Lemon "Swig" Sugar Cookies with Lemon Frosting
Ingredients
Cookies:
- 1 ¼ cups (265 g) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest, from about 3 medium lemons
- 1 cup (227 g) salted butter, softened
- ¾ cup neutral-flavored oil, canola, vegetable, grapeseed, etc
- ¾ cup (86 g) powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 to 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 large eggs
- 5 ½ cups (780 g) all-purpose flour, (I use unbleached)
- Granulated sugar for pressing the cookies
Frosting:
- 1 cup (227 g) salted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- ½ to 1 tablespoon lemon zest, from about 1 medium lemon
- 5 cups (570 g) powdered sugar
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (or 325 degrees F for convection bake) and line several half sheet pans with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, add the granulated sugar and lemon zest and rub the mixture together with your fingers until well-combined and it smells very lemony. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a bowl using a handheld electric mixer), add the butter, oil, granulated sugar/lemon zest mixture, and powdered sugar. Sprinkle the baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt across the top of the sugars (don't add the baking soda and cream of tartar in one lump or it might clump while mixing). Mix until well-combined and super creamy, 1-2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add the lemon juice and eggs and mix until well-combined, 1-2 minutes, again scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add the flour and mix until no dry streaks remain and the mixture is evenly combined; don't overmix.
- Scoop the dough into about 3-tablespoon sized portions (I use a #20 cookie scoop) and roll into balls. Place several inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Add about 1/2 cup granulated sugar to a shallow dish or bowl. Lightly spray the bottom of a flat-bottomed glass with cooking spray and dip the bottom of the glass into the sugar. Press each cookie into an even thickness dipping the bottom of the glass into the sugar between each press (no need to spray it again with cooking spray after the first time). The edges of the cookie will ruffle out a bit. It's really up to you how thick or thin to press the cookies. I like them between 1/4- and 1/2-inch thick.
- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes until just set. Try not to let them get golden on the edges or very much on the bottom - that means they've baked too long and they may be dry and crumbly instead of creamy and soft.
- Let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets before removing to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- For the frosting, in a medium bowl (can use a handheld or stand mixer) combine the butter, sour cream and lemon zest. Mix until thick and smooth and creamy, 1-2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar and lemon juice, and mix until well-combined and creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add additional lemon juice, sour cream or milk/cream, if needed, to adjust the consistency of the frosting so it is thick and creamy but still soft and spreadable.
- Frost the cooled cookies and decorate with a bit of fresh lemon zest or sprinkles (optional).
Notes
Flavor: you can really amp up the lemon flavor if you add lemon extract to the dough and/or frosting.
Flour: be careful not to overflour the dough or the cookies might be dry instead of soft after baking. If you don't weigh your ingredients, make sure to fluff the flour in the container before scooping in the measuring cup and leveling (don't pack or shake the flour into the cup!).