What if we took a classic, buttery citrus treat and turned it into an absolute monster? That was my exact thought before I started messing with these massive Lemon Glazed Cookies. We are talking zero chill time, a mountain of fresh zest, and a glaze so ridiculously thick it is practically frosting. Go big or go home, right?
These are not your grandma’s dainty little tea biscuits. We are rolling these into thick, doughy masterpieces that stay insanely soft in the center while holding a massive puddle of sweet lemon icing on top. They come together in under 30 minutes, so you can satisfy that crazy cookie craving immediately without waiting around.
The Loaded Magic
You are going to be absolutely thrilled with how fast these come together! There is zero chilling required, meaning you go from craving to eating in less than half an hour. Plus, the texture is out of this world, staying unbelievably soft and gooey for days.
We do not do boring cookies here. The combination of three whole lemons’ worth of zest and a ridiculously thick glaze creates a total flavor explosion. It is the ultimate balance of sweet, buttery, and incredibly tart! More is absolutely more when it comes to packing in that citrus punch.
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Lemon Glazed Cookies
- Total Time: 29 mins
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These thick, buttery cookies are packed with the zest of three fresh lemons and topped with a decadently thick citrus glaze. Perfect for those who crave a soft, doughy texture with a vibrant punch, they come together in less than 30 minutes with no chilling required.
Ingredients
- 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, cool room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- Zest of 3 large lemons
- 1 large egg
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 cups powdered sugar (for glaze)
- 2–3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (for glaze)
- Extra lemon zest for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and fine sea salt until well combined.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the cool room temperature butter, granulated sugar, and lemon zest for 3 to 4 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg to the butter mixture and beat until perfectly combined.
- Slowly blend the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients until just incorporated.
- Using a medium spring-loaded cookie scoop, drop 1 1/2-tablespoon dough balls onto the baking sheets and gently flatten to 1/3-inch thick with your palms.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes until the edges are just set and golden.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before topping with thick spoonfuls of lemon glaze and extra zest.
Notes
For the perfect bakery-style finish, ensure your glaze is thick enough to hold its shape; it should slowly coat the back of a spoon rather than running off. If your kitchen is particularly warm, let the cookies cool in a cool spot to prevent the glaze from melting into the dough upon application.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 14 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
The Citrus Arsenal
To make these thick, flavor-packed monsters, we are sticking to the heavy hitters. You do not need a million things, just the right things used in epic proportions!
- Fresh Lemons: We use the zest of three whole lemons. More is more! Do not even think about using the bottled stuff if you want that vibrant, wild flavor.
- Unsalted Butter: Two whole sticks at cool room temperature. This is what gives us that incredible, melt-in-your-mouth richness.
- All-Purpose Flour & Baking Powder: The structural foundation to hold up our massive puddle of glaze without flattening out.
- Powdered Sugar: For the icing. We want it super thick, almost like a massive snowcap sitting right on top of the cookie!
Monster Steps
Step 1: Prep the Canvas
Preheat your oven to 350°F and grab two baking sheets. Line them with parchment paper so these buttery beauties slide right off without sticking.
Step 2: Whisk the Dry Goods
In a small bowl, aggressively whisk together your flour, baking powder, and fine sea salt. Set this aside for the main event later.
Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a massive bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and all that vibrant lemon zest until it is insanely light and fluffy. This takes about 3 to 4 minutes. Toss in the egg and beat until perfectly combined.
Step 4: Mix and Scoop
Slowly blend in your flour mixture until just incorporated—the dough will be slightly dry, but trust the process! Grab a medium spring-loaded cookie scoop and drop 1 ½-tablespoon dough balls onto your sheets. Gently flatten them to about 1/3-inch thick with your palms.
Step 5: Bake and Glaze
Bake for 12-14 minutes until the edges are just set and golden. Let them cool, then completely bury them under massive spoonfuls of our thick lemon glaze. Top with even more zest for maximum visual drama!
Riley’s Wild Tips
Want to know the secret to the ultimate citrus ooze? Keep that glaze outrageously thick! If you make it too thin, it just runs off the sides and we lose all that visual drama. Start with 2 tablespoons of fresh juice and only add more if absolutely necessary. You want it to sit on top like a crown. For a super detailed deep-dive into the science of glazing, I love referencing this awesome glazed lemon cookie breakdown.
If you want a slightly different texture but the same wild flavor profile, you have to check out our lemon crinkle cookies. Also, remember that your butter needs to be at a cool room temperature, not melting! That keeps the cookies thick, stacked, and perfectly soft.
Mashup Ideas
Who says we have to stop at lemons? Break the rules and swap the lemon zest for oranges or limes! If you go the orange route, you are halfway to our wild orange snickerdoodles. Do not be afraid to experiment and throw in some white chocolate chips for a crazy sweet and tart mashup!
You can also completely transform these into thick, decadent cookie bars! Just smash the dough into a parchment-lined 8×8 metal pan and bake for 23-25 minutes. Once cooled, dump the entire batch of glaze right over the top. Massive slices are mandatory when it comes to cookie bars.
Party Mode
These cookies are an absolute showstopper on any dessert table. Serve them warm if you want the glaze to have a gooey, messy, fun vibe, or let them set for that perfect bakery-style bite. Stack them high on a massive sharing plate and watch people lose their minds when they see that thick icing.
They pair incredibly well with an espresso or a giant glass of cold milk. If you are building an epic holiday cookie box, throw these in right next to our massive Italian Christmas cookies for a crazy colorful display!
Keep Breaking Rules
I am beyond thrilled for you to sink your teeth into these massive, flavor-packed treats. Once you realize how easy it is to make an epic, bakery-level citrus cookie at home, you will never go back to the boring stuff. If you love that soft, thick texture, you absolutely need to bake a massive batch of our crazy popular Swig sugar cookies next!
Did you make these monster cookies? Show me the madness! Tag me on Instagram or share your massive cookie stacks on TikTok. Stay wild, keep pushing the limits of your baking, and never settle for small desserts!
