Description
These Levain Bakery Lemon Cookies are delightfully buttery and packed with fresh lemon flavor. Featuring a balance of tangy lemon zest, lemon juice, and luscious lemon or white chocolate chips, these soft, thick cookies have a crisp exterior and a chewy, tender interior. Perfect for lemon lovers, they offer a rich yet refreshing twist on classic bakery-style cookies.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup Cold Butter (cut into cubes)
- 1 cup Sugar
- 2/3 cup Brown Sugar
- 1 large Egg
- 1 large Egg Yolk
- Lemon Zest (from 1 large lemon)
- 2 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1/2 teaspoon Lemon Extract (optional)
Dry Ingredients
- 3 1/4 cups Flour
- 1 teaspoon Cornstarch
- 3/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 3/4 teaspoon Salt
Add-ins
- 2 cups Lemon Chips or White Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- Preheat and cream butter and sugars: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large mixing bowl, combine the cubed cold butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Using an electric mixer, cream them together for about 4 minutes or until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl halfway through to incorporate all the ingredients evenly.
- Add eggs and lemon flavorings: To the creamed mixture, add the whole egg, egg yolk, freshly grated lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, and lemon extract if using. Mix well to fully incorporate these ingredients, enhancing the freshness and brightness of the lemon flavor. For an extra lemony punch, consider adding additional lemon zest at this stage.
- Incorporate dry ingredients: Gently fold in the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt just until combined to avoid overmixing, which can toughen the cookies. Once combined, fold in the lemon flavored chips or white chocolate chips evenly throughout the dough.
- Shape the cookie dough: Using a food scale, portion out the dough into 6-ounce balls for consistent cookie size and baking. Roll the dough gently into balls and place them spaced apart on a light-colored baking sheet to prevent the bottoms from browning too much.
- Bake and cool: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9 to 11 minutes until they are golden on the edges but still soft in the middle. Once baked, allow the cookies to set and cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack or serving. This resting period helps them firm up to the classic Levain Bakery thick texture.
Notes
- Use a light-colored baking sheet to prevent the cookie bottoms from over-browning.
- Weighing cookie dough balls ensures even baking and consistent cookie size.
- For stronger lemon flavor, add extra lemon zest to the dough.
- Cold butter helps create the signature thick, chewy texture.
- The resting time after baking is essential for the cookies to set properly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
