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    Home Recipes Cookies and Bars

    Gluten Free Lemon Cookies {Dairy-Free Option}

    Published: Apr 16, 2021 by Sandi Gaertner · 12 Comments · As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    A stack of 5 lemon cookies

    If you love the lemon flavor and sugar cookies, wait until you try my new Gluten Free Lemon Cookies recipe! It is a delicious blend of sweet lemon flavors! These lemon sugar cookies are easy to make as drop-style or slice-and-bake cookies!

    A stack of lemon cookies on a plate.
    Jump to:
    • Why you will love these gluten free lemon cookies:
    • Ingredients Notes:
    • Recipe Step-By-Step Directions
    • Tips and Recipe FAQ:
    • More gluten free cookies to try:
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Fearless Dining
    • 💬 Comments

    These delicious gluten free lemon cookies almost melt in your mouth. They are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They are the perfect sugar cookies to enjoy when you are in the mood for cookies.

    My family has been enjoying all the new cookie recipes I have worked on. They are my trusted taste testers and have made it through three versions of these lemon cookies. The first version used only lemon extract, the second only lemon juice, and the third, the winner, uses a combination of both!

    I hope you love these cookies as much as we do. There is a dairy-free version, too, for my readers who need to be dairy-free as well!

    If you love lemon-flavored desserts, check out all of my delicious Gluten Free Lemon Recipes!!

    Why you will love these gluten free lemon cookies:

    1. What isn't to love about sugar cookies? Add in some lemon flavor, and these cookies are absolutely amazing!
    2. These cookies are perfect for snacking, a bake sale, or any time you are craving cookies.
    3. They store in the freezer for a cookie fix whenever you like!
    4. Make them in about 20 minutes.

    If you are a cookie fanatic like me, you will want to check out all of my gluten free cookie recipes!

    Top Pick
    King Arthur, Measure for Measure Flour 3 lbs
    King Arthur, Measure for Measure Flour 3 lbs

    This is one of my favorite gluten-free flour blends for cookies, cakes, pie crust, biscuits, and muffins! (Do not use this flour blend for yeast recipes.)

    Buy Now
    We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

    Ingredients Notes:

    Photos of the gluten free lemon cookie ingredients.
    • Gluten free flour blend - I tested this recipe using Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend and King Arthur's Measure for Measure Gluten Free Blend. That doesn't mean others will not work. I just have not tested other flours.
    • Xanthan gum - If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
    • Lemon extract - I use this for that extra lemon flavor. Too much lemon juice can add too much moisture and change the texture. This is why I use a combination of both extract and juice.
    • Butter - To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter.

    Recipe Step-By-Step Directions

    Lemon cookies photos of steps 1 and 2.

    Step 1: Add the dry ingredients to a bowl and whisk to blend.

    Step 2: Add the wet ingredients and mix in a smaller bowl.

    Lemon cookies photos of steps 3 and 4.

    Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix into a big cookie dough ball. Wrap this cookie dough in plastic and refrigerate for 30-45 minutes.

    Step 4: Make the lemon sugar by adding the sugar and lemon zest to a bowl.

    Top Pick
    OXO Good Grips Medium Cookie Scoop
    OXO Good Grips Medium Cookie Scoop

    This is a durable cookie scoop that I highly recommend. I have had mine for two years, and it has held up to 100s of batches of cookie making.

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    We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
    Lemon cookies photos of steps 5 and 6.

    Step 5: Scoop up the dough with a cookie scoop roll the cookie dough balls with your hands, and then roll them into the lemon sugar.

    Step 6: Place the sugar-coated cookie dough balls on a baking sheet.

    🔑 Sandi says: If you want to make slice-and-bake cookies instead, make a log out of the cookie dough ball. Roll the log into the lemon sugar and wrap it in plastic. Refrigerate for 30-45 minutes and slice and bake.

    Lemon cookies photos of steps 7 and 8.

    Step 7: Take a glass and smush down all of the cookies.

    Step 8: Bake at 350º F for 9-10 minutes. Allow to cool on a cooling rack.

    Tips and Recipe FAQ:

    Can you use just lemon extract?

    Yes, you can skip the fresh lemon juice if you like. The cookies will be a lot sweeter.

    Can you use cookie cutters with the lemon cookie dough?

    You can use cookie cutters if you like. Make sure the dough is cold.

    How do you freeze lemon cookies?

    I allow the cookies to cool completely, then put them into a zipper-style freezer bag. Press the air out before freezing.

    How long will these cookies keep fresh?

    These cookies will last up to 4 days in an airtight container or up to 4 months in the freezer.

    A stack of five lemon cookies.

    More gluten free cookies to try:

    • Gluten Free Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies (aka Sprinkle Cookies!)
    • Classic Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies
    • Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Gluten Free Butter Cookies

    📖 Recipe

    A stack of five lemon cookies.

    Gluten Free Lemon Cookies

    Sandi Gaertner
    Delicious, slightly crisp, gluten free lemon cookies. If you love sugar cookies, this lemony version will make your day!
    5 from 9 votes
    gluten free allergy icon
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    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Chilling 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Gluten Free Cookies and Bar Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 20 cookies
    Calories 126 kcal

    *As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

    Equipment

    • Mixing bowls
    • Cookie sheet

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ½ cups gluten free flour blend * see note
    • ¾ cup sugar
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup butter melted or very softened
    • 2 eggs size large
    • 1 teaspoon lemon extract
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon lemon zest

    For Sugar Coating

    • ½ cup sugar
    • 2 teaspoons lemon zest

    Instructions
     

    • Add the dry ingredients to a bowl and whisk to blend. In a smaller bowl, add the wet ingredients and mix.
    • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix into a big cookie dough ball. Wrap this cookie dough in plastic and refrigerate for 30-45 minutes.
    • Make the lemon sugar by adding the sugar and lemon zest to a bowl.
    • Preheat the oven to 350º F.
    • Remove the cookie dough from the refrigerator. Roll cookie dough balls with your hands and then roll them into the lemon sugar.
    • Place the sugar coated cookie dough balls on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
    • Take a glass and smush down all of the cookies. Bake at 350º F for 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool on a cooling rack.

    Notes

    1. I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
    2. If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
    3. To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan dairy-free butter.
    4. These yummy cookies will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer. To freeze, put the cooled cookies into a freezer-safe zip lock style bag.
    *Note, if you want to make slice and bake cookies instead, make a log out of the cookie dough ball. Roll the log into the lemon sugar and wrap it in plastic. Refrigerate 30-45 minutes and slice and bake as directed above.

    SPECIAL NOTE

    Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 126kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 89mgPotassium: 29mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 166IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @FearlessDining or tag #FearlessDining!

    Nutrition Disclaimer

    Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

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    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Carol

      March 21, 2023 at 6:38 am

      5 stars
      These cookies are so light and flavorful! No one knew they were gluten free except me!

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        March 21, 2023 at 11:31 am

        I am really glad everyone loved these cookies. I am a huge sucker for lemon desserts :-).

        Reply
    2. Kathy

      March 15, 2023 at 2:30 pm

      5 stars
      These are amazing!

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        March 15, 2023 at 4:46 pm

        Thank you, Kathy!

        Reply
    3. Tara

      December 20, 2022 at 5:24 pm

      5 stars
      These are perfection! The only thing I adjusted after my first batch was added 1 extra T. of lemon juice. These are super soft with a little crunch on the edges. So yummy!

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        December 20, 2022 at 7:28 pm

        I am so glad you loved them. I am going to add more lemon juice next time :-).

        Reply
    4. Trisha

      July 23, 2021 at 4:33 pm

      Hey, wondering if I could roll out dough and cut out different shapes instead of doing balls? Or would that make the dough too tough? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        July 24, 2021 at 12:14 pm

        Hi Trisha, I think that should be okay. Just make sure the dough is cold.

        Reply
    5. Ashley

      April 16, 2021 at 12:42 pm

      5 stars
      We loved these. The lemon flavor is so good.

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        April 16, 2021 at 6:50 pm

        I am so glad you loved them Ashley 🙂

        Reply
    6. Sam

      April 16, 2021 at 11:57 am

      5 stars
      These lemon cookies were delicious! Bonus that they’re gluten free

      Reply
      • Sandi Gaertner

        April 16, 2021 at 6:51 pm

        Wow, you were fast to make them. Glad you enjoyed them :-).

        Reply

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    Welcome to my blog! I am so glad you are here. If you have Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance, or a wheat allergy, you've come to the right place for delicious recipes. I have years of extensive experience in gluten free recipe development, and I am excited to help you. I am a seasoned gluten free recipe developer and I test recipes multiple times with multiple gluten free flour blends so you know what works. I specialize in creating easy, family-friendly recipes that rival their gluten-filled counterparts.

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