Delicious Jumbo Frosted Lemon Easter Cookies: The Ultimate Spring Dessert Recipe

There’s nothing quite like the bright, zesty flavor of lemon to herald the arrival of spring and celebrate special occasions like Easter. These **Jumbo Frosted Lemon Easter Cookies** are a delightful embodiment of that seasonal joy, offering a perfect balance of tangy citrus and luscious sweetness. Crafted from scratch using simple, wholesome ingredients such as fresh lemon juice and zest, butter, sugar, flour, and eggs, these cookies are a true labor of love that yields an exceptionally soft and buttery texture. Each bite delivers a burst of refreshing lemon, perfectly complemented by a creamy, dreamy buttercream frosting.

The star of the show, beyond the incredibly tender lemon cookie, is the accompanying **tangy-sweet buttercream frosting**. Made with rich butter, confectioners’ sugar, and more fresh lemon juice and zest, this frosting is not merely an afterthought; it’s the ideal partner to the soft cookie, enhancing its flavor profile and adding an irresistible creamy layer. Together, they create a harmonious blend of light and refreshing flavors that will leave your taste buds singing with delight.

The BEST Frosted Lemon Cookies for Any Occasion

This recipe isn’t just about baking cookies; it’s about creating an experience. The result is a fabulously soft and buttery lemon cookie that virtually melts in your mouth, crowned with a tangy-sweet buttercream that can only be described as “heavenly.” We’ve meticulously balanced the lemon flavor to ensure it’s pronounced yet not overwhelming, cutting through the sweetness of the frosting to create a perfect culinary symphony. Every single bite is a testament to this delicate equilibrium, delivering a refreshing zest that invigorates the senses.

Whether you’re planning a festive Easter gathering, searching for a delightful spring-themed treat to share with your family, or simply craving a homemade dessert that’s both impressive and comforting, these **Jumbo Frosted Lemon Easter Cookies** are guaranteed to be a hit. They are surprisingly straightforward to make, wonderfully delicious, and versatile enough for any celebration or just an ordinary day that needs a little extra sparkle. So, tie on your apron, gather your ingredients, and prepare to bake a batch of these truly unforgettable, heavenly lemon cookies!

Essential Baking Tips and Tricks for Perfect Frosted Easter Cookies

Achieving bakery-quality results with your **Jumbo Lemon Easter Cookies** is easier than you might think, especially with a few expert tips and tricks up your sleeve. These pointers will help guide you through the baking process, ensuring your cookies turn out beautifully soft, flavorful, and perfectly frosted every time:

• Prioritize Fresh Ingredients: The foundation of any exceptional cookie lies in the quality and freshness of its ingredients. Always use fresh lemon juice and zest for that vibrant, authentic lemon flavor. Check the expiration dates on your baking powder and flour to ensure they are potent and active. Stale leavening agents can lead to flat, dense cookies, while old flour can impart off-flavors. Fresh, high-quality ingredients truly make a noticeable difference in the final taste and texture of your **frosted lemon cookies**.
• Measure Accurately for Success: Baking is often described as a science, and precision in measurements is paramount. For dry ingredients like flour, use the “spoon and level” method: spoon the flour into your measuring cup until it’s overflowing, then level it off with the straight edge of a knife. Avoid scooping directly with the measuring cup, as this can compact the flour and lead to using too much, resulting in dry, tough cookies. For wet ingredients, measure at eye level. Accurate measurements ensure the correct balance of ingredients for optimal texture and flavor.
• Don’t Skip Chilling the Dough: This step is non-negotiable for achieving perfectly shaped and textured cookies. Chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator allows the butter to solidify. This prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking, ensuring they hold their jumbo shape and remain thick and chewy. Moreover, chilling gives the flour time to fully hydrate and allows the flavors, especially the lemon, to deepen and meld together, resulting in a more flavorful and nuanced cookie.
• Always Use Parchment Paper: Lining your baking sheets with parchment paper is a simple yet effective trick. It prevents the cookies from sticking, making cleanup incredibly easy. More importantly, parchment paper helps the cookies bake more evenly by providing a consistent surface and insulating the bottom, preventing them from browning too quickly. This results in uniformly baked, beautifully golden cookies.
• Avoid Overbaking at All Costs: Overbaking is the arch-nemesis of a soft and chewy cookie. Keep a watchful eye on your cookies during the last few minutes of baking. Remove them from the oven when the edges are just starting to turn a light golden brown, and the centers still look slightly soft or puffy. They might appear a little underdone in the middle, but remember that cookies continue to cook for a few minutes after they are removed from the oven due to residual heat. This carryover cooking will set the centers perfectly, leaving you with tender, soft, and delicious **lemon sugar cookies**.

Essential Lemon Sugar Cookie Ingredients

Crafting these delectable **lemon sugar cookies** starts with a selection of common pantry staples, each playing a crucial role in achieving the perfect flavor and texture. Here’s what you’ll need:

Unsalted Butter: You will need ½ cup (one stick) of softened unsalted butter. Using unsalted butter gives you complete control over the salt content in your recipe. Ensure it’s at room temperature so it creams easily with the sugars, creating a light and airy base for your cookies.

Brown Sugar: Incorporating ¾ cup of packed light brown sugar is key to developing those wonderfully chewy cookie edges and imparting a delightful depth of flavor, thanks to its molasses content. It also contributes to the overall moistness of the cookie.

Granulated Sugar: Adding ¼ cup of white granulated sugar helps to achieve a tender crumb and contributes to the slight spread of the cookies, ensuring they aren’t too cakey. Its fine crystals blend seamlessly with the butter.

Large Egg: Just 1 large egg acts as a binder, holding all the dough ingredients together. It also adds richness and moisture, contributing to the soft texture of these jumbo cookies.

Vanilla Extract: Enhance and round out the bright lemon flavors in this cookie recipe with 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract. Vanilla provides a warm, sweet undertone that complements citrus beautifully.

Fresh Lemon Juice: For an added fresh, tangy kick and moisture, use 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Bottled lemon juice can be used in a pinch, but fresh provides a superior, brighter taste.

Lemon Zest: By adding in 1 tablespoon of finely grated lemon zest (from about 1-2 lemons), we can infuse a significant amount of vibrant lemon flavor into every single bite. The oils in the zest carry the most intense lemon aroma and taste. Feel free to adjust the zest amount to either strengthen or subtly weaken the lemon flavor as desired, making these cookies truly customizable.

All-Purpose Flour: You will need 2 cups of all-purpose flour for the structural base of this cookie dough. Remember to measure it correctly using the spoon and level method to avoid a dense cookie.

Salt: A mere ½ teaspoon of salt is vital to balance the sweetness and bring out the natural flavors of all the ingredients, making every component shine.

Baking Powder: Include ½ teaspoon of baking powder to provide the necessary lift and rise, ensuring your **lemon sugar cookies** are light and soft, rather than flat and dense.

Lemon Buttercream Frosting Ingredients

The luscious **lemon buttercream frosting** is what truly elevates these cookies. Here’s what you’ll need to create this delightful topping:

Unsalted Butter: Use ½ cup (1 stick) of softened unsalted butter. Just like with the cookies, room temperature butter is crucial for achieving a smooth, rich, and creamy frosting that whips up beautifully.

Powdered Sugar: You’ll need between 4-5 cups of powdered sugar (also known as confectioners’ sugar) for the frosting. This fine sugar dissolves easily, yielding a silky-smooth texture. The exact amount will depend on your desired consistency – start with 4 cups and add more gradually until it’s perfect for piping or spreading.

Fresh Lemon Juice: 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice is essential to give this frosting its signature fresh, tangy lemon flavor, perfectly complementing the cookie base.

Vanilla Extract: Add in 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract. This helps to deepen and enhance the overall flavors in the buttercream, providing a lovely aromatic balance to the lemon.

Festive Sprinkles: To truly decorate your cookies for Easter or any spring celebration, use some colorful, themed sprinkles. Choose pastel colors, bunnies, or eggs to make them extra special.

Pastel Food Coloring: If desired, use a few drops of pastel-colored food coloring (such as pink, blue, green, or yellow) to make the frosting more vibrant and festive. Gel food coloring provides the best concentrated color without thinning the frosting.

How to Make Irresistible Jumbo Lemon Easter Cookies

Follow these detailed steps to create your own batch of delightful **Jumbo Frosted Lemon Easter Cookies**:

Preparing the Cookie Dough

1. Creaming the Fats and Sugars: Begin by placing the softened unsalted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar into a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer (either a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer), beat them together on medium-high speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This process incorporates air, which is vital for a tender cookie texture.

2. Adding Wet Ingredients: Next, add the large egg, vanilla extract, fresh lemon juice, and finely grated lemon zest to the creamed butter mixture. Continue to beat on medium speed until all these ingredients are fully combined and the mixture appears smooth and well-emulsified. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is incorporated.

3. Incorporating Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture in the large mixing bowl. Mix on low speed *just* until combined. Be very careful not to overmix the dough, as overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to tough, dry cookies. The dough will have a somewhat crumbly texture at this stage, which is perfectly normal.

Portioning and Chilling the Dough

1. Portioning for Jumbo Size: Divide the prepared cookie dough into 6 equal-sized pieces. These larger portions will yield wonderfully **jumbo-sized lemon cookies**. If you prefer smaller cookies, you can portion the dough into 10-12 pieces, adjusting the baking time accordingly.

2. Forming and Chilling: Take each portion of dough and gently form it into a smooth ball by pressing the dough together in your hands until it just comes together. Avoid overworking it. Place these dough balls onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover the baking sheet loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This crucial chilling step helps the butter solidify, preventing the cookies from spreading too much in the oven and locking in their rich flavor.

Baking Your Lemon Cookies

1. Preheat Oven: While your cookie dough balls are chilling in the refrigerator, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Proper oven temperature is vital for even baking.

2. Bake to Perfection: Once the dough has sufficiently chilled, transfer the baking sheet with the cookie dough balls into the preheated oven. Bake the cookies for 15-18 minutes. The exact baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven and the size of your cookies. Look for the edges to be lightly golden brown, while the centers still appear slightly soft and puffy. This indicates a perfectly baked, chewy, and tender cookie.

3. Cooling Process: After baking, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes. This allows them to firm up slightly before you attempt to move them. Then, carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. They must be completely cool before you apply the frosting.

Preparing the Vibrant Lemon Buttercream Frosting

1. Whip the Butter: In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip the softened butter on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes until it becomes very light, fluffy, and pale. This aeration makes for a smooth and delightful frosting.

2. Gradually Add Powdered Sugar: With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Continue adding sugar until you’ve reached your desired frosting consistency – smooth, thick enough to pipe, but still spreadable. You may need up to 5 cups.

3. Infuse Flavor: Add 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the frosting. Beat on medium-high speed for another minute or two until the frosting is light, fluffy, and all ingredients are fully incorporated. Taste and adjust lemon or vanilla as needed.

4. Coloring the Frosting: To create a festive look, divide the buttercream into 3 or 4 separate bowls. Add a few drops of different pastel food coloring to each bowl (e.g., pink, blue, green). Blend each color individually until you achieve your desired shades. This multi-colored frosting will make your **Easter cookies** truly pop!

Assembling Your Multi-Colored Frosting Bag

This clever technique allows you to create beautiful multi-colored piped frosting with ease:

1. Lay out Plastic Wrap: Unroll a large piece of plastic wrap, approximately 18 inches long, onto your clean counter surface.

2. Spread Frosting Colors: Carefully spread each color of your prepared frosting in a separate line down the length of the plastic wrap, leaving a 3-4-inch space blank on each end. You should have about 3 or 4 distinct lines of frosting. It’s perfectly fine if the lines touch each other slightly, but avoid layering them directly on top.

3. Roll into a Log: Grasp the top and bottom edges of the plastic wrap (where the blank spaces are) and gently roll the plastic wrap closed, bringing the edges together. The different colors of frosting will now be rolled together inside the plastic, forming a striped log shape.

4. Secure the Ends: Twist both ends of the plastic wrap firmly to seal the frosting log, creating a package similar to a large “tootsie roll.” This prevents the frosting from spilling out.

5. Insert into Piping Bag: Prepare a piping bag fitted with your desired frosting tip (a large round or star tip works well for these jumbo cookies). Carefully insert the rolled frosting log, still encased in the plastic wrap, into the piping bag. Push it all the way down so that one twisted end of the frosting log meets the bottom of the bag where the frosting tip is. The other twisted end will extend out of the wider opening of the piping bag.

Decorating Your Lemon Easter Cookies

1. Snip and Pipe: Once the frosting log is in place, use scissors to snip off the twisted plastic wrap end that is touching the frosting tip. Gently press the frosting down into the tip. Now you’re ready to pipe! Apply the frosting onto your completely cooled **lemon sugar cookies** in swirls, rosettes, or any pattern you desire.

2. Add Sprinkles: Immediately after piping the frosting onto each cookie, generously top it with your festive Easter-colored sprinkles. The wet frosting will help the sprinkles adhere. Serve these beautiful, **frosted lemon Easter cookies** and enjoy the smiles they bring!

No Piping Bag? No Problem! Easy Frosting Alternatives

While the plastic wrap trick and a piping bag are fantastic for creating a clean, multi-colored frosting effect, don’t let a lack of specialized equipment deter you from making these delicious **frosted lemon cookies**! If you don’t have a piping bag handy, you can easily adapt. Simply scoop your prepared buttercream frosting into a gallon-sized Ziploc bag. Push the frosting down into one corner, then snip off a small piece of that corner with scissors. This creates a makeshift piping bag that works just fine for decorating your cookies with swirls or simple designs. Alternatively, for a more rustic and equally delicious approach, you can simply use a butter knife or an offset spatula to spread the frosting evenly onto each cooled cookie. You can even create lovely little peaks or swoops with a knife to add a homemade touch. The flavor will be just as amazing, no matter your decorating method!

How Long Do Lemon Buttercream Frosting Cookies Stay Fresh?

These delightful **lemon buttercream frosting cookies** are best enjoyed fresh, but they can be stored to maintain their deliciousness. When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, they will remain fresh for up to 2-3 days. However, to truly preserve their soft, chewy texture and the integrity of the buttercream frosting, we highly recommend storing them in the refrigerator. In the fridge, in an airtight container, they can stay fresh for up to 5 days. The cooler temperature helps keep the cookies from drying out and maintains the firm, creamy consistency of the frosting. Always ensure they are in an airtight container to prevent them from absorbing other odors from your fridge and to keep them at their peak quality.

Can I Freeze Frosted Sugar Cookies?

Yes, you absolutely can freeze these **frosted lemon sugar cookies** to enjoy them later! Freezing is a fantastic way to extend their shelf life and have a delicious treat ready whenever a craving strikes. To do this effectively, follow these steps:

1. Once your cookies are completely frosted and the frosting has set slightly, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet.
2. Freeze the baking sheet for about 2 hours, or until the frosting is completely solid. This “flash freezing” prevents the frosting from sticking together when stacked.
3. Once the cookies are frozen solid, transfer them to an airtight freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. For best results and to prevent any sticking or damage to the frosting, place a piece of parchment paper or wax paper between layers of cookies if stacking.
4. You can keep these **frozen frosted lemon cookies** for up to 3 months.
5. To enjoy, simply remove the desired number of cookies from the freezer and let them thaw at room temperature for an hour or two before serving. The frosting and cookie texture will remain wonderfully delicious!

Do I Really Need to Chill My Cookie Dough for This Recipe?

Yes, for this particular **lemon cookie recipe**, chilling the dough is not just a suggestion – it’s a vital step that significantly impacts the final outcome of your cookies. While it adds a bit of waiting time, the benefits are well worth it:

1. Prevents Spreading: The primary reason for chilling cookie dough is to solidify the butter (or any fat) in the recipe. When butter is cold, it takes longer to melt in the hot oven. This means the cookies will spread less, holding their shape better and resulting in thicker, chewier cookies with a more consistent “jumbo” size. Without chilling, your cookies are much more likely to spread thin and lose their delightful texture.
2. Enhances Flavor Development: Chilling also allows the ingredients in the dough to fully hydrate and mingle. This is especially beneficial for the lemon zest and juice, giving them more time to infuse their bright, zesty flavor throughout the dough. The result is a more intensely flavored and aromatic cookie.
3. Improves Texture: The rest period allows the flour to absorb moisture more completely, which contributes to a softer, more tender, and less crumbly cookie texture.

So, while you might be eager to get those delicious **Frosted Lemon Easter Cookies** into the oven, resist the urge to skip the chilling step. A minimum of 30 minutes is recommended, but you can even chill the dough for several hours or overnight for even better results. Your patience will be rewarded with perfectly shaped, wonderfully flavorful, and irresistibly chewy lemon cookies.

More Amazing Easter Treats and Spring Dessert Recipes to Try:

If you love baking and delighting in festive treats, especially around Easter and springtime, here are some other fantastic recipes from our collection that you’ll want to add to your repertoire. From rich brownies to classic sugar cookies, there’s something here to make every occasion extra special:

• Easter Brownie Blossoms: A delightful twist on the classic blossom cookie, perfect for chocolate lovers.
• Homemade Chocolate Marshmallow Eggs: Sweet, soft, and chocolatey – a homemade version of a beloved Easter candy.
• Braided Sweet Bread: A beautiful and delicious centerpiece for your Easter brunch or dinner.
• Easter Egg Sugar Cookies: Classic sugar cookies cut into festive egg shapes, ready for your creative decorating.
• No Bake Easter Chick Cookies: Quick and adorable, these are perfect for kids to help make.
• Easter Sprinkle Cookies: Simple, colorful, and always a crowd-pleaser.
• Easter Rice Krispie Treats: A timeless favorite, easily adapted for Easter with pastel colors and sprinkles.
• Cadbury Mini Eggs Brownie Bars: Rich, fudgy brownies studded with colorful Cadbury Mini Eggs.
• Easy Easter Marshmallow Bark: A super simple, customizable candy bark perfect for gifting.
• Cadbury Mini Egg Cookies: Another fantastic way to use everyone’s favorite Easter candy in a cookie!
• Carrot Cake Cookies: All the flavor of carrot cake in a convenient, soft cookie form.
• Easter Blossom Cookies: Soft, tender cookies topped with a chocolate kiss for a sweet surprise.
• Easter Cookie Cake: A giant, festive cookie that’s perfect for sharing at any Easter celebration.

These **Jumbo Frosted Lemon Easter Cookies** are truly a celebration in every bite – fabulously soft, richly buttery, and bursting with bright lemon flavor that melts in your mouth. Whether you’re planning a grand Easter feast or simply looking for a delightful treat to brighten your day, these **lemon cookies** make the perfect addition to any family gathering or festive dessert spread. Don’t wait; bake a batch today and savor the taste of spring!