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4.3 from 87 votes

Lemon Shortbread Cookies

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By: Joanna Cismaru 32 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Lemon Shortbread Cookies – Classic shortbread with a lemony twist. Using only 4 ingredients and festive decorations, fill your house with the wonderful aroma of Christmas just in time for the holidays.

a pile of shortbread cookies decorated for christmas
Table of Contents Open
  • What Ingredients Are in Lemon Shortbread Cookies
  • How to Bake Shortbread Cookies
  • Can You Freeze Shortbread Cookies
  • Craving More Cookies? Try These:
  • Lemon Shortbread Cookies
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Video
    • Notes
    • Nutrition Information
  • Did You Make This?

I hope you guys are baking along with me because I’ve been having loads of fun. If you enjoy baking as much as I do, let’s get it done! Today, I have for you the easiest shortbread cookie ever, and this is actually the same as my classic shortbread cookie recipe but loaded with lemon zest and lemon juice.

What Ingredients Are in Lemon Shortbread Cookies

I love these cookies because they only require 3 ingredients, flour, butter and powdered sugar, then add whatever flavorings you like, in this case lemon. If you wanted a chocolate shortbread cookies, just add some cocoa powder.

shortbread cookies, freshly cut, ready to be baked in the oven.

Normally I just cut these cookies using a knife, but being Christmas and all, I wanted to use all my fancy cookie cutters and cut out some cute shapes. You could also just pat the dough in an ungreased cookie sheet, bake them and then cut them, whatever works for you.

shortbread cookies, freshly cut, ready to be baked in the oven.

How to Bake Shortbread Cookies

These cookies bake quickly, all they need are around 12 minutes in the oven and they are done. You should have enough dough to make about 3 dozen cookies but it really all depends on how big you cut them.

Can You Freeze Shortbread Cookies

Yes, absolutely! These cookies freeze incredibly well. To freeze, place shortbread cookies in an airtight container and place in the freezer for up to 3 months.

shortbread cookies freshly baked out of the oven

Because it’s Christmas we decided to go nuts and have some fun decorating these cookies, but you don’t have to. We decorated them with melted chocolate, white, green, red, and salted caramel, hey don’t judge.

Normally I would just ice them with some lemon icing and make them all fancy and stuff, but this was about having fun. Of course, you don’t have to decorate them at all, simply enjoy them as they are because they do have a wonderful lemon flavor.

a pile of festively decorated shortbread cookies on a cooling rack

Craving More Cookies? Try These:

  • Lemon Shortbread Cookies
  • Chocolate Sugar Cookies
  • Thumbprint Cookies
  • Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies
  • Chocolate Pecan Pie Cookies
  • Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

side view shot of christmas decorated lemon shortbread cookies
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4.32 from 87 votes

Lemon Shortbread Cookies

Prep 5 minutes minutes
Cook 20 minutes minutes
Total 25 minutes minutes
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Lemon Shortbread Cookies – Classic shortbread with a lemony twist. Using only 4 ingredients and festive decorations, fill your house with the wonderful aroma of Christmas just in time for the holidays. 
36

Ingredients

  • 1½ cups butter (salted, softened)
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 325 F degrees. If cutting out cookies with cookie cutters, line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Add the butter to the bowl of your mixer and blend until smooth on medium speed. Add the powdered sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest to the mixer bowl and continue mixing on low until fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the flour and mix until well blended.
  • Pat dough into ungreased cookie sheet. Alternatively you can roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 inch in thickness and cut them to your desired shape. I placed parchment paper on my cookie sheet but its not necessary.
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes until just done (slightly golden in color). Do not let it get brown. Remove from oven and let cool for a couple minutes on the baking sheet. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
  • Decorate the cookies with icing and sprinkles or dip them in melted chocolate.

Video

Notes

  1. Note: Video above is for the Shortbread Cookies which is similar. This recipe basically has the addition of lemon juice and lemon zest.
  2. You can put this dough in the fridge ahead of time if you want to bake them later. Allow the dough to warm up on the counter before rolling, to make it easier to work with.
  3. To freeze, place shortbread cookies in an airtight container and place in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 119kcal (6%)Carbohydrates: 11g (4%)Protein: 1g (2%)Fat: 7g (11%)Saturated Fat: 4g (25%)Cholesterol: 20mg (7%)Sodium: 1mgPotassium: 14mgSugar: 3g (3%)Vitamin A: 235IU (5%)Vitamin C: 0.7mg (1%)Calcium: 4mgIron: 0.5mg (3%)
© Author Joanna Cismaru

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

side view shot of christmas decorated lemon shortbread cookies

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30-Minute One-Pot Meals Cookbook by Joanna Cismaru
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Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Through Jo Cooks, I invite you to join me in my kitchen as we explore delicious recipes from around the globe, celebrate the joy of cooking, and make every meal a memorable one. Happy cooking!

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32 Comments
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Susan HeilDavis
Susan HeilDavis
Posted: 6 months ago

I Love these easy recipes.
Thank you…

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Susan HeilDavis
Posted: 6 months ago

My pleasure!

0
Reply
Kathy Wong
Kathy Wong
Posted: 2 years ago

Do you have to wait for the cookies to cool completely before cutting if baking the dough in a pan?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Kathy Wong
Posted: 2 years ago

Just for about 5 minutes or so.

0
Reply
Kathy Wong
Kathy Wong
Posted: 2 years ago

Do you use a fork in the dough for decoration or is there a reason to do this (saw it on your video).If i want to make your recipe in a pan, did you use an 8″ X 8″ pan? Your lemon glaze recipe sounds great, does it dry quickly? Would sprinkling powdered sugar be good as another topping instead of glaze?
Thanks for sharing your recipe.!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Kathy Wong
Posted: 2 years ago

It’s just for decoration. Yes, that was an 8×8 pan but that was just half the dough since the other half was used to roll out cookies. Lemon glaze does dry quite quickly. You can sprinkle powdered sugar, or you can dip them in chocolate, nutella, etc.

0
Reply
Jill
Jill
Posted: 3 years ago

You mentioned a lemon icing- what’s the recipe for that

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  Jill
Posted: 3 years ago

Mix 1/2 cup icing sugar with a few tbsp of lemon juice until you have the consistency you’re looking for. You can make it thicker to pipe designs on the cookies, or make it thin to drizzle over as a glaze.

0
Reply
Jeffrey Wong
Jeffrey Wong
Posted: 3 years ago

ack! I made it again! this time with 1/3 whole wheat flour and using coconut oil instead of butter. ’tis a dream come true!

0
Reply
Jeffrey Wong
Jeffrey Wong
Posted: 3 years ago

5 stars
Yeah, it’s a lotta butter, so I made a half recipe. These are as fun as lemon bars with the eggy topping. No one suspects these of being lemon until they sink their teeth into them. Everyone loves the surprise.
Not at all fattening if you ride your bike 40 miles between batches–LOL!

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  Jeffrey Wong
Posted: 3 years ago

Lol ’tis the season of buttery cookies! We’re glad you love them 🙂

0
Reply
MercilessMadBoy
MercilessMadBoy
Posted: 3 years ago

I was just wondering how much Cocoa Powder you thought would be appropriate to add to make Chocolate Shortbread Cookies.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  MercilessMadBoy
Posted: 3 years ago

I’d say about 1/2 cup of cocoa powder should do it.

0
Reply
Lisa
Lisa
Posted: 3 years ago

5 stars
Great lemon flavor, perfect texture. These are a new favorite.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Lisa
Posted: 3 years ago

Glad you liked them!

0
Reply
Julie
Julie
Posted: 4 years ago

5 stars
Absolutely amazing. Melts in your mouth buttery shortbread cookies with a hint of lemon…and so simple to make. I just used a small cookie scoop to make bite sized drop cookies. Then I made a lemon icing to thinly dribble over the top. Beautiful and delicious! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. ❤

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Julie
Posted: 4 years ago

I’m so happy you liked it!

0
Reply
coral
coral
Posted: 4 years ago

5 stars
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A GREAT NEW YEAR!!!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  coral
Posted: 4 years ago

Same to you!!

0
Reply
Brenda
Brenda
Posted: 4 years ago

Lemon Shortbread cookies and hot cup of tea. Heaven

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Brenda
Posted: 4 years ago

Yes!

0
Reply
Nica
Nica
Posted: 4 years ago

5 stars
I loved how simple and delicious this recipe. Just the right about of sweetness and melt in your mouth buttery goodness. I always reduce sugar in a lot of the recipes I find, but this one was perfect.

0
Reply
Vee
Vee
Posted: 6 years ago

Any tips on how to make that lovely colourful icing!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Vee
Posted: 6 years ago

I actually used Wilton Candy Melts we bought at Michael’s. They have them in all different colors.

0
Reply
vee
vee
Reply to  Joanna Cismaru
Posted: 6 years ago

Thank you!

0
Reply
Christine Carroll
Christine Carroll
Posted: 6 years ago

5 stars
I’m going to try the lemon cookies since my son who lives in Tampa, FL sent me a case of Meyer lemons that he harvested from his backyard lemon tree. I live in NH and the concept of citrus trees in my yard instead of snow and ice is wonderful.

Jo…I’m a subscriber. I subscribe to a number of cooking sites, but yours appeals to me more than any other. I’ve been cooking for almost 60 years (I’ll be 70 in May. My mama was a working mother and I started supper almost every night) so I enjoy your down-to-earth recipes. They look and taste so good. Thanks for all your hard work keeping this site going.
Chris

0
Reply
Fenne Kieken
Fenne Kieken
Reply to  Christine Carroll
Posted: 6 years ago

We use Meyer lemons all the time and love them. They are so sweet and just have a different taste than others. Nice treat for you to have from your son. Thank you for being a subscriber and follower and being a part of the Jo Cooks community. Wishing you all the best over the holidays.

0
Reply
fiona
fiona
Posted: 6 years ago

It really looks festive 🙂

0
Reply

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I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is the place where I share my passion for easy and delicious recipes. From comforting classics to global flavors, I believe that cooking should be fun, approachable, and most importantly, rewarding. Join me on this culinary journey and let’s get cooking!

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