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Lemon Pudding Cookies are soft and chewy. Plus they have a great lemon flavor that is perfectly balanced with the sweetness of the cookie. They’re freezable too – making these the perfect cookie!
Soft Lemon Cookies Recipe
These cookies are super fun because they are pudding cookies–meaning they use instant pudding mix. For this cookie I used instant lemon pudding mix to bring in a lot of flavor, but I also used lemon zest to get some natural flavor as well.
Using pudding mix in cookies is one of my favorite methods because it keeps the cookies soft for a while and gives the cookies an unbeatable texture.
Ingredients Needed
- Unsalted butter: Make sure it’s been softened.
- Granulated sugar: My normal pudding cookie recipe has brown sugar, but this one uses granulated to keep it lighter to embrace all the lemon flavor.
- Instant lemon pudding mix: The key ingredient for the lemon flavor and softness of the cookie.
- Lemon zest: From 1 lemon – a bit of lemon zest adds a freshness to the lemon flavor.
How to make lemon pudding cookies
- Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
- Cream together butter and sugar. Add the pudding mix and beat until well blended.
- Add egg, lemon zest, baking soda, salt, and vanilla extract.
- Slowly add the flour and mix until just combined.
- Scoop 1 or 2 tablespoon size balls onto cookie sheets (2-3 inches apart depending on size). Chill dough 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake 10-15 minutes or until cookies are light golden around the edges and have lost their glossy sheen. If you notice the cookies aren’t spreading during baking, press them lightly with the palm of your hand to get them going.
Expert Tips
- If you want to add another touch to these cookies, you can add a glaze or lemon frosting on top!
- Want from scratch cookies without pudding mix? Try my best lemon cookie recipe.
- My lemon cake mix cookies are another favorite!
- Make sure that when scooping the dough onto the pan that they are 2-3 inches apart. This is important so the cookies don’t run together in the oven.
FAQs
Yes you can. For up to 3 months in an airtight container.
They last on the counter for 3 days in an airtight container. They last longer in the freezer.
Lemon Pudding Cookies
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1 (3.4 oz) package instant lemon pudding mix
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1¼ cups (155g) all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
- Cream together butter and sugar. Add the pudding mix and beat until well blended.
- Add egg, lemon zest, baking soda, salt, and vanilla extract.
- Slowly add the flour and mix until just combined.
- Scoop 1 or 2 tablespoon size balls onto cookie sheets (2-3 inches apart depending on size). Chill dough 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake 10-15 minutes or until cookies are light golden around the edges and have lost their glossy sheen. If you notice the cookies aren't spreading during baking, press them lightly with the palm of your hand to get them going.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze cookies for up to 3 months.
Recipe Nutrition
Other Lemon Recipes
Last Updated on August 31, 2023
Lemon is perfect for summer and I pinned them for a baking binge 😉 And I L-O-V-E Food Network Star … yes Giada is SO thin and I’m with you, “Martita … loosen up!!”
Oh I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for the pin!
LOL.
1. LOVE the pics! These look awesome!
2. Mel made a funny blogger joke. Props to him 🙂
3. I SOOOOOOOOOOO feel the same way about videos on the blog. I think we baker/bloggers should probably stay where we’re most comfortable (behind the camera!)
But you do tell a good story, Dorothy! Me and the husband just finished watching an episode a few minutes ago. It always makes me glad it’s them and not me in front of the camera! These cookies look wonderful. Something about lemon in the summertime – I just love it!
That is one of my favorite shows! But I could absolutely never ever do a show…I am actually way too shy!!! Maybe if someone was right there holding a yummy lemon cookie out in front of me? No, not even then:-) Way cool cookies!!!
Did you ever used to tape-record yourself on one of those oldschool tape machines? I swear there was some conspiracy where they purposely morphed your voice to create a generation of low-self-esteemed people who would never speak again. Maybe they were trying to create work for the psychologists who work with mutes? At any rate… I totally agree- although I would love to watch a tutorial by you! Lemon pudding cookies sound absolutely delicious.
Yes – and I think it harmed my psyche. 🙂 Thanks so much!
Yes, I am hooked on The Next Food Network Star too. No one really stands out to me as a real start this season. The last few seasons the Hubby and I had a definite favorite, not so much this go around. Who is your favorite?
I would never be able to think on my feet fast enough to be on a show like that. I need time to think about my dish.
I agree – none of them really stands out. I think, if she can get her act together, I like the blonde with the short hair – she could be really good. Otherwise it’s kind of underwhelming. And I agree – I obsess over the food way too long to be on that show!
Maybe we could do a “tag team” and try out! I say let’s have some decent shows with bakers featured!! I can’t see any of these six finalists as potentials for a show that I would be interested in. These cookies look amazing and you know my weakness–lemon! You Go Girl!! XOXO
I love watching it too, and I could NEVER be on television. Ever. These cookies look awesome. LOVE.
DO IT! Try out for Food Network Star!! I would vote for you. Do they vote – I can’t remember????? I LOVE the flavor of lemon pudding mix and I know I would love these cookies!
Oh Dorothy I will have to pin these to make for later, these looks DELICIOUS! I also love The Next Food Network Star, I watch all the food shows love them!
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