Description
Zesty Lemon Cheesecake Cookies are soft, tender treats bursting with fresh lemon flavor and creamy cheesecake richness. Perfectly balanced with tangy lemon juice and zest, these delightful cookies combine the creaminess of cream cheese with the light texture of classic cookies, making them an irresistible dessert or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 4 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For Serving
- Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream butter, cream cheese, and sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add wet ingredients: Beat in the egg, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated into the creamy mixture.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt throughout the flour.
- Combine dry and wet ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing to maintain a tender texture.
- Portion dough onto baking sheet: Scoop the dough into approximately 1 1/2-tablespoon portions and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet to allow space for spreading.
- Bake the cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges appear set and the centers remain slightly soft and puffy for the perfect chewy texture.
- Cool the cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Optional finishing touch: Dust cooled cookies with powdered sugar before serving to add a delicate sweetness and decorative touch.
Notes
- For extra zing, increase lemon zest or add a few drops of lemon extract to intensify the lemon flavor.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them soft and tender for several days.
- Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can yield thicker cookies.
