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Lemon Sugar Cookies

Lemon Sugar Cookies

These lemon sugar cookies are super soft, and so easy to make. Lemon sugar cookies with soft lemon frosting – they make the perfect treat!

Swig style lemon sugar cookies

Sugar cookies are not typically my cookie of choice. I’ll admit it. Just not my favourite.

I know it’s weird, everyone loves sugar cookies. 

But I’ve just never really been a fan.

Until trying Swig Sugar Cookies that is. That’s when I discovered that they just need to be the right kind of sugar cookie for me to like them.

Lemon Swig sugar cookies

It’s maybe not ideal that I discovered this.

If you’ve never tried Swig sugar cookies, they’re super soft sugar cookies, with a soft sour cream based frosting, that are made without chilling or rolling out the dough.

Also part of the reason I like this style of sugar cookie – there’s way less hassle involved.

Lemon Swig sugar cookies

These lemon sugar cookies are the most recent version of Swig sugar cookies that I’ve tried, and they might be even better than the original version. 

Lemon desserts of any kind are always a hit around here, and these lemon sugar cookies were no exception.

So easy to make, and so tasty, these lemon sugar cookies are the perfect treat!

Lemon sugar cookies

Are cream of tartar and baking soda the same thing?

Cream of tartar and baking soda are not the same thing.

They react with each other to produce carbon dioxide bubbles which is what produces the leavening in these cookies, so don’t leave one out.

Lemon swig sugar cookies

How much juice is in a lemon? 

One lemon typically averages about 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.

I love this style of lemon juicer for getting all the juice out of the lemons easily.

This recipe calls for 6 tablespoons of lemon juice, so plan on about 3 lemons.

Easy to make lemon sugar cookies

How much zest do you get from one lemon? 

One lemon typically averages about 1 tablespoon of lemon zest.

I like this microplane grater for zesting my lemons.

For this lemon sugar cookie recipe you will need 4 tablespoons lemon zest total, so plan on about 4 lemons for this amount.

Easy Swig style lemon sugar cookies

How to make Lemon Sugar Cookies:

  • You will need a 2 1/2 inch wide glass to press the cookies down and end up with that rough edge – I find a 250mL (8oz) mason jar works perfectly for this.
  • These cookies are quite large, I’ve also made them small enough that I get 48 cookies (instead of 36). For that size of cookie the bake time was 7-8 minutes rather then 8-10, and the cup I used to press them down was about 2” wide. Roll the dough into balls that are about 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough instead of about 2 tablespoons each for smaller cookies.
  • I store these cookies in the fridge as there is sour cream in the frosting. We like them best cold anyways, and they are still super soft straight out of the fridge.

Here are a few more fantastic cookie recipes for you: 

I’ve also shared this Lemon Sugar Cookies Recipe over on Food Fanatic.    

Yield: 30-36 large cookies

Lemon Sugar Cookies

Soft lemon sugar cookies

These lemon sugar cookies are super soft, and so easy to make. Lemon sugar cookies with soft lemon frosting - they make the perfect treat!

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

For the cookies:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons lemon zest
  • 4 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 large eggs
  • 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

For the frosting:

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 6 tablespoons sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Cream together the butter, oil, sugar, powdered sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and eggs until smooth and well combined.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda and cream of tartar.
  4. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition, until all of the dry ingredients have been incorporated into the dough.
  5. Roll the dough into golf ball sized balls and place them 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet.
  6. Dip the bottom of a glass (about 2 1/2 inches wide) in some granulated sugar and then press down on one of the cookie dough balls until it is about 1/2” thick. This will leave a flat middle section with a rough edge.
  7. Repeat with the rest of the cookie dough balls.
  8. Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, or until they are just set. They stay soft, so make sure not to over bake them.
  9. Let them cool for 5-10 minutes on the cookie sheet then move them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  10. To make the frosting, cream together the butter, sour cream, and lemon zest until well combined.
  11. Add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  12. Add 2-3 tablespoons of lemon juice to thin the frosting to your desired consistency (start with 2 tablespoons).
  13. Whip the frosting for one minute, then spread about 1 tablespoon of frosting on each cookie.
  14. Allow it to set, and then store the cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Notes

Source: Adapted from my Swig Sugar Cookies.

Recommended Products

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

36

Serving Size:

1 cookie

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 259Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 83mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 1gSugar: 21gProtein: 2g

Nutrition Information is estimated based on ingredients used and may not be exact.

Morgan

Saturday 18th of April 2020

These are the best cookies I’ve ever had in my life. Will be making them frequently!

Stacey

Saturday 18th of April 2020

So glad you liked them!

Erika

Thursday 2nd of April 2020

Will these freeze well with the frosting on them?

Stacey

Friday 3rd of April 2020

Yes, I've frozen them with the frosting on them! Just put layers of wax paper or parchment paper between the layers of cookies so they don't stick together.

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