Meyer Lemon Cut Out Sugar Cookies are a no-chill type of roll-out cookie recipe that is great to make for Easter, Christmas, Valentine’s Day or any celebration or holiday!
There’s a BIG BONUS in this recipe… no waiting! You do not have to chill the sugar cookie dough before you roll and cut! The dough is very easy to work with- if too sticky just add a bit more flour, and it’s able to take rolling and re-rolling without getting dry and worn out. I love this recipe for making cut-out cookies. My No-Fail Sugar Cookies are another great recipe for making the same type of cookie.
I use ‘gel-paste coloring’ to tint my icing. If you’re a frequent baker and you don’t have any of these, you should think about getting them (find them at craft or baking stores). There are so many cute colors, and just a tiny little bit will give you the color you need. They last forever. You can certainly use regular food coloring instead if you don’t have gel-paste.
I made a double batch of Martha Stewart’s Royal Icing recipe for my decor icing for these Meyer Lemon Cut Out Cookies. The only special ingredient you need for that is Meringue Powder, which you can find at a craft store (or baking store). It’s so easy to make if you have a stand mixer. If not, you can use this one instead (which does not require either meringue powder or a stand mixer!)
I use a bunch of little plastic containers with lids, dividing the icing between them and tinting my colors in those. For icing, I use the little zip snack bags (nothing fancy!) Just put the tinted icing in the baggie and very carefully snip off the very tip of the baggie and squeeze away.
I use the squeeze baggie to do all of the edging on the cookies, then set it aside and spoon the icing from the container on top to ‘flood’ the center of the cookie. You have to keep the icing covered or it begins to dry out and get too thick. If it’s too thick, just thin it out with a few added drips of water. After I have all of my cookies flooded with their base color, I use my squeeze baggies to do all of the decor and add a few sprinkles here and there.
The Meyer Lemons give these cookies just a tinge of lemony flavor. If you don’t wish to use Meyers, I wouldn’t sub regular lemons (too tart), but you can skip the juice and zest in the recipe and sub vanilla or almond extract in its place.
How to store frosted sugar cookies:
When you’re using this type of icing, it should harden nicely so you’re able to stack these cookies. I store them in a covered container, divided by sheets of waxed paper or in an airtight bag in a single layer. You can store them at room temperature for up to one week. Royal icing doesn’t tend to freeze well. If you want to make them ahead, bake the cookies and freeze them but ice them when ready to serve.
The Best Meyer Lemon Recipes:
- Meyer Lemon Loaf
- Meyer Lemon Ricotta Muffins
- Luscious Southern Meyer Lemon Bars
- Meyer Lemon Ricotta Cookies
- Meyer Lemon Curd
Meyer Lemon Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2 cups granulated white sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 4 tablespoons whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 medium Meyer lemons, zest only
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice
- 6 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the butter and sugar. Beat until smooth but not fluffy.
- In a small bowl whisk together the eggs, cream, vanilla extract, lemon zest and lemon juice. Add this mixture all at once to the butter and sugar. Beat just until combined. The mixture will appear 'curdled.'
- In another small bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder and salt. Add these dry ingredients to the liquid ingredients in the mixing bowl. Mix to form the dough. This dough does not need to be chilled before rolling!
- Flour a work surface. Knead the dough a few times to smooth it out. With a rolling pin roll the dough, adding flour as needed, if the dough appears sticky. Cut into desired shapes. The dough scraps can be re-rolled and cut several times.
- Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
Notes
- The cookies pictures above were iced with Martha Stewart's Royal Icing.
- Depending on the size of your cookies the recipe will make more or less than four dozen.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can I omit the whipping cream?
No, you can’t leave anything out when following a baking recipe. Won’t turn out the same!
Awesome cookies! I have a Meyer Lemon tree and it is bursting around the holidays. Perfect cookie and I paired it with a lemon royal icing: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/royal-icing-recipe20-1942305. Everyone loves these cookies.
These were delicious! Thanks so much for posting
I made these into Christmas cookies…they are delicious, and I love not having to chill the dough. Your site is now my go-to site when I’m looking for a particular recipe. Every thing I’ve tried from here is fabulous. Thank you!
Very pretty! I’m always awed by the patience everyone else seems to have to decorate cookies.
Happy Easter!
~ingrid