Description
If you could bottle up sunshine and stuff it in a cookie, this would be it! These soft and chewy lemon poppy seed cookies are made in 20 minutes from start to finish!!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest (from about 1 large lemon)
- 1/4 cup (50 g) light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice or milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the granulated sugar and lemon zest. Use your hands to massage the zest into the sugar for about 20 seconds.
- Add the brown sugar and butter to the bowl and use a hand mixer (or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment) to mix on medium high speed for 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add the egg and vanilla. Mix again for 20 seconds to combine.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the butter and egg mixture. Mix on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Add the poppy seeds and mix to combine, again being careful not to overmix.
- Use a medium size cookie scoop to divide the dough into 12 equal balls. Place 6 cookie dough balls on each prepared cookie sheet, leaving 2-3 inches between each ball.
- Bake the cookies one sheet at at time in the center rack of the oven for 9 to 10 minutes. The edges should be set and the bottoms just beginning to turn a golden brown. The tops will be pale and slightly puffy. As the cookies cool, the tops will deflate slightly.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and cool on the cookie sheet for 15 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the glaze, whisk together the sifted powdered sugar and lemon juice or milk until smooth. If too thin, add more powdered sugar. If too thick, add more lemon juice or milk. Once the desired consistency is reached, drizzle the glaze over the top of the cooled cookies. Sprinkle with more poppy seeds for added crunch.
Notes
For the best flavor, use Meyer lemons.
Store cookies tightly covered at room temperature for up to 4 days.
To freeze the dough, place the cookie dough balls on a cookie sheet. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer for one hour until the dough is firm. Transfer the dough balls to a large freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Bake directly from the freezer, adding a minute or two to the baking time.