• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Grits and Pinecones
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Mardi Gras
  • Valentine’s Day
  • All Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Grits and Pinecones » Recipes » Desserts

    Lemon Shortbread Cookies Recipe: Plus Genius Cookie Hack

    September 24, 2019 by Sharon Rigsby, Updated January 8, 2022 7 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest pin showing lemon shortbread cookies and lemon slices.

    Every bite of these easy, melt-in-your-mouth Lemon Shortbread Cookies is sweet lemony bliss! And, they couldn’t be easier to make thanks to my genius cookie hack and a secret ingredient. Perfect with a cup of coffee or glass of milk, these buttery, tender, classic bars will quickly become a family favorite. 

    A stack of lemon shortbread cookies tied with a piece of string and lemon slices on a plate.

    Why you will love this recipe:

    1. Not only are these cookies delicious, but you can also make them ahead. They are the best!
    2. For example, you could prepare the dough now and refrigerate it for a day or so until you are ready to bake them. Or, even more exciting, you can freeze the dough for several months. Then all you have to do is pull the frozen dough out whenever you need it and pop the cookies in the oven.  
    3. These homemade cookies also can be frozen after baking and make a perfect holiday gift for your foodie friends.

    Secret ingredient:

    The secret ingredient in my cookies is lemon paste, which gives this decadent buttery wafer a decidedly sweet, bright, citrusy burst of flavor. A friend gave me a bottle of this delightful essence for my birthday, and I have been adding it to everything ever since then.

    Lemon paste, which is similar to vanilla paste, is a combination of lemon extract and lemon oil. It gives a deep rich flavor to everything from cookies and cakes to sauces and marinades.

    Genus cookie hack:

    You are going to love this cookie hack! I borrowed it from my sister at the Pudge Factor Blog, who uses it to make crackers. It works like a charm with this recipe!

    In this hack, you place the cookie dough in a gallon-size plastic storage bag and then roll it out in the bag. You end up with a completely square, perfectly even piece of dough without the mess of having flour and cookie dough all over your countertop. Easy peasy! 

    I first used this hack to make Easy Homemade Baked Cheez-it Crackers. For these lemon shortbread cookies or biscuits, I like to cut them out in a rectangle shape using a fluted pastry cutter and a ruler. There is no waste using this method.

    Of course, you can also use a round biscuit cutter or any number of cute cookie cutters too!  And, any cookie scraps can be cooked right alongside the cookies for the cook to conduct any number of taste tests. 

    To add a glaze or not?

    We are a house divided. I like the simplicity of these delicious shortbread cookies and enjoy them plain. But, on the other hand, my husband loves a light glaze.

    Either way, they are addictive, and you can always add glaze to half and leave the other half plain. It’s up to you! And, of course, I include a recipe for a quick glaze just in case.

    Here is what you will need: 

    To make these delicious cookies, you will need the following ingredients: unsalted butter, granulated sugar, lemon paste, all-purpose flour, and kosher salt. If you want to make the optional glaze, you will need confectioners sugar, fresh lemon juice, and lemon zest. 

    How to make this recipe:

    Add the butter and sugar to the bowl of an electric mixer. Mix until they are well combined. 

    Butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric stand mixer.

    Add the lemon paste and mix well. 

    Sift the flour and salt together and add to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix on low until everything is well combined and the dough starts coming together in a ball.

    using a wire strainer to sift flour into shortbread cookie dough. 

    Pat the dough into a flat disk and sprinkle just a little flour on the top and bottom.

    Lemon Shortbread Cookie Dough in a flat disk before rolling it out.

    Place the dough disk in a gallon-size plastic storage bag and leave the top open. 

    Use a rolling pin and gently roll out the dough until it fills the bag and is an even thickness. If any dough oozes out the top of the bag, cut it off and place back in the bag and roll it in. 

    Shortbread cookie dough in a gallon storage bag and a rolling pin.

    Place the bag of dough on a cookie sheet and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least two hours or up to 36 hours. 

    When ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the cookie dough from the refrigerator. 

    Use scissors and carefully cut the bag down the middle and up the sides. Turn the dough out on a Silpat mat or sprinkle a small amount of flour on your countertop to keep it from sticking and put it on the counter. 

    Taking rolled shortbread cooking dough out of a storage bag.

    I used a ruler as a guide and cut my dough lengthwise into one-inch long strips using a fluted pastry cutter. Then I cut it horizontally into 2-½ inch bars. Use a fork and pierce each cookie a few times. 

    Using a pastry cutter to cut out lemon shortbread cookies.

    Place the cookies on a Silpat baking mat on a baking sheet or an ungreased baking sheet about ½ inch apart;  bake for 15-20 minutes.

    Lemon shortbread cookies on a baking sheet ready for the oven.

    Watch the cookies carefully, and do not let them brown. They should just be starting to turn a light brown on the edges but still be pale in the center.

    Lemon shortbread cookies on a bronze metal plate with lemon slices. 

    How to make the optional glaze:

    Add sifted confectioners’ sugar, lemon juice, and optional lemon zest to a small bowl. Mix with a spoon until smooth. If the mixture is too thin, add additional sugar. If it’s too thick, add a few drops more of lemon juice. 

    Use a small spoon and drizzle over the cookies.

    Sharon’s Expert Tips:

    You can substitute lemon extract for the lemon paste in this recipe. If you want to add even more lemony flavor, add one tablespoon of lemon zest to the dough.

    You can purchase this paste where extracts are sold, order it online, or you can make your own by puréeing preserved lemons in your food processor and adding a tiny bit of olive oil.

    Both the baked shortbread cookies and the dough freeze well. Be sure to use an airtight container. If you are freezing the baked cookies, place a layer of parchment paper or wax paper between the layers. 

    These shortbread cookies are very versatile. You can cut them out with a pizza cutter, pastry cutter, cookie-cutter, or biscuit cutter.  Or, you can shape them into a log, chill, and slice and bake. 

    I used a Ziploc flat plastic gallon storage bag to hold and roll out the dough. Unfortunately, the storage bags with an accordion pleat at the bottom won’t work. 

    The glaze is optional. These cookies are delicious with or without the glaze. If you are storing glazed cookies, be sure to let the glaze dry completely so they don’t stick together. 

    These cookies are also sturdy and travel well. This makes them perfect for including in a care package for a college student or sick friend. 

    Shortbread cookies, like sugar cookies, are also perfect for decorating with royal icing for holidays like Christmas or Easter.

    More cookie recipes:

    If you like cookies as much as we do, you might also like this unusual cookie recipe: Cornmeal Cookies with Tomato Jam. I also have these simple cookie recipes on my blog that I know you will love: Cranberry Cookies, Old-Fashioned Crunchy Gingersnap Cookies, Easy Butter Pecan Cookies, and Chocolate Chip Meringue Cookies, aka Forgotten Kisses. 

    ★ If you make Lemon Shortbread Cookies, please leave a comment and give this recipe a star rating. I would love to know how you liked it!

    Thanks so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones!

    A stack of lemon shortbread cookies tied with a piece of string and lemon slices on a plate.

    Easy Lemon Shortbread Cookies Recipe

    Sharon Rigsby
    Every bite of these easy Lemon Shortbread Cookies is sweet lemony bliss! And, they couldn't be easier to make thanks to my genius cookie hack and a secret ingredient. Perfect with a cup of coffee or milk, these buttery, tender, classic lemon shortbread bars will quickly become a family favorite. 
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Chill 2 hrs
    Total Time 2 hrs 35 mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 30 cookies
    Calories 65 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Cookie Ingredients:

    • 1½ cups unsalted butter 12 ounces, at room temperature
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 2 teaspoons lemon paste
    • 3½ cups all-purpose flour
    • ⅓ teaspoons kosher salt

    Optional Lemon Glaze Ingredients:

    • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
    • 4 Tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
    • 1 Tablespoon lemon zest optional

    Instructions
     

    Lemon Shortbread Cookies Directions:

    • Add the butter and sugar to the bowl of an electric mixer. Mix until they are well combined.
    • Add the lemon paste and mix well.
    • Sift the flour and salt together and add to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix on low until everything is well combined and the dough starts coming together in a ball.
    • Pat the dough into a flat disk and sprinkle just a little flour on the top and bottom.
    • Place the dough disk in a gallon-size plastic storage bag and leave the top open.
    • Use a rolling pin and gently roll out the dough until it fills the bag and is an even thickness. If any dough oozes out the top of the bag, cut it off and place back in the bag and roll it in.
    • Place the bag of dough on a cookie sheet and place in the refrigerator to chill for at least two hours or up to 36 hours.
    • When you are ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the cookie dough from the refrigerator.
    • Use scissors and carefully cut the bag down the middle and up the sides. Turn the dough out on a Silpat mat or sprinkle a small amount of flour on your countertop to keep it from sticking and put it on the counter.
    • I used a ruler as a guide and cut my dough lengthwise into one-inch long strips using a fluted pastry cutter. Then I cut it horizontally into 2-½-inch bars. Use a fork and pierce each cookie a few times.
    • Place the cookies on a Silpat baking mat on a baking sheet or an ungreased baking sheet about ½ inch apart; bake for 15-20 minutes. Watch the cookies carefully and do not let them brown. They should just be starting to turn a light golden brown on the edges but still be pale in the center.

    Optional Lemon Glaze Directions:

    • Add sifted confectioners' sugar, lemon juice and optional lemon zest to a small bowl and mix with a spoon until smooth. If the mixture is too thin, add additional sugar. If it's too thick, add a few drops more of lemon juice.
    • Use a small spoon and drizzle the glaze over the cookies.

    Notes

    Sharon's Expert Tips:
    You can substitute lemon extract for the lemon paste in this recipe. If you want to add even more lemony flavor add one tablespoon of lemon zest to the dough.
    You can purchase lemon paste where lemon extract is sold, order it online, or you can make your own by puréeing preserved lemons in your food processor and adding a tiny bit of olive oil.
    Both the baked lemon shortbread cookies and the dough freeze well. Be sure to use an airtight container. If you are freezing the baked cookies, place a layer of parchment paper or wax paper between the layers.
    Lemon shortbread cookies are very versatile. You can cut them out with a pizza cutter, pastry cutter, cookie-cutter, or biscuit cutter. Or, you can shape them into a log, chill, and slice and bake.
    I used a Ziploc flat plastic gallon storage bag to hold and roll out the dough. I have seen some storage bags which have an accordion pleat at the bottom and these bags won't work.
    The lemon glaze is optional. Lemon shortbread cookies are delicious with or without the glaze. If you are storing glazed cookies, be sure to let the glaze dry completely so they don't stick together.
    Lemon shortbread cookies are sturdy and travel well. This makes them perfect for including in a care package for a college student or sick friend.
    Shortbread cookies, like sugar cookies, are also perfect for decorating with royal icing for holidays like Christmas or Easter.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 65kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 20mgPotassium: 9mgFiber: 1gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 1mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe? Tag me today! Mention @gritspinecones or tag #gritspinecones!

     

    More Dessert Recipes recipes

    • Chocolate Ganache Tart & Raspberry Sauce
    • 33 Romantic Desserts for Valentine’s Day
    • Heart-Shaped Chocolate Cake with Cherries
    • Charleston Chewies with Brown Butter

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Anais

      June 11, 2020 at 3:51 pm

      Can I use lemon extract instead of lemon paste? I don’t have time to make lemon paste and I haven’t been able to find it in stores anywhere. If I can sub, what is the conversion?

      Reply
      • Sharon Rigsby

        June 11, 2020 at 4:36 pm

        Yes, you can substitute lemon extract for the lemon paste and you would use the same amount of extract. If you have it, you could also add some lemon zest to boost the lemon flavor.
        I hope you enjoy the cookies,
        Sharon

        Reply
        • Anais

          June 14, 2020 at 10:49 am

          Thank you! I am trying this today 🙂 Ill let you know how it goes!

    2. Lisa

      October 27, 2019 at 11:34 am

      This is for Easy lemon shortbread cookies. Can you substitute vanilla or almond extract for the lemon. Thank you

      Reply
      • Sharon Rigsby

        October 27, 2019 at 12:06 pm

        Hi Lisa,
        Yes, you can substitute vanilla or almond extract! I hope you enjoy them!
        Sharon

        Reply
      • Suzan

        January 07, 2022 at 8:32 pm

        So am I using three sticks of butter or 12 oz of butter?

        Reply
        • Sharon Rigsby

          January 08, 2022 at 7:20 am

          Hi Suzan, 12 ounces or 1-1/2 cups is correct. Most brands of butter, but not all, come in four-ounce sticks. I apologize for the confusion.
          I hope you enjoy the cookies!
          Sharon

    Primary Sidebar

    Sharon Rigsby, blogger at GritsandPinecones.com

    Hello, I'm Sharon Rigsby, blogger, recipe developer, videographer, and photographer for Grits and Pinecones®. I have well over 50 years of experience in the kitchen, and there is nothing I like better than developing and reimagining recipes for my family, friends, and you!

    More about me →

    Celebrate Mardi Gras with these easy recipes:

    • 24 Mardi Gras Recipes & Menu Ideas 2023
    • New Orleans-Style Shrimp Creole with Spicy Cajun Cream Sauce
    • Old-Fashioned Pecan Pralines
    • Easy Mardi Gras Hot Muffuletta Dip – A Flavorful Appetizer
    • Creole Shrimp Toast – Easy & Cheesy
    • Bourbon Ice Cream

    More Mardi Gras recipes:

    Popular Recipes

    • Quick and Easy Hoe Cakes (Fried Cornbread)
    • Blackened Grouper
    • Classic Southern Potato Salad
    • Quick and Easy Hanky Panky Recipe
    • Best Southern Crispy Fried Oysters
    • Southern Fried Fish
    Featured in Parade, The Today Show, Better Homes & Gardens, Greatist, and more.

    Footer

    More Recipe Categories

    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Bread Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Cocktail Recipes
    • Condiments, Jams, Jellies, Sauces, and Salad Dressings
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Game Day and Tailgating Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes

    More…

    • Lunch Recipes
    • Main Dish Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Snack Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Southern Recipes
    • Southern Peas (Cowpeas) Recipes

    Grits and Pinecones

    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Legal Disclaimer

    Copyright © 2023 Grits and Pinecones® · Privacy Policy · Legal Disclaimer

    • 144Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Yummly
    • Email
    748 shares