Get ready to discover your new favorite treat! These Lemon Gooey Butter Cookies are the perfect combination of a soft, chewy center, a slightly crisp edge, and a burst of bright, zesty lemon flavor. They have an irresistible texture that truly melts in your mouth, reminiscent of the famous St. Louis gooey butter cake. This recipe is incredibly simple, using common pantry staples to create a dessert that tastes like it came from a high-end bakery. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting, you’ll find this recipe both easy to follow and wonderfully rewarding. The delightful powdered sugar coating gives them a classic crinkle look that’s perfect for any occasion.
What Exactly Are Lemon Gooey Butter Cookies?
Lemon Gooey Butter Cookies are a delightful confection inspired by the classic Missouri dessert, the gooey butter cake. They get their signature soft, dense, and incredibly moist texture from a rich batter that includes cream cheese and butter. Unlike a traditional cookie, the dough is very soft and sticky. After being chilled, the dough balls are rolled in powdered sugar before baking. As they bake, they spread and crackle, creating a beautiful crinkled surface while the inside remains perfectly gooey and decadent. The lemon flavor adds a bright, refreshing tang that perfectly cuts through the richness of the butter and cream cheese.
Why You’ll Adore This Lemon Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe
- Incredibly Easy to Make: With just a few simple steps, this recipe is perfect for bakers of all skill levels. It’s a fantastic recipe for a quick baking session.
- Amazing Texture: The combination of butter and cream cheese creates a melt-in-your-mouth, chewy, and gooey center that is simply unforgettable.
- Bright & Zesty Flavor: Packed with tangy lemon, these cookies are a refreshing change from standard chocolate chip or sugar cookies. They are a true citrus lover’s dream.
- Perfectly Portioned: Enjoy all the flavor of a gooey butter cake in a convenient, handheld cookie form.
The Simple Ingredients You’ll Need
One of the best parts of this recipe is how it transforms simple ingredients into something truly special. Each component plays a crucial role in creating the perfect texture and flavor.
For the Cookie Dough
- Unsalted Butter: Acts as the foundation, providing richness and tenderness. Make sure it’s softened to room temperature for proper mixing.
- Cream Cheese: This is the secret ingredient for that ultra-gooey, soft texture and adds a subtle tangy flavor that complements the lemon.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the dough and works with the butter and cream cheese to create a tender crumb.
- Egg: Binds the ingredients together and adds moisture.
- Lemon Extract & Zest: A combination of extract and fresh lemon zest provides a powerful, multi-layered lemon flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides the structure for the cookies. Be sure to measure it correctly to avoid dry cookies.
- Baking Powder: Gives the cookies a slight lift, keeping them from being too dense.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
For the Coating
- Powdered Sugar: This gives the cookies their iconic crinkle appearance and adds a touch of sweetness to the exterior.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Lemon Gooey Butter Cookies
Follow these simple steps to create the most delicious lemon cookies you’ve ever tasted. The key to success is chilling the dough, so don’t skip that step!
- Cream the Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Egg and Flavor: Beat in the egg, lemon extract, and lemon zest until everything is well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Combine the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Mix the Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix the dough.
- Chill the Dough: The dough will be very soft and sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until firm enough to handle. This is a critical step!
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Coat the Cookies: Place the powdered sugar in a shallow bowl. Scoop the chilled dough into 1.5-tablespoon-sized balls. Roll each ball between your hands until smooth, then roll generously in the powdered sugar to coat completely.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set and the centers are still soft. The cookies will look slightly underbaked in the middle, which is key to their gooey texture.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Pro Tips for the Best Gooey Texture
Want to ensure your Lemon Gooey Butter Cookies come out perfectly every time? Follow these expert tips.
- Don’t Skip the Chill Time: Chilling the dough is essential. It solidifies the fats, preventing the cookies from spreading too much and making the sticky dough manageable.
- Measure Flour Correctly: Too much flour can lead to dry, cakey cookies instead of gooey ones. Use the “spoon and level” method: spoon the flour into your measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge.
- Do Not Overbake: The cookies are done when the edges are just set. The centers should look soft and slightly puffy. They will firm up as they cool, locking in that delicious gooey center. If you are looking for another fantastic oven recipe, try these incredible baked sweet potatoes.
- Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter, cream cheese, and egg are at room temperature. This allows them to blend together smoothly, creating a uniform, well-emulsified dough.
For a savory dish that is just as easy, check out this Alice Springs Chicken Recipe.
Flavor Variations to Try
While the lemon version is a classic, you can easily adapt this recipe. Try using orange or lime zest and extract for a different citrus twist. For a richer dessert, consider adding 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips to the dough. These cookies are a fantastic base for creativity! This classic crepes recipe is another great jumping off point for your culinary creativity.
How to Store Your Cookies
To keep your Lemon Gooey Butter Cookies fresh and delicious, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you need to store them longer, you can refrigerate them for up to a week. The cookies can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Simply place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! This recipe is made entirely from scratch using simple pantry staples like all-purpose flour, butter, sugar, and cream cheese, giving you a much better flavor and texture than a boxed cake mix.
While fresh lemon zest is essential for authentic flavor, it’s best to stick with lemon extract for the liquid component. Fresh lemon juice can alter the dough’s consistency. The extract provides a concentrated flavor without adding excess liquid.
For a thick, beautiful coating, make sure the cookie dough balls are well-chilled and slightly tacky. Roll them generously in the powdered sugar, ensuring they are completely covered before placing them on the baking sheet.
While they look similar, the key difference is the texture. Gooey butter cookies contain cream cheese, which gives them a much softer, denser, and ‘gooier’ center than traditional crinkle cookies, which are typically lighter and chewier.
The most common reason for flat cookies is that the dough was not chilled for long enough. Chilling the dough solidifies the butter and cream cheese, which prevents the cookies from spreading too quickly in the oven. Ensure your dough is firm before rolling and baking.
The Best Lemon Gooey Butter Cookies Recipe
Lemon Gooey Butter Cookies: The Ultimate Chewy Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Beat in the egg, lemon extract, and lemon zest until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until firm.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Place the powdered sugar in a shallow bowl. Scoop chilled dough into 1.5-tablespoon-sized balls, roll until smooth, and then coat generously in powdered sugar.
- Place dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are set and centers are soft.
- Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
For the best flavor, use fresh lemon zest in addition to the extract.
Cookies will appear underbaked in the center when you remove them from the oven; this is key to their gooey texture.
Share Your Creations!
We are absolutely certain you will fall in love with this Lemon Gooey Butter Cookies recipe! It’s the perfect treat for any occasion, from spring gatherings to holiday cookie swaps. If you make this recipe, we would love to see it! Share a photo on Pinterest and tag us. Your feedback and creations inspire our community of home cooks. Happy baking!
