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Lemon Drop Cookies are soft and chewy with just the right amount of lemon goodness thanks to lemon drop candy. A lemon glaze adds even more lemon flavor.
I think if I had to pick one all time favorite flavor it would be LEMON! Today’s recipe for Lemon Drop Cookies was the first lemon recipe I ever shared on the blog. I originally shared this recipe just a few months after I started this blog in 2007. I have been making them ever since.
Are Lemon Drops The Same Thing as Lemon Heads?
They are not the same thing. You need to use Lemon Drops, NOT Lemon Heads.
How to Make Lemon Drop Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
- Cream sugar with butter and shortening in your mixer with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs and flavoring and blend well.
- Sift dry ingredients and gradually add to wet mixture.
- Add lemon zest and crushed lemon drops.
- Form the dough into balls and then use a fork to press down slightly.
- While they are baking mix up your lemon glaze.
- After the cookies cool, add glaze to cookie. You want the glaze slightly runny so it spreads nicely.
- If you like, sprinkle the glaze while it is still wet with some additional crushed lemon drops.
Can I Use Butter Instead of Shortening ?
I do love butter but this cookie uses part shortening, part butter because the shortening helps keep the cookie softer. The addition of the lemon drops in the cookie can dry out the cookie and the shortening keeps the cookie soft. If you use all butter. your cookie will be a crisper cookie, but still delicious!
This recipe also makes a LOT of cookies ( 5 dozen) so be prepared to share. I originally made this cookie at Christmas time but it is a perfect year round cookie. You can also half the recipe.
If you love lemon like I do you will love these cookies!
For other lemon goodness try these:
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Lemon Drop Cookie Recipe
Lemon Drop Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 cup butter/shortening I used 1/2 c butter and 1 c shortening
- 3 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp lemon extract
- 4 cups flour
- 1 1/2 tsp soda
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- finely chopped zest of 1 lemon
- 6 oz. package crushed lemon drops
- 1 cup powdered sugar I doubled this
- juice of 1 lemon double
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Cream sugar and shortening in your mixer with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs and flavoring and blend well.
- Sift dry ingredients and gradually add to wet mixture.
- Add lemon zest and crushed lemon drops.
- Roll in balls, flatten with a fork.
- Bake on parchment paper for 10-12 minutes.
- Whisk together powdered sugar and lemon juice to make a glaze.
- Cool 1-2 minutes, brush with glaze.
Julie Spady says
Mmmmm!!!
Leigh Anne says
Thanks Julie!
Leigh Anne says
Jackie,
I actually responded to you via email as soon as I got the comment and the email was returned to me. Not sure why. Be sure and let them dry really well before you pack them and then you can even layer some wax paper between each cookie and that will help also.
Sorry you didn’t get my initial email.
Jackie says
Hi Leigh Anne
I want to pack these cookies up in put them in a cookie box, how do you pack them so the icing does not stick to the bottom of the cookies.
Sondi Brown says
I have a fantastic Molasses Crinkles Cookie Recipe that everyone always wants. Can’t wait to try the Lemon Cookie – I love lemon!!
Katherine says
Hi Leigh Anne,
Thanks for posting on my blog! I know exactly who you are because Allison’s sister Annie told me you might contact me if you needed help setting up your blog, which you obviously didn’t because your blog looks awesome! I’m so flattered you read my blog and that you posted this recipe! If you’re looking for new cookie recipes, I have one to suggest. (Maybe you already know about it.) Go online and look up a recipe for snickers cookies- they are peanut butter cookies and you take the dough and wrap it around a Snickers Mini. They are sinful but a big crowd-pleaser. 🙂 I’ll probably feature them on my blog sometime, but I thought I’d let you know. What a fun tradition!! You have a beautiful family. I’ll be checking in on you!