zester
• Cookie scoop
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Cooling rack

🛒 Ingredients

• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• Zest of 2 lemons
• ½ cup powdered sugar (for rolling)

Optional:

• 1–2 drops yellow food coloring (for a brighter color)

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1: Mix Dry Ingredients

Whisk together in a bowl:

• flour
• baking soda
• baking powder
• salt
  Set aside.

Step 2: Cream Butter, Sugar, Eggs

Beat softened butter and granulated sugar for 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy.

Add:

• egg
• egg yolk
• vanilla
• lemon juice
• lemon zest

Mix until smooth and creamy.

Step 3: Add Dry Ingredients

Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet until a soft dough forms.

Chill dough 30–45 minutes — crucial for thick, soft crinkles.

Step 4: Scoop & Roll

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line baking sheet with parchment.

Scoop 1–2 tablespoon dough balls.
Roll each ball in powdered sugar until fully coated.

Place 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.

Step 5: Bake

Bake 10–12 minutes, until:

• the tops are crinkled
• the edges are set
• the centers still look soft

Cool on the tray for 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack.

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Yield: 20–24 cookies
• Prep Time: 12 minutes
• Chill Time: 30–45 minutes
• Bake Time: 10–12 minutes
• Total Time: ~55 minutes

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Room Temperature: 4–5 days
Freezer (baked): 2 months
Freezer (dough balls): 2 months

Thaw dough balls before rolling in powdered sugar.

🥄 Variations

1. Lemon Almond Crinkles – Add ½ teaspoon almond extract.
2. Lemon Poppyseed Cookies – Add 1 tablespoon poppy seeds.
3. Glazed Lemon Crinkles – Drizzle with lemon icing after baking.
4. Meyer Lemon Crinkles – Use Meyer lemons for sweetness.
5. White Chocolate Lemon Crinkles – Fold in white chocolate chips.
6. Extra Lemon Punch – Add more zest or lemon extract.
7. Lemon Raspberry Crinkles – Add freeze-dried raspberry pieces.
8. Lemon Coconut Crinkles – Add ¼ cup shredded coconut.
9. Gluten-Free Version – Use 1:1 GF flour.
10. Super Soft Version – Add 1 tbsp sour cream for a cakier texture.

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Why didn’t my crinkles crack?
   Dough wasn’t chilled enough OR oven temperature was too low.
2. Why are my cookies flat?
   Butter too warm — chill longer next time.
3. Can I use bottled lemon juice?
   Fresh gives the best flavor and aroma.
4. Can I skip the lemon zest?
   No — it adds most of the lemon flavor.
5. Can I refrigerate overnight?
   Yes — dough can chill 24–48 hours.
6. Can I freeze baked cookies?
   Yes — they thaw beautifully.
7. Do they stay soft?
   Yes — store with a marshmallow or bread slice to maintain softness.
8. Can I make them bigger?
   Absolutely — add 1–2 minutes of baking time.
9. Can I make them less sweet?
   Reduce powdered sugar coating.
10. Why use an extra yolk?
    It adds richer flavor and keeps cookies extra soft and chewy.

🏁 Conclusion

These Lemon Crinkle Cookies are bright, refreshing, impossibly soft, and dusted in the perfect snowy layer of powdered sugar. They’re simple to make, absolutely beautiful on any dessert tray, and bursting with fresh citrus flavor.

If you’re looking for a cookie that’s light yet indulgent, classic yet exciting, and guaranteed to be loved by everyone — this recipe is pure lemon perfection.

Lemon Crinkle Cookies – Soft, Bright & Covered in Sweet Powdered Sugar Crinkles

These Lemon Crinkle Cookies are a burst of sunshine in cookie form — soft, chewy, slightly cakey, and rolled in powdered sugar that bakes into beautiful snowy crinkles. Every bite is fresh, citrusy, sweet, and irresistibly tender. If you love lemon bars, lemonade, or anything bright and zesty, these cookies will be an instant favorite. They’re perfect for spring, holidays, baby showers, tea parties, or anytime you want a refreshing dessert that feels light yet indulgent. These cookies deliver everything: brightness, softness, simplicity, and that classic powdered sugar crinkle that makes them look as good as they taste.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Servings: 20 Cookies

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

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Ingredients

  

• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• Zest of 2 lemons
• ½ cup powdered sugar for rolling
• Optional:
• 1 –2 drops yellow food coloring for a brighter color

Get Our Best App for Daily Great Recipes 🍽️

Discover warm, delicious, home-style meals — fresh recipes added every day inside Jacky’s Kitchen.

Coming Soon

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Hand mixer or stand mixer
• Microplane zester
• Cookie scoop
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Cooling rack

Method

 

Step 1: Mix Dry Ingredients

1. Whisk together in a bowl:
2. flour
3. baking soda
4. baking powder
5. salt
6. Set aside.

Step 2: Cream Butter, Sugar, Eggs

1. Beat softened butter and granulated sugar for 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy.
2. Add:
3. egg
4. egg yolk
5. vanilla
6. lemon juice
7. lemon zest
8. Mix until smooth and creamy.

Step 3: Add Dry Ingredients

1. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet until a soft dough forms.
2. Chill dough 30–45 minutes — crucial for thick, soft crinkles.

Step 4: Scoop & Roll

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Line baking sheet with parchment.
3. Scoop 1–2 tablespoon dough balls.
4. Roll each ball in powdered sugar until fully coated.
5. Place 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.

Step 5: Bake

1. Bake 10–12 minutes, until:
2. the tops are crinkled
3. the edges are set
4. the centers still look soft
5. Cool on the tray for 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Room Temperature: 4–5 days
Freezer (baked): 2 months
Freezer (dough balls): 2 months

Thaw dough balls before rolling in powdered sugar.

🥄 Variations

Lemon Almond Crinkles – Add ½ teaspoon almond extract.

Lemon Poppyseed Cookies – Add 1 tablespoon poppy seeds.

Glazed Lemon Crinkles – Drizzle with lemon icing after baking.

Meyer Lemon Crinkles – Use Meyer lemons for sweetness.

White Chocolate Lemon Crinkles – Fold in white chocolate chips.

Extra Lemon Punch – Add more zest or lemon extract.

Lemon Raspberry Crinkles – Add freeze-dried raspberry pieces.

Lemon Coconut Crinkles – Add ¼ cup shredded coconut.

Gluten-Free Version – Use 1:1 GF flour.

Super Soft Version – Add 1 tbsp sour cream for a cakier texture.

❓ 10 FAQs

Why didn’t my crinkles crack?
Dough wasn’t chilled enough OR oven temperature was too low.

Why are my cookies flat?
Butter too warm — chill longer next time.

Can I use bottled lemon juice?
Fresh gives the best flavor and aroma.

Can I skip the lemon zest?
No — it adds most of the lemon flavor.

Can I refrigerate overnight?
Yes — dough can chill 24–48 hours.

Can I freeze baked cookies?
Yes — they thaw beautifully.

Do they stay soft?
Yes — store with a marshmallow or bread slice to maintain softness.

Can I make them bigger?
Absolutely — add 1–2 minutes of baking time.

Can I make them less sweet?
Reduce powdered sugar coating.

Why use an extra yolk?
It adds richer flavor and keeps cookies extra soft and chewy.

🏁 Conclusion

These Lemon Crinkle Cookies are bright, refreshing, impossibly soft, and dusted in the perfect snowy layer of powdered sugar. They’re simple to make, absolutely beautiful on any dessert tray, and bursting with fresh citrus flavor.

If you’re looking for a cookie that’s light yet indulgent, classic yet exciting, and guaranteed to be loved by everyone — this recipe is pure lemon perfection.