Italian Lemon Cookies with Lemon Glaze are made with a few staple ingredients such as flour, sugar, eggs, butter, lemon extract and lemon zest then baked until lightly golden and topped with a lemon glaze and green colored sprinkles to make them festive for Christmas! These cookies are very light and delicate with a soft texture that melts in your mouth with every bite. YUM!
One of our favorite cookies for the holidays! And, I make them every year around this time!
It’ no secret, we love the flavor of lemon. Every time we make these Italian lemon cookies, they quickly disappear.
The subtle lemon flavor throughout the cookie along with its delicate texture, melt in your mouth while eating is what make these cookies so addicting. They’re irresistible!
Italian lemon cookies with lemon glaze are so simple to make, simply because it’s one step! No need to chill the dough beforehand or roll it out either. Just whip up a batch and bake!
Once they are completely cooled, then you can quickly glaze them.
Your family and friends will go bonkers for these Italian Lemon Cookies, and kids will enjoy making them too.
Italian Lemon Cookies are not just for the holidays, you can make them throughout the year, and they freeze well too!
An old Italian recipe that goes back for generations, these Italian Lemon Cookies are very popular these days! A super easy recipe that bakes in 10 minutes! They freeze well too!
You’ll have to try them and see for yourself!
Enjoy!
*You can follow along below or jump down to the bottom of this post for our full recipe card.
Italian Lemon Cookies with Lemon Glaze:
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1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
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3/4 cup of sugar
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4 eggs
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2 + 1/2 tsp. pure lemon extract
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3 cups, plus 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
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5 tsp. baking powder
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1/2 tsp. salt
Preheat oven to 375 degrees (185 C).
In a large mixing bowl. Beat butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time and beat until each egg is well combined. Stir in the lemon extract.
In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt with a fork.
Slowly add flour mixture to the egg mixture, and beat until the dough is smooth and sticky.
Drop by teaspoons onto an non-stick baking sheet, and space them apart, about 2-inches.
Shape each one into a ball as best as you can, using the back of a spoon to assist you.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool before topping with glaze.
Lemon Glaze:
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2 + 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
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3 Tbsp. milk
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1/2 tsp. pure lemon extract
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1 Tbsp. lemon zest
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green colored sprinkles
In a small bowl, mix the first four ingredients together until smooth.
Set aside for 2 minutes, allowing the glaze to thicken. Top each cookie with some glaze, about 1 teaspoon. Garnish with green sprinkles on top. Set them aside for the glaze to dry.
Yields: 34 to 36 cookies
You might also enjoy a few more cookie recipes, try these:
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Ultimate Bittersweet Chocolate Chip Cookies
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Dulce de Leche Butter Cookies
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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
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Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Cookies – No flour & No butter!
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Snow Ball Christmas Cookies
Italian Lemon Cookies with Lemon Glaze for Christmas!
Author: 2 sisters recipes
Recipe type: Cookies / Holiday Treats /Snack
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 3 dozen
Italian Lemon Cookies with Lemon Glaze ~These cookies are very light and delicate with a soft texture that melts in your mouth with every bite. Easy to decorate with colored sprinkles to make them festive for the holidays! Enjoy!
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup of sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 + ½ tsp. pure lemon extract
- 3 cups, plus 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 5 tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. salt
For LEMON GLAZE:
- 2 + ½ cups confectioners sugar
- 3 Tbsp. milk
- ½ tsp. pure lemon extract
- 1 Tbsp. lemon zest
- green colored or red colored sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a large mixing bowl. Beat butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time and beat until each egg is well combined. Stir in the lemon extract.
- In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt with a fork.
- Slowly add flour mixture to the egg mixture, and beat until the dough is smooth and sticky.
- Drop by teaspoons onto an ungreased baking sheet, and space them apart, about 2-inches.
- Shape each one into a ball as best as you can, using the back of a spoon to assist you.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool before topping with glaze.
Directions for Lemon Glaze:
- In a small bowl, mix the first four ingredients together until smooth.
- Set aside for 2 minutes, allowing the glaze to thicken. Top each cookie with some glaze, about 1 teaspoon. Garnish with colored sprinkles on top. Set them aside for the glaze to dry. When ready, store cookies in sealed containers.
- Yields: 3 dozen cookies
18 Comments
Tricia Buice
December 20, 2016 at 2:41 pmHow simple and I bet they are delicious! I adore lemon desserts so these cookies are perfect for me! Merry Christmas ladies – hope you have a wonderful time with family and friends.
annaliz
December 20, 2016 at 8:44 pmHi Tricia! We adore your lemon desserts too!
Have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends!!
Enjoy!!
Elaine Pittman
December 21, 2016 at 8:57 pmJust made a batch of these. Thought I was through baking for the season but have been craving sonething lemon and these were wonderful! Thanks
annaliz
December 21, 2016 at 9:13 pmSo glad to hear! And thanks Elaine for leaving a sweet comment!!
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Barbara Bakes
December 22, 2016 at 12:49 amI love lemon cookies. These would be a hit at my house. Merry Christmas!
annaliz
December 23, 2016 at 1:58 pmThank you Barbara! And the same to you, have a very Merry Christmas !!
SavoringTime in the Kitchen
December 23, 2016 at 4:30 pmI love how puffed and beautiful Italian cookies look! This lemony version sounds so delicious and lemon is my 2nd favorite dessert after chocolate 😉 Wishing both your families a very wonderful Christmas!!
annaliz
December 23, 2016 at 4:35 pmOurs too!! Thank you and we wish you a wonderful Christmas this weekend!!
Xoxo
Roz Corieri Paige
December 27, 2016 at 5:31 pmI have to say that Italians have some of the MOST delicious cookie recipes . . . including yours with all of the lemon! Lemon is so wonderful during winter! I hope that your Christmas was full of love and that you have a most blessed 2017!
annaliz
December 28, 2016 at 3:25 amYou are so sweet Roz, thank you for your lovely comment, and hope you had a wonderful Christmas as well.
Valery
August 13, 2017 at 2:42 amLooks amazing! I should try to make that snacks)
I`m following your blog with a great pleasure with Google+
Please follow me back – http:///sunnyeri.blogspot.com
Claudia
November 28, 2017 at 8:47 pmmy brother loves lemon and the Italian drop cookies like these. I will have to make them and surprise him he will go nuts!
by Anna and Liz
November 29, 2017 at 3:31 amHello Claudia! Welcome to our blog, it’s so nice to meet you! I hope your brother will enjoy them as much as we do and Thanks for stopping by!
cheri
November 29, 2017 at 4:42 pmThese look similiar to a cookie my mother in law used to send us every year but she passed before we could get the recipe, thank you they are beautiful.
2 Sisters Recipes
December 1, 2017 at 4:29 pmThank you Cheri! I hope these cookies with bring you joy and fond memories of the past holidays!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
November 30, 2017 at 8:08 amSo pretty! I love lemon cookies. So fresh tasting and your festive sparkles are just perfect 🙂
2 Sisters Recipes
December 1, 2017 at 4:30 pmThank you Jennifer! Have a great weekend!
Barbara
December 4, 2017 at 8:07 amI’m crazy about lemon cookies too! These sound great.