• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Sweet Occasion
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Brownies & Bars
    • Cakes & Cupcakes
    • Cookies
    • Custards & Parfaits
    • Frostings & Fillings
    • Ice Cream
    • Pies, Tarts & Crisps
    • Pastry
  • Guides
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Brownies & Bars
    • Cakes & Cupcakes
    • Cookies
    • Custards & Parfaits
    • Frostings & Fillings
    • Ice Cream
    • Pies, Tarts & Crisps
    • Pastry
  • Guides
  • About
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
      • Breakfast
      • Brownies & Bars
      • Cakes & Cupcakes
      • Cookies
      • Custards & Parfaits
      • Frostings & Fillings
      • Ice Cream
      • Pies, Tarts & Crisps
      • Pastry
    • Guides
    • About
    • Contact
    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Cookies

    Lemon Butter Cookies

    Published: Jun 14, 2019 · Modified: Aug 17, 2020 by Maria Pagiotas · 46 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links, please read my full disclosure policy.

    Soft, chewy Lemon Butter Cookies sandwiched with a light and airy lemon buttercream.  A spring and summer delight and a lemon lover's favorite.

    Lemon butter cookie sandwiches with lemon buttercream and a glass of milk.

    Lemon may be one of my favorite flavorings.  It's delicious as a standalone flavor and equally delicious in enhancing flavors in a variety of desserts.  It's perfect for bringing out the flavor of fillings such as in blueberry apple pie.  A little lemon zest and some fresh lemon juice can go a long way in adding that perfect burst of flavor.

    For the lemon lover, I'm going all out with my lemon butter cookies.  These cookies are perfectly tender and sandwiched together with a creamy, lemony buttercream frosting.  Although they can be enjoyed all year long, they are a spring and summer favorite in our household.

    Stack of lemon butter cookies.

    Why this recipe works

    • It's bursting with a fresh lemon flavor.
    • The cookies are soft and tender.
    • Delicious on its own and as buttercream sandwiches.
    • Made with only 8 simple ingredients.
    • These cookies are freezer-friendly.

    Before you begin

    Take out the following baking equipment.

    Digital kitchen scale
    2 large baking sheet pans
    Parchment paper
    Stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment
    2 small bowls
    Silicone spatula
    Medium bowl
    Rolling pin
    2" round cookie cutter
    Wire cooling rack

    Read the recipe through from start to finish.

    Understanding Ingredients

    Using powdered sugar, instead of granulated sugar will keep your cookies soft and tender.  These lemon cookies are meant to be light and have a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

    Always use pure vanilla extract as the flavor is unmatched with artificial flavorings. Not only does vanilla add flavor to your cookies, but it also enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.

    Lemon is the highlight of this recipe so it's ideal to use the juice of fresh lemons.

    Stack on it's side of lemon butter cookies next to a glass of milk.

    How to roll out cookie dough

    Here are some easy tips for successfully rolling out your cookie dough.

    Prep your surface.  Lightly flour your work surface before rolling out the cookie dough.  Better to start with less flour than too much (which will absorb into your dough and dry out your cookies).  You can always add more flour as you go.

    Divide your dough.  Place half of the dough on your work surface and use a rolling pin to roll to a 1/4-inch thickness.

    Shift your dough.  As you roll the dough, continue to shift the dough to ensure it does not stick to your surface (add flour as needed).  Also lightly flour your dough as needed to prevent it from sticking to the rolling pin.

    Refrigerate if needed.  Although this dough does not need refrigeration before rolling out, if it becomes too hot and sticky while rolling you can place it in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to cool down and then continue rolling.

    Repeat.  Repeat this process with the second half of your dough.

    Round cut-out lemon butter cookies with a swirl of lemon buttercream

    How to make light and airy buttercream

    Beat butter.  Begin by beating your softened butter for 5 minutes (using a paddle attachment).  This will get your butter fluffy.

    Add sugar.  Mix in the powdered sugar and salt until incorporated.  Begin by mixing on low to avoid spraying the sugar everywhere.

    Add flavors.  Mix in the vanilla extract and lemon zest until thoroughly combined.

    Pour in lemon juice.  Slowly add your lemon juice to the mixture.  Add enough liquid to achieve your desired consistency.

    Beat buttercream. Beat the buttercream for an additional 3-4 minutes on medium-high speed.  This is key to creating a light and airy texture.

    How to store lemon cookies

    Because these cookies are so soft and tender, you can make them ahead of time without the buttercream and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for at least a week (although I love eating cookies within the first few days when they are freshest).

    You can make the buttercream the day before you'd like to serve the cookies and re-whip it before sandwiching the cookies together.

    Stack of two lemon butter cookies sandwiched together with lemon buttercream.

    Tips and takeaways

    • When making any roll-out cookie dough, like this recipe and funfetti cutout cookies, I always recommend using a rolling pin with adjustable measuring rings.  This will help achieve a flat layer of cookie dough which will bake evenly.
    • It's best to cut your dough keeping the shapes as close as possible to minimize scraps.  Although you can reroll your dough, the more times you do this, the denser your cookies will become from being overworked.

    Love cookies?  Try these recipes...

    • S'mores Cookies
    • Cherry Dark Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
    • Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

    Make sure to tag me @thesweetoccasion on Instagram and leave me a review below if you make these Lemon Butter Cookies. I’d love to see your creations and read your feedback.  And if you would like to make this recipe later, be sure to pin this recipe using the button on any of these images. Let’s make every occasion a sweet occasion!

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Lemon butter cookie sandwiches with lemon buttercream and a glass of milk.

    Lemon Butter Cookies


    ★★★★★

    5 from 23 reviews

    • Author: Maria
    • Total Time: 45 minutes
    • Yield: 30 sandwich cookies 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Soft, chewy Lemon Butter Cookies sandwiched with a light and airy lemon buttercream.  A spring and summer delight and a lemon lover's favorite.


    Ingredients

    Scale

    For the cookies

    • 226 g (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
    • 180 g (1 1/2 cups) powdered sugar
    • 50 g (1 large) egg
    • 4 g (1 teaspoon) pure vanilla extract
    • 5.5 g (1 tablespoon) lemon zest (about 3 lemons)
    • 350 g (2 1/2 cups) all-purpose flour
    • 3.5 g (1 teaspoon) baking powder
    • 2.8 g (1/2 teaspoon) salt

    For the filling

    • 113 g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
    • 225 g (1/2 pound) powdered sugar
    • Pinch of salt
    • 3 g (3/4 teaspoon) pure vanilla extract
    • 5.5 g (1 tablespoon) lemon zest
    • 5 g (1 teaspoon) fresh lemon juice

    Instructions

    For the cookies

    1. Preheat the oven to 350°F/177°C.   Line two large baking sheet pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.  Set aside.
    2. In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until completely smooth and creamy.  Add the sugar and mix on medium speed until fluffy and light in color.  Mix in the egg and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.  Mix in the vanilla and lemon zest.
    3. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.  On low speed, slowly add the flour mixture into the butter mixture until combined.
    4. On a floured surface, roll the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness.  Using a floured 2-inch fluted biscuit cutter, cut out cookies. Re-roll scraps and continue to cut cookies with the remaining dough. Place cookies on prepared baking sheets, allowing about 1.5-inches between each cookie.
    5. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the bottom edges are very lightly browned.  Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet pans for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

    For the filling

    1. In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed for 5 minutes.  With the mixer on low speed, slowly add in the powdered sugar and salt, beating until the sugar is completely incorporated.  Add the vanilla extract and lemon zest and beat until combined.  Add, one tablespoon at a time, the lemon juice until desired consistency is achieved.  Beat the buttercream on medium-high for an additional 3-4 minutes until smooth and creamy.

    To assemble sandwich cookies

    1. Fill a pastry bag with the buttercream and cut 1/8 to 1/4-inch off the tip.  Pipe approximately 1 tablespoon of the filling on half of the cookies.  Top with remaining cookies and press gently.

    Notes

    1. Make-ahead:  You can chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.  You can make the buttercream the day before and leave it at room temperature.  Re-whip the buttercream before adding to the cookies.
    2. Freezing: You can freeze the cookie dough for up to 3 months.  If frozen, allow the dough to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before rolling baking. Alternatively, you can freeze the baked cookies unfrosted or frosted for up to 3 months.  Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before serving.
    • Prep Time: 35 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Category: Cookies

    Keywords: buttercream, sandwich cookies, lemon buttercream

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @thesweetoccasion on Instagram so we can see your creation!

    More Cookies

    • Stack of round funfetti cutout cookies on a white wood surface with milk.
      Funfetti Cutout Cookies
    • Lemon blueberry cookies on a wire cooling rack with blueberries and salt in containers.
      Soft & Chewy Lemon Blueberry Cookies
    • Round pink strawberry shortbread cookies with freeze dried strawberries sprinkled around.
      Easy Strawberry Shortbread Cookies
    • Pile of strawberry cheesecake cookies with a cookie on top cut in half displaying the cheesecake filling.Pile of strawberry cheesecake cookies with a cookie on top cut in half displaying the cheesecake filling.
      Soft & Chewy Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating ★ 5 Stars ☆ ★ 4 Stars ☆ ★ 3 Stars ☆ ★ 2 Stars ☆ ★ 1 Star ☆

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Lathiya

      August 24, 2020 at 8:54 pm

      Those cookies looks just divine. I love baking with lemon. I'm sure these cookies will be devores within few minutes of baking.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 26, 2020 at 9:36 am

        Thank you Lathiya! I do too and I love that lemon is a great flavor to use during all four seasons.

        Reply
    2. Ramona

      August 24, 2020 at 7:18 pm

      these lemon butter cookies look so tempting and elegant! The cookie looks so perfect and so does the filling on the inside. Your presentation amazes me and sends me straight to the kitchen to try all of your recipes! thank you for sharing this recipe, i cant wait to try these out.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 26, 2020 at 9:35 am

        Hi Ramona! Thank you so much for the compliment! I love these how soft and tender these cookies are as well as lemony and I think you will too!

        Reply
    3. sapana

      August 24, 2020 at 8:55 am

      I love lemon flavor in baked goodies. These cookies looks so delicious with buttercream frossitng. Thankks for sharing all the tips to make the perfectly.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 26, 2020 at 9:33 am

        You are welcome! I'm really happy you like these cookies. Lemon is a great flavor for any time of the year.

        Reply
    4. Emily

      August 23, 2020 at 8:40 pm

      Lemon baked goods are my fave! These lemon butter cookies turned out delicious, and I absolutely love the presentation! So beautiful!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 24, 2020 at 1:06 am

        Thank you so much, Emily! So happy you like these cookies!

        Reply
    5. Sara

      August 23, 2020 at 4:25 pm

      These lemon cookies are so pretty and SO delicious! I love sandwiching them together and making it even prettier. Totally adding these to my holiday cookie mix for something bright and different!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 23, 2020 at 4:34 pm

        Thank you so much, Sara! So happy that you love these. These cookies are perfect for the holidays especially for gift giving!

        Reply
    6. Wendy

      August 23, 2020 at 3:53 pm

      You had me at butter! Oh my gracious. Lemon is one of my favorite flavors in a baked good. Being from the south we are all about butter also! These were amazing! thank you!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 23, 2020 at 4:30 pm

        You are very welcome! So happy you love this combination Wendy!

        Reply
    7. Genevieve

      August 23, 2020 at 10:57 am

      I love lemon cookies! I love that your recipe uses minimal ingredients and that these store well. These look like they came straight out of a bakery. 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 23, 2020 at 4:29 pm

        Thank you so much, Genevieve! I'm all about fewer ingredients that are good quality for maximum flavor!

        Reply
    8. Kushigalu

      August 23, 2020 at 6:33 am

      These lemon cookies look so perfect. Love the texture and the buttercream is added bonus. Can't wait to try this for my lil one

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 23, 2020 at 4:28 pm

        Thank you so much! My kids love these cookies especially helping me bake them! It's a fun activity to do with kids.

        Reply
    9. Leslie

      August 23, 2020 at 3:07 am

      These cookies are so incredibly cute! This is the ultimate, delicious, summer treat! Refreshing and delicious!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 23, 2020 at 4:28 pm

        Thank you so much Leslie!

        Reply
    10. Beth

      August 23, 2020 at 1:16 am

      Such wonderful-looking lemon cookies here, and such great tips, too! I so agree about how much better real vanilla and fresh lemon juice are than their imitation or preserved versions.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 23, 2020 at 4:27 pm

        Thank you so much, Beth! I always believe in using the best ingredients possible in baking, the flavor really shows itself.

        Reply
    11. Gail Montero

      August 22, 2020 at 10:08 pm

      I'm already on the lookout for delicious cookie treats for the holidays and glad I found these! Love all that lemony goodness!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 23, 2020 at 4:27 pm

        Thank you, Gail! These are perfect holiday treats, especially for gift giving!

        Reply
    12. Sondra Barker

      August 22, 2020 at 7:16 pm

      I LOVE lemon anything but these look especially amazing! can't wait to try these the lemon buttercream sounds delicious!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 23, 2020 at 4:26 pm

        Lemon is a favorite in my household too and my kids especially love these cookies! I hope you love them too!

        Reply
    13. Julie @ Running in a Skirt

      August 22, 2020 at 6:16 pm

      These cookies are perfect for family baking! THey are so full of flavor and delicious. I will make this again soon. Such a great little recipe to keep.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 23, 2020 at 4:26 pm

        Definitely fun to do as a family activity, especially when you use fun cookie cutter shapes. So happy you like these Julie!

        Reply
    14. Jacqueline Debono

      August 22, 2020 at 5:14 pm

      I definitely need to try these lemon butter sandwich cookies. I love butter cookies and the lemon buttercream in the middle sounds divine!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 23, 2020 at 4:25 pm

        It's such a lovely combination and I love how light and tender these cookies are!

        Reply
    15. Georgina | Culinary Travels

      August 22, 2020 at 2:37 pm

      The cookies look beautiful. I'll have to bake some for my mam, the lemon will be calling to her.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 23, 2020 at 4:25 pm

        Thank you so much! I hope she enjoys them!

        Reply
    16. Sarah James

      August 22, 2020 at 2:32 pm

      I love lemon biscuits and yours look perfect and the buttercream looks amazing. Looking forward to baking some this weekend.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 23, 2020 at 4:24 pm

        Thank you so much, Sarah! I hope you love them too! Happy Baking.

        Reply
    17. Amy Liu Dong

      August 22, 2020 at 7:25 am

      Your lemon butter cookies is calling my name, I would love to have a these cookies on my plate right now, so delicious!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 23, 2020 at 4:24 pm

        Thank you Amy! They're a delicious lemon treat that are easy to make too!

        Reply
    18. Jere Cassidy

      August 22, 2020 at 2:58 am

      I am a total lemon lover so these are the cookies for me. There is nothing better than a lemon cookie with a cup of tea to make my day.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 23, 2020 at 4:23 pm

        These go so well with tea! They're light and tender and lovely afternoon treat.

        Reply
    19. Stine Mari

      August 21, 2020 at 2:53 pm

      The grocery stores here discontinued my favorite lemon sandwich cookies last year and it was so sad! These look really similar and I can't wait to try them!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 23, 2020 at 4:23 pm

        Oh no! Well, I hope you love these as a substitute!

        Reply
    20. Marta

      August 20, 2020 at 4:00 pm

      These lemon cookies look like absolute perfection! I love that they're sandwiched cookies so I can eat two at the same time without having to explain myself, LOL!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 21, 2020 at 12:15 am

        Marta, I love the way you think!! 🙂

        Reply
    21. Linda

      August 20, 2020 at 5:41 am

      You got me at 8 ingredients which means I need to make an extra batch because you never know when you crave for cookies, right?

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 21, 2020 at 12:14 am

        That's exactly right Linda :). They freeze really well too so I would definitely make a double batch!

        Reply
    22. Taleen | Just As Tasty

      August 19, 2020 at 4:42 pm

      These cookies look so perfect! Love that you filled them with lemon buttercream, I bet that's delicious!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 20, 2020 at 1:03 am

        Thank you Taleen! It's definitely a fun a delicious way to serve these cookies.

        Reply
    23. Chef Dennis

      August 19, 2020 at 2:57 pm

      you had me at lemon butter cookies! Add in that creamy filling and its even more delicious!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 20, 2020 at 1:02 am

        Thank you! I'm happy you like them. They're such a tasty sandwich cookie!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Professionally trained pastry chef at your fingertips. I provide the baking knowledge and tools for bakers like you to successfully create in your kitchen.

    More about me →


    Rainbow sprinkle swirled white cake and fluffy van
    Rainbow sprinkle swirled white cake and fluffy vanilla buttercream make the perfect bite sized mini funfetti cupcakes. 
.
.
.
.
#funfetti #funfetticupcakes #minicupcakes #whitecake #learntobake #cupcakesdaily #sprinklesmakeeverythingbetter #thesweetoccasion

    Welcoming the weekend with an easy and moist choco
    Welcoming the weekend with an easy and moist chocolate fudge cake. You don’t need a mixer to make this easy one layer cake!

#chocolatefudge #chocolatecakerecipe #fudgecake #madefromscratch #bakerlife #learntobake #thesweetoccasion

    Fruit crisps have been the highlight of our summer
    Fruit crisps have been the highlight of our summer fruit. Individual peach cherry crisps are definitely a favorite. What’s your favorite combination??

#peachdessert #summerbaking #cherryrecipe #easybaking #fruitdessert #cherryseason #summerdessert #thesweetoccasion #homebaked #homebaker #learntobake

    Strawberry filled cupcakes 🍓 Moist strawberry c
    Strawberry filled cupcakes 🍓 Moist strawberry cupcakes filled with a easy strawberry compote and topped with whipped strawberry cream cheese frosting. Forget the box mix! Fresh strawberries are the star of the show!
.
.
.
.
.
.
#strawberrydessert #strawberrycupcakes #freshstrawberries #strawberrybuttercream #seasonalbaking #cupcakesdaily #thesweetoccasion

    Fresh strawberry sheet cake just in time for summe
    Fresh strawberry sheet cake just in time for summer. Ditch the boxes mix and artificial ingredients for this easy and moist cake from scratch with tangy whipped strawberry cream cheese frosting.
.
.
.
.
.
#strawberrycake #freshstrawberries #sheetcake #sheetcakes #summercakes #creamcheesefrosting #easybaking #thesweetoccasion

    Dreamy chocolate fudge cupcakes! They’re moist,
    Dreamy chocolate fudge cupcakes! They’re moist, light and fluffy chocolate cupcakes topped with a rich, fudge frosting. Nothing light a double chocolate cupcake for a sweet treat. Full recipe is on my website!
.
.
.
.
.
#chocolatecupcakes #fudgecake #chocolatebuttercream #chocolatefrosting #scratchbaking #learntobake #lifeofabaker #bakinglove #thesweetoccasion

    Chewy and gooey Biscoff Blondies are a new favorit
    Chewy and gooey Biscoff Blondies are a new favorite! They’re are mixed with Biscoff spread, studded with chocolate chips and topped with crushed biscoff cookies. Who else loves cookie butter?!
.
.
.
.
#cookiebutter #biscoff #blondies #bakersofinstagram #speculoos #scratchbaking #weekendbaking #biscofflotus #biscoffblondies

    Fudgy? Yes, very much so! Cakey? No, in my persona
    Fudgy? Yes, very much so! Cakey? No, in my personal opinion I don’t believe brownies should be cakey! These white chocolate chip brownies use three types of chocolate for a decadent treat. 

#brownielovers #fudgybrownies #chocolatebrownies #dessertsofinstagram #browniebatter #bakinglove #brownielove #brownierecipe #madefromscratch #bakingblog #bakersofinstagram

    Hi friends!! It's been quite a while (adding a thi
    Hi friends!! It's been quite a while (adding a third kid to the mix has been a ton of fun!!), but I'm also happy to be back. I'm back to sharing approachable fun, flavorful baking recipes using quality and seasonal ingredients. I have so much coming your way. Stay tuned...



    Follow on Instagram


    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About | Contact | Recipes | Newsletter | Web Stories | Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2023 The Sweet Occasion