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Lemon Drop Cookies

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Lemon drop cookies are a sweet-tart treat that everybody loves.  They’re easy to make and require just a few simple ingredients!

lemon drop cookies on a wire rack in front of a dish of lemon drops and a bottle of milk

Pinterest image for lemon drop cookies with text overlay

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

how to make lemon drop cookies steps 1 and 2

  • 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.)

how to make lemon drop cookies steps 3 and 4

  • Mix in flour until incorporated
  • Add finely crushed lemon drops

how to make lemon drop cookies steps 5 and 6

  • 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.

microplane sitting next to 2 lemons
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 recipes you might enjoy
Lemon Cream Pie
White Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
Strawberry Lemonade Cake
Lemon Curd Cupcakes

stack of lemon drop cookies in front of a bottle of milk

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!

5 from 11 votes
lemon drop cookies on a wire rack in front of a dish of lemon drops and a bottle of milk
Print
Lemon Drop Cookies
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
25 mins
 

Lemon drop cookeis are an easy dessert that lemon lovers go crazy for!

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 25
Author: Kelsie
Ingredients
  • 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
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper (or spray with cooking spraand set pans aside.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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

Recipe Notes

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.

Related

Comments

  1. Emma @ Bake Then Eat says

    August 12, 2019 at 7:05 pm

    Total lemon addict, I would love a stack of these right now. What a great idea to add crushed lemon drops.

    Reply
  2. Kelly | Foodtasia says

    August 1, 2019 at 8:05 pm

    5 stars
    Kelsie, 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!

    Reply
  3. Jo Thrasher • Jo Eats says

    August 1, 2019 at 3:51 am

    5 stars
    Lemon cookies are such a treat with a nice cup of tea. Can’t wait to try these out!

    Reply
  4. John / Kitchen Riffs says

    July 31, 2019 at 8:25 am

    LOVE lemon, In fact I’m a lemon freak. So I know you made these just for me, yes? 🙂 Great cookies — thanks.

    Reply
    • Kelsie says

      July 31, 2019 at 6:15 pm

      They’re all for you! Thanks, John!

      Reply
  5. sheenam @ thetwincookingproject says

    July 31, 2019 at 5:47 am

    Kelsie, these cookies look just perfect!!!! YUMMMMAY!

    Reply
    • Kelsie says

      July 31, 2019 at 6:15 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  6. sherry says

    July 31, 2019 at 4:31 am

    i’m not sure what lemon drops are but i do love lemon flavours for sweet and savoury dishes. these look delicious.

    Reply
    • Kelsie says

      July 31, 2019 at 6:15 pm

      Thank you, Sherry!

      Reply
  7. Katherine | Love In My Oven says

    July 30, 2019 at 8:44 pm

    5 stars
    I 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!

    Reply
    • Kelsie says

      July 31, 2019 at 6:15 pm

      Thank you, Katherine!

      Reply
  8. Cheyanne says

    July 29, 2019 at 3:49 pm

    5 stars
    As 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!

    Reply
  9. Laura says

    July 29, 2019 at 12:08 pm

    5 stars
    I 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!

    Reply
  10. Milena says

    July 29, 2019 at 10:21 am

    Love that you use crushed lemon drops in a cookie, great idea. I definitely see myself eating the better part of a batch of these:)

    Reply
  11. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

    July 29, 2019 at 8:13 am

    5 stars
    I’m always up for any kind of lemony dessert Kelsie, so these will certainly be added to my baking list!

    Reply
  12. annie@ciaochowbambina says

    July 29, 2019 at 7:10 am

    5 stars
    Love that you can freeze and have more for more for later! And all the lemon recipes you’ve shared here look divine!!

    Reply
  13. Kelly @ Kelly Lynn’s Sweets and Treats says

    July 29, 2019 at 6:52 am

    My hubby loves anything lemon!! These cookies sound amazing!! And the crushed up lemon candies in them?! Girl!! You are a genius!

    Reply
  14. Kim Lange says

    July 29, 2019 at 6:51 am

    5 stars
    Those look delectable Kelsie! xo Pinning!

    Reply
  15. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

    July 29, 2019 at 5:14 am

    5 stars
    HUGE 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 🙂

    Reply
    • Kelsie says

      July 29, 2019 at 6:49 am

      Thank you, Dawn!

      Reply
  16. Leanne @ Crumb Top Baking says

    July 29, 2019 at 5:09 am

    5 stars
    I’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!

    Reply
    • Kelsie says

      July 29, 2019 at 6:48 am

      Thank you, Leanne!

      Reply
  17. David @ Spiced says

    July 29, 2019 at 4:41 am

    5 stars
    Pass 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! 🙂

    Reply
    • Kelsie says

      July 29, 2019 at 6:48 am

      That’s a totally fair trade. Thanks David!

      Reply

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About

photo of Kelsie Roehl     Hey there! I’m Kelsie and this is where I share my buttery, sugary, and all-around delicious recipes. I LOVE to bake and I want you to love baking too, so all of my recipes are totally do-able for the home baker.  If you need a little dessert in your life, consider this your one-stop shop for anything sweet! Need a little more info? Here you go!

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