Ooey Gooey Lemon Cookies are going to be THE cookie of summer! These from-scratch Ooey Gooey Lemon Cookies were inspired by my Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies. They are sweet and satisfying and super fun to make! Don’t miss my 50 Best Cookie Recipes if you want more great cookie options! If you love lemon desserts, try my easy Lemon Mousse!
Oh, and here is the super popular Orange Creamsicle version!
Ooey Gooey Lemon Cookies
If you are looking for a delicious cookie that has the most wonderful hint of lemon, these are the cookies for you. I am a huge fan of my Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies and thought that if I made a few simple changes to the recipe it would convert well to a lemon cookie. Well, (oddly) I was right! These cookies are soft, sweet, a little tart from the lemon zest, and easy to make! Once you try them I can’t help but think you will agree! Along the same lines, I also went for an Orange Creamsicle Cookie following the same butter cookies recipe!
What Are Ooey Gooey Lemon Cookies?
Basically one of the sweetest cookies known to man! When my husband tried one his response was, “Now that’s a good cookie.” The kids were just as pleased, asking if they could do chores to earn another sweet cookie! They are addicting, which is tough because they are so sweet you know you shouldn’t eat two!
I use lemon extract in these cookies. If you don’t have lemon extract, you can use fresh lemon juice. Here is a simple equivalency:
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice = 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1 teaspoon lemon zest = 1 teaspoon lemon extract
There is lemon zest and lemon extract in this dough, so swapping out for fresh lemon juice should be ok. (I have not tested it, we thought this cookie was amazing as-is.) For this recipe specifically, you would use 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice instead of lemon extract, which is about 1 medium lemon.
Should You Refrigerate Cookie Dough?
Now, you may have noticed that I did not refrigerate the dough. Most recipes call for this so I, of course, tested that. What exactly does refrigerating do for cookies? Well, when you chill cookie dough, it solidifies the fat. Then, when you are ready to bake the cookies, the chilled dough takes longer to melt and remains solid longer, meaning the cookies spread less. For this recipe specifically, that meant the cookies were much more puffed up and tall, which also meant I had to bake them a bit longer to make sure they were actually baked through. The edges browned and didn’t look as pretty as I would like.
Those cookies actually tasted less ooey gooey when the dough was chilled, so I opted to delete that instruction and use the dough immediately after preparing. The cookies are a bit flatter, but they are still just as ooey gooey and delicious!
How to Freeze Lemon Cookies
The very best way to freeze these cookies is to freeze the dough. I like to scoop out my individual cookies, place them on a baking sheet, and then place in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Once they are chilled through, I place them in an airtight bag and then label it with the cookie name and date.
How to Store Ooey Gooey Lemon Cookies
If you want to store baked cookies, grab a large flat plastic container and place a layer of parchment or wax paper on the bottom. Set cookies down, place another layer of wax or parchment, then another layer of cookies. Set a slice of bread (it will get very dry but the cookies will remain moist) in the container and close. Be eaten within 3 days.
Looking for More Great Cookie Recipes?
Chocolate Chip Cookies (rated 500+ times!)
Ooey Gooey Lemon Cookies
Ingredients
Lemon Cookie Recipe
- 1/2 cup (113g) salted butter, softened
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
- 1-1/2 cups (300g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- 2-1/4 cups (282g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (63g) confectioners sugar
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
Topping
- 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, for rolling cookie dough in
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer, beat butter, cream cheese, lemon zest, and granulated sugar until blended.
- Add in egg, vanilla, and lemon extract.
- Add in flour, baking powder, and 1/2 cup confectioners sugar. With the mixer on low, gradually beat into creamed mixture.
- Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop dough and then roll in the remaining 1/2 cup of confectioners’ sugar. Place approximately 6 dough balls on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. (Cookies will spread.)
- Bake until they no longer appear wet on top, 8-11 minutes. After about 5 minutes cooling on the pan (they will be soft!), place on cooling racks to cool completely.
Video
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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I made these cookies today. I added 2 tsp. lemon peel and 2 tsp. lemon juice. The cookies are delicious! I will definitely be making them again.
I made these but I added a box of instant Lemon pudding for alittle more lemon taste. Loved them
Made these tonight with 4 kids (ages 3-11). Had fun making these – every kid wants to roll dough in yummy powdered sugar. Cookies were delicious with big YUMS from everyone.
I’m excited to see this recipe today. Last week I purchased Lemon cookies at our Whole Food store. Yesterday I went back (20 miles) to buy more. Your recipe looks like the cookies I bought. I will make these later this week. thank you, I love all your recipes I’ve tried.
Hi u r the superb bakar and very beautiful I was interested u r Bekary and your training with me plz mem
Love this recipe
Thanks for the lemon recipe will try it soon …. how will I subscribe to your link to get more recipes…smiles
First time making and they are awesome! I ate so many that now I need to make another batch! Lol
Thank you for a great recipe! I only had half a bar of cream cheese so I used that as well as the zest and juice of a whole lemon inc. the teaspoon of lemon extract called for in the recipe. My mixture (understandably b/c I didn’t follow all the directions exactly) came out a more wet than normal cookie dough texture but I got the really sweet/tart/tasty lemon bar flavor that I was looking for! I didn’t end up rolling the dough in the confectioner’s sugar at the end, which may have helped with controlling how I put the amounts in the oven, but they came out pretty good! Thanks again for the recipe.
Very tasty lemon cookies .. I do enjoy your recipes.