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–+ servings
Cookies topped with lemon glaze and poppy seeds, sprinkled with lemon zest, with a lemon wedge nearby.
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Lemon Poppyseed Cookies

Bright, tangy, and perfectly sweet, these lemon poppyseed cookies are soft, zesty, and topped with a simple lemon glaze for extra flavor.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 12 serves
Calories 162kcal

Equipment

  • Electric mixer

Ingredients

Cookies

  • ¾ cup sugar 150 g
  • ½ teaspoon salt 2 g
  • Zest of 1 ½ large lemons approx. 1 ½ tablespoons; 11g
  • ⅓ cup unsalted butter or margarine softened (75 g)
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil such as sunflower or grapeseed (28 g)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 g
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 45 g
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour 120 g
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 tablespoons poppy seeds 18 g

Glaze

  • ½ cup powdered sugar 60 g
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 30 g

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, salt, and lemon zest. Rub together with your fingertips until fragrant and the sugar looks slightly moist.
  • Add the softened butter and beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
  • Add the oil, vanilla, and lemon juice. Beat until smooth.
  • Sift the flour and baking soda into the bowl. Stir until just combined. Fold in poppy seeds.
  • Scoop about 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Flatten each slightly with your fingertips.
  • Bake for 9–11 minutes, until the edges are set but the centers still look soft. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
  • In a small bowl, whisk powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Spoon or drizzle glaze over cooled cookies. Let set for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

This recipe was updated 26 August 2026 with a slight increase baking soda, a longer chill time and dough shaping into balls to reduce spreading.

Nutrition

Calories: 162kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 184mg | Potassium: 31mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 158IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg