Italian Lemon Cookies
Perfect melt in your mouth Lemon Cookies. If you love anything lemon then you are going to love these cookies. Light and easy to make, with a tasty lemon glaze, they are sure to satisfy any lemon lover!
When I first started thinking about recipes for my cookbook Authentic Italian Desserts, I knew I had to include a few lemon recipes. And these cookies are one of our favourites.
Italians cannot live without lemons. It’s difficult to hear of a sweet recipe from a Cake to a Pastry Cream that doesn’t include fresh lemon zest.
And these Italian Lemon Cookies are definitely not short on Lemon. These buttery shortbread type of cookie are even better with a simple lemon glaze or if you prefer a dusting of powdered sugar.
Recipe Ingredients
- Flour – all purpose with a strong protein percentage at least 11% protein
- Cornstarch
- Lemon – fresh lemon
- Salt
- Butter – I use salted
- Powdered Sugar – also known as icing or confectioners sugar
Why is cornstarch added to a cookie recipe?
I have recently discovered that a lot of people add corn starch to cookie recipes, the reason is because it helps create a crumbly and tender texture. It is also considered to help cookies from spreading.
The difference between lemon juice and zest
I use both lemon juice and lemon zest in this recipe. Some insist that the zest has more lemon flavour than the juice. The zest is the oil of the lemon and is therefore filled with the pure lemon flavour.
The juice holds the acidic tart taste of the lemon. Just be sure to grate only the yellow part of the lemon and no white part. The white part will add only bitterness. And you don’t want that!
How to make Lemon Cookies
In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, cornstarch, zest and salt. In a large bowl beat the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add half the dry ingredients and lemon juice and beat together.
Then with a wood spoon or spatula mix in the remaining flour until combined. Move the dough to a large piece of parchment paper and form the cookie dough into a log. Wrap in the paper and refrigerate.
Remove the dough from the fridge, and cut into slices. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and refrigerate again while the oven is pre-heating.
Bake until lightly golden. Once the cookies have cooled completely, then you can top them with a little lemon glaze if desired.
These cookies are delicious anytime, the perfect dessert or even with an afternoon tea. Or why not add the recipe to your Christmas Cookie baking list.
How to keep cookies from spreading
To keep cookies from spreading it helps to chill the dough before baking and the percentage of protein in the flour is a major culprit of flat cookies. I would advise that your flour has a percentage of at least 11% or even higher if possible. It is also a good idea to chill the dough and also the cookies while the oven is pre-heating.
How to store Lemon Cookies
If the cookies are unglazed then they should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature, they will last up to 5-6 days. If glazed then they should keep stored in an airtight container, in a single layer for about 3-4 days.
If your home is warm then I would advise refrigerating in an airtight container. If the cookies are refrigerated they will last up to 7 days.
How to freeze the cookies
You can always freeze them in either a freezer bag or an airtight container, they will keep for up to 4 weeks. The unbaked cookie dough will last 2-3 days in the fridge and two months in the freezer. Wrap the dough well in plastic wrap and place in an air tight bag.
I had a great time making and deciding on the perfect Italian Desserts that I thought everyone would love to try. I also shared a delicious Italian Brownie Cake / La Torta Tenerina that you also may enjoy.
But if you like anything lemon, then I think you will enjoy these Lemon Cookies, and of course I would love to know what you think. Enjoy!
More Lemon Cookie Recipes you may enjoy!
- Lemon Thumbprint Cookies
- Lemon Sugar Cookies
- Easy Lemon Drop Cookies
- Italian Lemon Stuffed Cookies
- Lemon Shortbread Cookies
Italian Lemon Cookies
Ingredients
LEMON COOKIES
- 1¼ cups all purpose flour
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons cornstarch (50 grams total, if you double or triple the recipe then double or triple this amount)
- 2 tablespoons zest & juice of one lemon (approximately 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 1/2-1 tablespoon zest)
- 1 pinch salt
- ¾ cup +2 tablespoons butter (softened)* (185 grams total, if you double or triple the recipe then double or triple this amount)
- ½ cup powdered sugar
*I use salted butter, if you use unsalted then increase the salt to 1/4 teaspoon. Be sure to use a good quality butter, apparently this year 2022, store brand butter quality is not what it used to be. Less fat could mean a dry not so tasty cookie.
LEMON GLAZE
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (strained)
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 zest lemon
Instructions
LEMON COOKIES
- In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, cornstarch, zest and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat on medium speed the butter and sugar until fluffy, 3-5 minutes. Then add half the flour and the lemon juice beat to combine. Then add the remaining flour and with a wooden spoon or spatula combine to form a dough (the dough will be a little sticky, if the dough is too sticky then add 1-2 tablespoons of flour).
- Transfer the dough to a large piece of parchment paper and roll the dough into a log approximately 1 1/2 inches (4cm) wide. Wrap the dough in the parchment paper and refrigerate for one hour.
- Remove the dough from the fridge and cut into 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) slices. Place the slices on a large cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
- Pre-heat oven to 320F (160C).
- Bake the cookies for 5 minutes, then raise the oven temperature to 350F (180C) and continue to bake for 9-10 minutes. The should be light gold in colour. Remove from the oven and let the cookies sit on the cookie sheet for about 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely. The cookies can be either dusted with powdered sugar or spread with a lemon glaze. Enjoy!
LEMON GLAZE
- In a small bowl whisk together the lemon juice, powdered sugar and zest until smooth.
Notes
Nutrition
Updated from August 9, 2019.
I made this cookie for the second time for an annual Christmas party this year and they were a hit once again! Wonderfully light and lemony! Would you share how you applied the lemon glaze to the cookies shown in your photo? The glaze sits perfectly in the center of each cookie for a beautiful presentation! I applied mine with a small OXO silicone pastry brush but the glaze covered each cookie to the edges.
Hi Kerry, thanks so much, so glad they were enjoyed! Merry Christmas.
I am baking these for the first time today. In future, i would probably want to at least double the recipe. I noticed that your 2x and 3x recipes have the same amount of lemon juice and zest as the 1x. Is that correct? Thanks
Hi Rosie, it has been adjusted to show the amount, also the extra tablespoons will have to be doubled manually, I usually work in metric so imperial doesn’t show on the card. Hope that helps. Thanks, hope you enjoy them!
11/24 Something missing in the ingredient list.
made a huge mess in my oven. I think the powder sugar in the cookie
recipe should be granulated.
Wasted a lot of time and ingredients.
Hi LuAnn, this recipe has been made many many times and it is the recipe as written. Also I don’t understand how cookies baking on a baking sheet can cause a huge mess in the oven? Take care!
Hi, the recipe calls for sugar to be mixed with the sugar, but does not specify the measurement. Is this simply missed or are we supposed to use the powdered sugar in the cookie itself? I am just in the middle of making them now…thanks.
Hi Lisa the sugar amount (powdered sugar) is listed in the recipe card 1/2 cup and yes it is beaten with the butter. Take care.
Hi love your site do you think I could make these in gluten free flour?
Hi Debra, thanks so much, glad you enjoy the site. I have never tried these with gluten free flour but I know a lot of people of success using it, you could try and see how it goes. Let me know if you do. Take care and have a great weekend!
I discovered these at an Italian restaurant about 15 years years ago and have not been able to find them anywhere else. I used to buy them frequently from the restaurant but have moved far away. I cannot thank you enough for sharing this! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ My family is forever grateful!!
Hi Jenni, thanks so much, so glad I could help out. Take care!
They were so tender, could hardly pick them up without crumbling.
Hi Ida, they are tender, but too crumbly could be because the dough was over mixed, or if the dough was too sticky then add a bit more flour, too dry a bit more butter. 🙂
I made these today. They are delicious and so easy to make. My family & I love anything lemon and these were a definite crowd pleaser. Thanks for sharing.
Just as an aside, I also made your Lemon Bread. They loved it so much I had to make it twice today.
Hi Fran, thanks so much, so glad your family enjoyed them. Take care!
Oh my, making again today! I should have tripled the batch. Literally one of our family’s favorite cookies of all time! Thank you for sharing!
Hi Tammy Jo, thanks so much, so glad you and your family enjoy them. Take care!
Your way of giving us this recipe up to 3x is amazing. THANK YOU. Im from Namibia Africa and cant wait to bring in Italy here. love Naomi
Hi Naomi, you’re welcome and thank you so much for coming to the site! Glad you enjoy the cookies. Take care!
My flour is Raley’s All-Purpose Enriched Bleached flour with 3% protein. Does it mean I can’t use this flour? I have no idea what is being talked about when one person said:
“34g flour which has 4 *grams* protein, not 4%. 4g protein per 34g flour is almost 12% protein. So it is good!” My 5 lb bag mentions nothing about grams. Please advise me the exact name of the flour I need to use. Thank you.
Hi Laura, yes that one is ok pretty sure when it stays 3% it is measuring by 30grams and not 100. Chilling the cookies while the oven is pretty heating helps them from spreading also, even freezing for 10 minutes is good also. Let me know how it goes. Take care!
Rosemary, thank you so much for your quick reply. I am very anxious to bake these cookies and I will let you know how they turn out. I am Italian (Benvenuti is our family name) – I love everything Italian. My mom and dad were both from Italy– Cosenza, way down in the boot.
Hi Laura, you’re welcome, let me know how it goes. So glad that you are carrying on the Italian traditions. 🙂 Take care!