Description
These Ooey Gooey Lemon Cookies offer a deliciously soft and tangy treat, combining the richness of cream cheese and butter with bright, fresh lemon flavor. Rolled in confectioners’ sugar, these cookies bake to a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture that makes them perfect for any lemon lover’s dessert cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- ½ cup (113g) salted butter, softened
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
- 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- 2 ¼ cups (282g) all-purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ cup (63g) confectioners’ sugar
- ½ cup confectioners’ sugar, for rolling cookie dough
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and allow it to fully preheat to ensure even baking of the cookies.
- Cream butter, cream cheese, lemon zest, and sugar: In a large bowl, use a hand-held mixer to beat the softened butter, cream cheese, fresh lemon zest, and granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Add egg and extracts: Beat in the egg, vanilla extract, and lemon extract to the creamed mixture until fully incorporated.
- Incorporate dry ingredients: On low speed, gradually add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and half a cup (½ cup) of confectioners’ sugar into the wet mixture. Mix until just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Form dough balls and roll in sugar: Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, portion out dough balls. Roll each dough ball in the remaining ½ cup of confectioners’ sugar to coat thoroughly. Place about 6 dough balls per parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them apart since the cookies will spread.
- Bake the cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 11 minutes until the tops no longer look wet. The cookies will be soft when taken out.
- Cool the cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes to set. Then transfer the cookies to wire cooling racks to cool completely before serving.
Notes
- For best texture, ensure butter and cream cheese are fully softened before mixing.
- Do not overbake; cookies should remain soft and slightly gooey in the center.
- Fresh lemon zest enhances flavor more than dried lemon powder or extracts alone.
- Chilling the dough before baking can help reduce spreading if desired.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain their soft texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: lemon cookies, cream cheese cookies, soft lemon cookies, ooey gooey cookies, lemon desserts
