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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
This looks a bit like what we would call melting moments – yum
I found you on Live.Laugh.Rowe’s linky party. I linked in bacon and scrambled egg rolls. Have a super week.
P.S. I don’t think Giada necessarily looks TOO thin, but she does come off as one of those “portion control” people. You know, the ones who are satisfied with one cookie? Um no. Around here, if I’m eatin’ cookies, there’s nothing else for dinner.
P.P.S. She does look thinner than she used to.
OMG, I could never have a Food Network show or even post a video on my blog. I’d totally die of embarrassment because I am a total dork. And then everyone would know it! If I just keep typing and showing pictures of my food instead of me, then no one will be the wiser to my nerdiness!
Although, I do have more of the Paula Deen or Gina Neely physique to host a show. I’m definitely no Giada.
LOL Ashley, don’t we all! 🙂
The problem with these kind of “complicated” desserts is that I never seem to make it to the second step. I’d just eat all of the cookies. Or, rather, mash them up into a bowl of ice cream. This flavor looks delish!
Love the lemon flavor of these sandwich cookies! I haven’t watched Food Network Star too regularly, but always feel like I’d be a disaster on it too when I do watch!
Ooh, you make me LOL!!! You may not like your voice (I HATE mine, too), but you sure have a way with the written word!! And yes, I agree, Giada is way to skinny!! Your lemon cream cookies look awesome, BTW.
I would love it, if you would share this, & any other recipes you may have, on my recipe link up. http://goodrecipesonline.com/organized-linkup-for-all-your-recipes-goodrecipesonline-com/.
LOVE the cookies, Giada is TOO skinny (not fair), and I agree: video BAD for SO many reasons:)
Thanks Heather! I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks that about Giada. And videoing!
Hahahaha! I have the same feeling about the Next FN Star. I could never be in front of a camera myself, but that being said, some of the contestants are just painful to watch. And I totally agree about Giada – she is definitely too thin! Just found your blog a couple of weeks ago and have been really enjoying it! Thanks for fun posts and good recipes too!
Thanks so much Rosanne! I’m glad you’re here. 🙂
OOOH BABY THAT IS IT!! I AM SERIOUSLY IN LOVE WITH YOU!! LEMON PUDDING COOKIES, I AM IN LOTTERY SHARING LOVE!! THAT’S SERIOUS!! AND BTW EVEN BEFORE THE LEMON COOKIES, I’D HAVE WATCHED YOUR VIDEO, HEY THEY LET MARTHA STEWART PRETEND SHE KNOWS ALL, AT LEAST YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR AND ARE CUTE!!
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