Description
Valentine Frosted Lemon Cookies are a quick and delightful treat combining zesty lemon flavor with a sweet, colorful frosting. Ready in under 30 minutes, these soft, slightly chewy cookies are decorated with a festive Valentine-themed glaze perfect for romantic occasions or last-minute cravings. With simple pantry ingredients and customizable options, they offer a bright, refreshing flavor and beautiful presentation, making baking fun and easy for the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest (from about 1–2 lemons)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons milk or fresh lemon juice (to desired consistency)
- Food coloring (red, pink, or other Valentine-themed colors, optional)
- Heart-shaped sprinkles or edible glitter for decoration
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Zest and juice your lemons first to keep the process smooth and organized.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking powder to ensure they are evenly distributed in the dough.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes smooth and fluffy, which helps create a light texture for the cookies.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract with the creamed butter and sugar until the dough comes together evenly.
- Combine Dry and Wet: Gradually add the flour and baking powder mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed just until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms.
- Shape and Bake: Roll the dough into balls about one inch in diameter and place them on the prepared cookie sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart. Flatten each ball slightly with your palm. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges turn just golden.
- Prepare the Frosting: While the cookies cool, whisk the powdered sugar with a splash of lemon juice or milk until smooth. Add your choice of food coloring to create festive Valentine colors.
- Frost and Decorate: Spread or pipe the frosting onto cookies once they are completely cooled. Sprinkle with heart-shaped sprinkles or edible glitter to finish.
Notes
- Room Temperature Butter: Use softened butter for better creaming with sugar and fluffier cookies.
- Avoid Overbaking: Remove cookies from oven when edges are light golden to keep them soft inside.
- Fresh Lemons: Always use fresh lemon juice and zest for the best vibrant citrus flavor.
- Chill the Dough if Needed: If dough is too sticky to handle, chill for 20-30 minutes before shaping.
- Thin Frosting Layer: Apply frosting thinly to prevent soggy cookies and maintain crispness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 70mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0.3g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: lemon cookies, valentine cookies, frosted lemon cookies, quick lemon treat, soft lemon cookies, festive cookies, Valentine dessert