Lemon drop cookies are a sweet-tart treat that everybody loves. They’re easy to make and require just a few simple ingredients!
Lemon dessert lovers! I have a treat for you today! And you know what? There’s no chocolate involved, which is totally out of character for me.
But guess what? These lemon drop cookies are delicious even without chocolate. They’re sweet, they’re tart, they’re chewy and just a little crunchy (because they’re full of crushed lemon drops).
So if you want a dessert that tastes like sunshine, these EASY lemon drop cookies are for you! (You can thank me later.)
Why you’ll love these lemon drop cookies
- They’re really easy to make
- You don’t need a stand mixer for them
- No chilling the dough!
How to make lemon drop cookies
- Beat room temperature butter and granulated sugar together in a mixing bowl
- Mix in an egg, lemon zest, and a few other ingredients
(See below for instructions on bringing butter to room temperature and zesting lemons.)
- Mix in flour until incorporated
- Add finely crushed lemon drops
- Fold in the lemon drops until the dough is cohesive
- Drop into rounded tablespoons on a baking sheet and bake about 10 minutes
And that’s it! You’re done! Lemon lovers rejoice because you’re just a few minutes away from a chewy, lemony, sweet-and-tart treat 🙂
How to bring butter to room temperature
First of all, don’t melt it. Using melted butter in place of room temp butter will alter the texture of your baked goods.
I also don’t recommend softening butter in the microwave because you’ll end up with some butter that’s still cold and some that’s too soft.
The easiest way to bring butter to room temp is just to set it on the kitchen counter for 20 to 30 minutes. If you don’t want to wait, you can cut it into small chunks and it will come to temp faster.
You’ll know your butter is ready to use if, when you press a finger into it, you can make an indentation in the top but the stick still holds its shape.
How to zest a lemon
Since these lemon drop cookies call for lemon zest I thought I’d make very clear what that actually means. Lemon zest is not lemon peel. It’s just the very outer skin of the lemon.
For baking I prefer to use a microplane (as seen above) because it grinds the peel so small that it really disappears into your cookies or cake.
Drag the lemon over the surface of the microplane, scraping off just the yellow outer skin. Don’t zest the white pith underneath. It’s bitter and doesn’t taste lemon-y.
Citrus zesters work similarly to microplanes but I find they too easily grab the white pith underneath the outer layer of peel, and you don’t want that. However, if you’re careful, a zester is fine to use here.
Zesters also create longer strips of zest that you’ll want to chop up before adding to your cookie dough.
Can I freeze lemon drop cookies?
YEP! Lemon drop cookies freeze really well actually. Wrap the baked (and cooled) cookies tightly in freezer paper and/or plastic wrap or foil and they’ll last in the freezer for a couple of months.
If you want to freeze the cookie dough rather than the finished cookies, drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto a baking sheet and freeze for 30 to 40 minutes (until solid). Place the dough balls in a large freezer bag for up to 2 months.
You can bake the dough balls right out of the freezer, just add a few minutes to the baking time.
A few more lemon recipes (in case you’re hungry)
Lemon Cream Pie
Strawberry Lemonade Cake
Lemon Curd Cupcakes
Did you make these lemon drop cookies? That’s great! Let me know what you think with a comment and a rating below. And post a pic on Insta–tag @theitsybitsykitchen so I can see your lovely creations!
Lemon drop cookeis are an easy dessert that lemon lovers go crazy for!
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- finely grated zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour sifted
- 1/2 cup finely crushed lemon drops from about 3 1/4 ounces candy
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper (or spray with cooking spraand set pans aside.
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Combine the butter and sugar in a medium mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla and beat to combine.
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Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, then beat in the baking powder and salt. Add the flour and beat on low speed until just incorporated. Use a rubber spatula (or your handto fold in the crushed lemon drops.
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Roll rounded tablespoons of dough into balls and arrange on the prepared baking sheets 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until cookies are lightly browned around the edges. Cool cookies on baking sheets for 3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Recipe Video
Uneaten cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temp for up to 2 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
David @ Spiced says
July 29, 2019 at 4:41 amPass me that sheet pan of cookies, please! I love a good lemon dessert…especially in the summer. These cookies look delicious, Kelsie! I’ll trade you some ice cream for cookies, ok? Hmmm…think about that combination: peach ice cream with lemon cookies. Talk about summer in a bowl! 🙂
Kelsie says
July 29, 2019 at 6:48 amThat’s a totally fair trade. Thanks David!
Leanne @ Crumb Top Baking says
July 29, 2019 at 5:09 amI’m definitely a lemon dessert lover, and these would be a ray of sunshine in my kitchen today! Plus, I love how easy drop cookies are to whip up! And they freeze well, so I can have a stash of these in my freezer to enjoy any time! Happy Monday Kelsie! Pinned!
Kelsie says
July 29, 2019 at 6:48 amThank you, Leanne!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
July 29, 2019 at 5:14 amHUGE lemon lover over here! These cookies are made for me so can’t wait to try! Lemon really adds something special to baked goods, doesn’t it? Wishin’ I had a few of these with my morning coffee right about now! Happy Monday, Kelsie! Have an awesome week 🙂
Kelsie says
July 29, 2019 at 6:49 amThank you, Dawn!
Kim Lange says
July 29, 2019 at 6:51 amThose look delectable Kelsie! xo Pinning!
Kelly @ Kelly Lynn’s Sweets and Treats says
July 29, 2019 at 6:52 amMy hubby loves anything lemon!! These cookies sound amazing!! And the crushed up lemon candies in them?! Girl!! You are a genius!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
July 29, 2019 at 7:10 amLove that you can freeze and have more for more for later! And all the lemon recipes you’ve shared here look divine!!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
July 29, 2019 at 8:13 amI’m always up for any kind of lemony dessert Kelsie, so these will certainly be added to my baking list!
Milena says
July 29, 2019 at 10:21 amLove that you use crushed lemon drops in a cookie, great idea. I definitely see myself eating the better part of a batch of these:)
Laura says
July 29, 2019 at 12:08 pmI love anything lemon, Kelsie! These look so amazing and easy to make! I love the idea of lemon drops in them for some crunch. Brilliant!
Cheyanne says
July 29, 2019 at 3:49 pmAs much as I love looking at chocolate desserts (they are always so pretty) and as much as Jeremy loves when I make him chocolate desserts, you know I prefer a non-chocolate dessert… because I actually can eat it! 😉 As a lemon lover I am TOTALLY swooning over these cookies!! They are so clever and fun! Not to mention, I bet they taste AHHH-MAZING! I love that you crushed lemon drops and put them IN the cookies! I mean, GENIUS! I definitely need to make these PRONTO! Pinning!
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
July 30, 2019 at 8:44 pmI was SO excited when I saw these on Insta. I love that you put actual lemon drops in them!!! I just want to crush a dozen of them, haha!
Kelsie says
July 31, 2019 at 6:15 pmThank you, Katherine!
sherry says
July 31, 2019 at 4:31 ami’m not sure what lemon drops are but i do love lemon flavours for sweet and savoury dishes. these look delicious.
Kelsie says
July 31, 2019 at 6:15 pmThank you, Sherry!
sheenam @ thetwincookingproject says
July 31, 2019 at 5:47 amKelsie, these cookies look just perfect!!!! YUMMMMAY!
Kelsie says
July 31, 2019 at 6:15 pmThank you!
John / Kitchen Riffs says
July 31, 2019 at 8:25 amLOVE lemon, In fact I’m a lemon freak. So I know you made these just for me, yes? 🙂 Great cookies — thanks.
Kelsie says
July 31, 2019 at 6:15 pmThey’re all for you! Thanks, John!
Jo Thrasher • Jo Eats says
August 1, 2019 at 3:51 amLemon cookies are such a treat with a nice cup of tea. Can’t wait to try these out!
Kelly | Foodtasia says
August 1, 2019 at 8:05 pmKelsie, I can’t even begin to imagine how good these cookies are with the crushed up lemon drops inside! I love lemon drops and lemon desserts. What a brilliant way to get lemon flavor in a cookie!
Emma @ Bake Then Eat says
August 12, 2019 at 7:05 pmTotal lemon addict, I would love a stack of these right now. What a great idea to add crushed lemon drops.