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Italian Lemon Drop Cookies

Bright, soft cookies bursting with lemon flavor, topped with a glossy lemon glaze; perfect for any occasion.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings: 32 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 100

Ingredients
  

For the Cookies
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon zest
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons milk, only if dough seems dry
For the Lemon Glaze
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, plus more as needed
  • 1 tablespoon milk, optional for softness
  • to taste extra lemon zest or rainbow nonpareils for topping

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Set your oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment so the cookies don’t stick.
  2. Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
  3. In a separate large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time and mix until smooth.
  4. Mix in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla.
  5. Stir in the dry ingredients on low just until combined. If the dough looks too crumbly, add up to 2 tablespoons milk.
  6. For neat domes, chill the dough for 15 minutes.
  7. Use a small cookie scoop or a rounded tablespoon to drop dough onto the sheets, leaving a little space.
Baking
  1. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until set and just barely golden on the bottom.
  2. Cool on the sheet for 2 minutes, then move to a rack. Let them cool completely before glazing.
Glazing
  1. Whisk powdered sugar with lemon juice and milk until you get a thick, pourable icing.
  2. Dip or spoon glaze over each cookie. Add zest or sprinkles while the glaze is wet.
  3. Let it set until the surface is dry to the touch, about 30 to 45 minutes.

Notes

Fresh lemons are a must for the best flavor. Chilling helps cookies keep their shape. Store in an airtight container at room temp for 4 days or freeze glazed cookies for up to 2 months.