Irresistible Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies
Bright and zesty lemon poppy seed cookies with a tender crumb and a gentle crunch, perfect for any occasion and easy to make with pantry staples.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ¾ cups (220g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Using an electric mixer or hand whisk, beat the softened butter with the sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Beat in the egg, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. The mixture may look slightly curdled.
- Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir gently with a spatula until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Fold in the poppy seeds gently to keep them evenly distributed.
- Use a small cookie scoop or spoon to drop dough balls about 1 ½ inches in diameter onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are still soft.
- Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Zest lemons just before baking for freshest flavor. Chill dough for 15 minutes if cookies spread too much. Avoid overmixing dough to keep cookies tender. Fresh poppy seeds provide best crunch. Optionally sprinkle coarse sugar on top before baking for extra crunch.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 70
- Fat: 5.5
- Saturated Fat: 3.5
- Carbohydrates: 13
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 1.5
Keywords: lemon poppy seed cookies, lemon cookies, easy cookies, homemade treats, spring baking, quick cookies, poppy seed recipe