Lemon Sugar Pastel Glaze Cookies (Printable Version)

Tender lemon-infused sugar cookies topped with delicate pastel glaze—ideal for springtime festivities.

# What You Need:

→ Cookies

01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
04 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
08 - 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
09 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Glaze

10 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 2 to 3 tablespoons milk (whole or 2%)
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
13 - Pastel food coloring (pink, blue, yellow, or green)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl.
03 - Beat softened butter and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Add egg, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. Mix until thoroughly combined.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
06 - Scoop tablespoon-sized dough balls onto baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Flatten gently with your palm or a glass.
07 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until edges are golden. Let cookies cool on tray for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
08 - In a bowl, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and lemon juice until smooth. Adjust consistency by adding more milk as needed.
09 - Divide glaze among bowls and tint each with pastel food coloring.
10 - Dip cooled cookies into glaze or drizzle over tops. Allow glaze to set for at least 20 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • There&aposs something magical about biting into a cookie that tastes like fresh air and sunlight — your friends will ask for the secret.
  • They&apose soft and tender, and the glaze brings a burst of color to any table, which made me feel like a pastry artist the first time.
02 -
  • If you rush the cooling step, the glaze melts and gets sticky, so let the cookies cool fully — I learned this after a streak of smeared color.
  • Using just a tiny bit of food coloring gives that soft pastel look; more is never better, especially for aesthetic spring cookies.
03 -
  • Always sift the powdered sugar or the glaze gets lumpy, and it&aposs impossible to fix once it&aposs on the cookies.
  • Letting the dough rest in the fridge for 15 minutes keeps the cookies from spreading too much and holds their shape for decorating.
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