Soft Lemon Cookies
Soft Lemon Cookies are light, tangy treats with a lemon flavor, perfect for spring gatherings or a sweet snack with a zesty twist.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Combine sugar, shortening, salt, and yellow food coloring; blend thoroughly.
- Add egg, sour milk or buttermilk, soda, and lemon extract; mix well.
- Roll out small portions of dough at a time; cut with a biscuit cutter.
- Place on a cookie sheet; if desired, sprinkle with sugar over the top of cookies.
- Bake at 375°F for 10 minutes.
Tips & Substitutions
For softer cookies, avoid overmixing the dough after adding the wet ingredients. If you don't have sour milk, you can make a quick substitute by adding a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to regular milk and letting it sit for a few minutes. To enhance the lemon flavor, consider adding a teaspoon of lemon zest to the dough.
Serving Suggestions
These soft lemon cookies are delightful on their own or served with a cup of tea or coffee. They pair beautifully with Applenutter Treats for a sweet platter. For a fun twist, try drizzling some lemon glaze over the top after baking for extra flavor and presentation.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. For longer storage, you can freeze them for up to three months. To reheat, simply place them in a warm oven for a few minutes until they are soft and slightly warm.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Soft Lemon Cookies contains roughly 51 calories, with 1g protein, 10g carbohydrates, and 1g fat.
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use butter instead of shortening?
Yes, you can substitute butter for shortening in this recipe. However, the texture may be slightly different; cookies made with butter tend to be a bit crisper. If you prefer softer cookies, stick with shortening or use half butter and half shortening.
What if I don't have lemon extract?
If you don't have lemon extract, you can use an equal amount of fresh lemon juice as a substitute. Note that this may slightly alter the texture of the cookies, so you might want to add a bit of extra flour if the dough seems too wet.
How can I make these cookies more colorful?
To make the cookies more vibrant, you can add additional yellow food coloring until you achieve your desired shade. Alternatively, consider rolling the cookies in colored sugar before baking for a festive look.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).