Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies are soft, thick, and bursting with bright lemon flavor. This lemon cookie recipe combines cream cheese, butter, lemon juice and zest, then finishes with a simple lemon glaze for a refreshing treat.
What are Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies?
These cookies are made from butter, cream cheese, sugar and plenty of lemon zest and juice. Cornstarch and cream cheese help produce a thick, tender, and slightly soft texture that stays moist. A bright lemon glaze on top adds extra sweetness and citrus punch, making these cookies light and refreshing.
Tips for Making Excellent Lemon Cookies
- Ensure the dough has enough flour—if it’s too sticky, add a small additional amount of flour (about 1/4 cup at a time) until it holds together.
- Use softened butter, not melted. Properly softened butter keeps the cookie texture correct.
- Cream the butter and sugar well for 2–3 minutes; this improves texture and lift.
- Always preheat your oven so baking times remain consistent.
- Remove the cookies when they look slightly underbaked; they will finish setting on the sheet as they cool.
How Much Lemon Zest Is in One Lemon?
A medium lemon yields about 1 tablespoon of zest, so two medium lemons should provide the zest needed for this recipe.
How to Zest a Lemon
Fresh zest adds vibrant citrus notes. Use the fine side of a box grater, a microplane, or a citrus zester to remove only the bright yellow outer peel. Avoid the white pith underneath, which is bitter. Rotate the lemon as you grate to get even amounts without digging into the pith.
How to Get Juice from a Lemon
Fresh lemon juice is easy to extract: cut the lemon in half and squeeze, or use a handheld citrus press for more juice. Bottled lemon juice will also work if you prefer the convenience.
Ingredients in Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies
Butter: Use softened (not melted) salted or unsalted butter—no margarine.
Cream cheese: Softened to room temperature for a smooth dough. Regular cream cheese gives the best texture.
Sugar: Granulated sugar sweetens and helps with structure.
Egg: One egg binds the dough.
Vanilla extract: Adds depth—use a good-quality extract for best flavor.
Lemon zest: About 2 tablespoons for the dough and an additional tablespoon for the icing.
Lemon juice: Approximately 3 tablespoons for the dough and 1 1/2 tablespoons for the glaze; fresh or bottled both work.
Flour: All-purpose flour works well; you can also use bread or pastry flour.
Cornstarch: Keeps the cookies tender and slightly crumbly.
Baking soda: The leavening agent; be sure it’s fresh.
Salt: Enhances all the other flavors.
Powdered sugar: Used in the glaze for a smooth, sweet finish.
How to Make Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies
1. Beat the softened butter and cream cheese together for 1–2 minutes until smooth. Add the sugar and beat 2–3 more minutes. Mix in the egg and vanilla for another 3–4 minutes.
2. Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice and mix for about 1 minute.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt.
4. Combine the dry ingredients with the wet mixture. The dough should form a ball; if it’s too wet, add up to 1/4 cup more flour and mix until it holds together.
5. Refrigerate the dough for at least 3 hours or up to 3 days. Chilling firms the dough and helps create thicker cookies.
6. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Scoop heaping tablespoonfuls of dough about 2 inches apart on the sheet.
7. Bake 8–10 minutes. If needed, add 2–3 more minutes depending on oven and cookie size. Cookies may look slightly underbaked—allow them to finish on the sheet after removing from the oven.
8. Cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. When cooled, prepare the glaze.
9. For the glaze, mix powdered sugar with lemon juice and lemon zest, adding extra lemon juice a little at a time until you reach the desired consistency. Drizzle or dip the tops of the cookies in the glaze, allow it to set, and store cookies in an airtight container.
LEMON CREAM CHEESE COOKIES
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 2 Tbsp lemon zest (dough)
- 3 Tbsp lemon juice (dough)
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
Icing
- 1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp lemon zest
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Beat butter and cream cheese 1–2 minutes. Add sugar and beat 2–3 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and beat 3–4 minutes.
- Add lemon zest and juice and mix 1 minute.
- Whisk flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt together in a separate bowl.
- Mix dry ingredients into wet. If too wet, add up to 1/4 cup more flour.
- Refrigerate dough at least 3 hours or up to 3 days.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheet. Scoop heaping tablespoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart.
- Bake 8–10 minutes, adding 2–3 minutes if needed. Let cool 5 minutes on sheet, then transfer to rack.
- Mix glaze ingredients to desired consistency, drizzle or dip cookies, let set, then store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Calories: 146 kcal | Carbohydrates: 24 g | Protein: 2 g | Fat: 5 g | Sugar: 13 g
Kitchen Tools That Help
A few simple tools make baking these cookies easier: parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking, a stand mixer or hand mixer to cream ingredients evenly, and a small cookie scoop for consistent-sized cookies.
How to Soften Butter
To soften butter quickly, use the defrost or low-power setting on a microwave for short bursts (10–20 seconds), checking frequently so it becomes pliable but not melted. Alternatively, leave a stick at room temperature for 30–60 minutes.
How to Soften Cream Cheese
Allow cream cheese to sit at room temperature for 15–20 minutes or cut it into smaller pieces to speed up softening. For a faster method, microwave for 10–15 seconds and check, repeating in 5-second intervals until soft but not melted.
More Lemon Recipes to Try
- Lemon Drop Glazed Mini Muffins
- Lemon Cake Truffles
- Lemon Butter Cookies
- Lemon Cheesecake Bars
- Lemon Lush Dessert
- Lemon Raspberry Fruit Pizza
- Meyer Lemon Cookies
- Lemon Oatmeal Cookies
- Lemon Zucchini Cookies
- Lemon Thumbprint Cookies
- Lemon Meltaway Cookies
- Double Lemon Cookies
- Lemon Cream Pie Cookies
- Lemon Jello Sugar Cookies
Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies deliver tender, thick cookies with bright lemon flavor and a glossy lemon glaze—perfect for spring gatherings or anytime you want a citrusy cookie.
Enjoy these cookies with family or friends. They pair nicely with tea, coffee, or a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra-special treat.
