This Lemon Icebox Cookies Recipe is just the perfect cookie! Start with the best icebox cookie recipe and add a touch of lemon zest and lemon juice. Then, an easy lemon glaze provides some added zing for those who love their icebox cookies with icing. Add a fresh pansy to the cookie, and you have a lovely lemon dessert for a special occasion or just an ‘everyday’ occasion.
I am still working on recipes to serve for our graduation celebration next month. (Yikes…the whole ‘next month’ thing just threw me for a loop!)
We plan on having a dessert table with several varieties of finger-sized sweets. In addition to these Mini Vanilla Tea Cakes and Carolina Blue Macarons using my tried-and-true macaron recipe, I will be making several dozen of this Lemon Icebox Cookies Recipe. It’s such an easy recipe that it can be made ahead of time, which are two key elements of what I’m looking for since we will be holding the celebration out of town in an Airbnb.
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You can just roll, cut, and bake these lemon icebox cookies as is and they are delicious. For an added touch, dip them in this tangy glaze.
And, if you are really being special, you can top the wet glaze with edible flowers, like pansies. Any way you serve them, they will be a hit.
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This Lemon Icebox Cookies Recipe is the perfect Spring Cookie. I mean, start with the best icebox cookie recipe and add a touch of lemon zest and lemon juice. Then, for those who love their icebox cookies with icing, an easy lemon glaze provides some added zing. Add a fresh pansy to the cookie and you have a lovely lemon dessert for a special occasion or just an 'everyday' occasion.
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon plus 1 teaspoon lemon juiceI used a Meyer Lemon, but any lemon will work
1large eggplus 1 large egg yolk
1/2teaspoonvanilla extract
For the Lemon Glaze:
1cupconfectioners' sugar
2tablespoonsfresh lemon juice
1teaspoonvanilla extract
Optional:
Clean and trimmed pansy flowerstrimmed as close to the flower as possible
Instructions
Combine the flour and salt
Combine the butter, both sugars and the lemon zest in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on l until smooth, stopping occasionally to scrape down the bowl.
Add the whole egg; beat on medium speed until well incorporated, then add the yolk and beat until incorporated, stopping occasionally to scrape down the bowl.
Add the lemon juice and vanilla extract and beat it on low speed until blended
Add the flour/salt mixture and beat on low speed just until incorporated.
Divide the dough in half, flatten the dough into disks and wrap in wax paper or parchment paper. Refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes and up to 5 days.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two or three baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners.
Unwrap the disks and roll dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper to a thickness of 1/4".
Cut with a round/circle cookie cutter and place 1" apart on parchment paper or silicone mat or baking sheet
Bake one sheet at a time (middle rack) for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cookie edges are just golden. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the Lemon Glaze:
Whisk together the lemon juice, vanilla extract, and confectioners' sugar in a bowl, until smooth.
Dip the tops of the cooled cookies into the glaze and return them to the rack.
If adorning your cookies with fresh pansies, do so while glaze is still wet. Just place a trimmed pansy on the glaze, gently pressing each petal into the wet glaze.
Can you freeze the cookies after the pansy has been put on them?
I am SO glad you asked that! Here’s a good and wonderful thing: you can make these lemon icebox cookies from start to finish, including the flower, and freeze them. I was pleasantly surprised that even after 2 weeks in the freezer, the flowers still looked pretty good. This following image is the finished cookie (including the pansy) that had been frozen for 2 weeks and then defrosted. Curiously, it lost its yellow center and the purple/blue definitely deepened, but you could easily make this in advance if need be.
All that being said, it is so easy to dip the baked lemon icebox cookies in the glaze and top them with the fresh flowers that I would definitely prefer this option.
What are some other edible flowers that you could use to top your icebox cookies?
Another great question! In addition to pansies, violets and borage are would also look lovely on your cookies. Rose petals and lavender buds are other options as well. I love nasturtium blossoms in my salad, but they might be a bit too peppery for a cookie…but that’s just a personal preference.
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Your cookies sound absolutely delicious and they look beautiful with the addition of the pansy. I would never guess that you could freeze a flower on a cookie and it would stay looking beautiful. That’s such a great thing to know if you are baking ahead for a special occasion.
I truly gorgeous treat! I’ve sugared pansies and topped cupcakes before but have never made cookies with edible flowers. Duh! Thanks for the inspiration. I’ll definitely be pinning this one for later.
These look and sound amazing. I love lemon cookies and it’s great that you can freeze these! Good luck on your graduation celebration. My girls both graduated last spring so I feel your pain and excitement. Thanks for joining the tour!
Yum! I love icebox cookies and if they have the tang of lemon with that yummy glaze on top, all the better! I’m just starting to plan for a grad party, too…luckily not until mid-June though…and at my own house;) Pinned this to my Sweet Recipes to try board!
Not only is lemon one of my favorite flavors, but these cookies are so pretty! How gorgeous would they be on a dessert tray for a special spring event?!
Oh I love lemon. These have such a simple, but elegant look. Great for those upcoming events. Sometimes these over the top cookies and cupcakes are either too expensive, or too time consuming. Most appreciate something like these just as much. Saving for my sweet eating husband.
Oh Rosemary, these are so simple to make! Truly. A simple cookie with a pansy garnish…that’s pretty much it. But it’s that classic, ‘the whole is greater than the sum of the parts’ thing!
Lynn we have a lemon farm back in Greece and I always took them for granted. Now I look at the price tag on them and complain. But I would still love to try one of your lemon cookies because they look so delicious.
Love these pretty cookies Lynn, fancy, yet simple — my kind of cookie! I hope to be hosting my mom’s 80th birthday this June, usually we do a tea with her girls, these would be perfect!
Hugs,
Kathleen
These are so beautiful. I have the cookies made but just wondered if the glaze hardens. I am looking for a glaze that hardens so the cookies can be stored. Thanks!
I have an herb garden and one of my plants is lemon balm. It’s in the mint family but has a lemon taste. I wonder how the leaves would work for the lemon cookies.
What a great idea…give it a try! My only minor concern is that you might taste more mint than lemon? But that’s a personal taste thing. Let me know what you think!
Lynn
Hi- I’m wanting to try a mandolin to cut up veggies.
Do you have any suggestions or do any of your followers have any?
Looking forward to your reply and making those lemon cookies this weekend!
I’m thinking that lavender buds would work well with this recipe – lavender and lemon go so well together. I’m going to add rosemary to one of the halves and see how that turns out.
I’ve tried both rosemary and lemon balm in these cookies (both without glaze) and I prefer them with herbs to without. The herbs take a bit of the sweetness edge off. I think they’re sweet enough for me without the glaze.
Your cookies sound absolutely delicious and they look beautiful with the addition of the pansy. I would never guess that you could freeze a flower on a cookie and it would stay looking beautiful. That’s such a great thing to know if you are baking ahead for a special occasion.
I know! I was surprised with how well they froze, if need be.
I’m excited to serve them to our graduation celebration!
Thanks for visiting my friend.
Hugs,
Lynn
I truly gorgeous treat! I’ve sugared pansies and topped cupcakes before but have never made cookies with edible flowers. Duh! Thanks for the inspiration. I’ll definitely be pinning this one for later.
How come I’m not surprised that you have sugared pansies? I clearly need to try my hand at that!
Thanks for stopping by my friend.
Hugs,
Lynn
These are so pretty! They also look so yummy, I need to make some!!
They would pair perfectly with your citrus cookies!
Thanks for visiting my friend.
Hugs,
Lynn
Wow, Lynn these are the cutest cookies! I love the little pansies!
Thanks Leen…I do love how they elevate the humble icebox cookie to something a tad special.
Thanks for visiting my friend.
Hugs,
Lynn
Yum! Not only do they sound good (I love anything lemon), but they are so pretty! I love how you added the pansies on them.
Thanks Kristi, it was fun to use the pansies and now I’m looking for more opportunities to decorate with fresh, edible flowers.
Hope you have a great weekend my friend.
Hugs, Lynn
These look and sound amazing. I love lemon cookies and it’s great that you can freeze these! Good luck on your graduation celebration. My girls both graduated last spring so I feel your pain and excitement. Thanks for joining the tour!
Two graduation ceremonies at the same time? Yikes!! I’ve got enough on my hands with just one!
But these are tasty little treats! They will be just perfect for any celebration.
Thanks for stopping by my friend.
Hugs, Lynn
Yum! I love icebox cookies and if they have the tang of lemon with that yummy glaze on top, all the better! I’m just starting to plan for a grad party, too…luckily not until mid-June though…and at my own house;) Pinned this to my Sweet Recipes to try board!
They will be perfect for your grad party too. I love that they can be made ahead as much as you would like. And yes…lemon does make everything better.
Thanks for stopping by my friend.
Hugs, Lynn
These are a perfect treat for summer. So l night and elegant. I love ANYTHING lemon and can’t wait to try. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Kristi!
They truly are perfect for spring/summer entertaining. Love that they can be made ahead.
Thanks for visiting.
Hugs,
Lynn
This looks like the perfect easy cookie to make for Easter weekend around the house! Pinning for reference!
They will look lovely on your Easter table for sure!
Thanks for visiting Janet.
Hugs,
Lynn
I love, love, love these pretty lemon cookies! Perfect for Spring celebrations!
Aw thanks Sheila!
We will be enjoying them for my daughter’s upcoming graduation celebration, in addition to your lemon bundt cake!
Hugs,
Lynn
Such a pretty cookie. Pinning. I love the flowers on top.
Thanks Maria! The flowers give them just a little something! Thanks for visiting!
Hugs,
Lynn
So pretty, and so much yum!
You are too right…SO MUCH YUM!
Thanks for visiting Julie!
Hugs,
Lynn
Oh my, You just upped my cookie game. Elegant and delightful. Thank you for the recipe and inspiration to create something so beautiful.
Aw, you are so welcome Deborah! It feels a little like cheating to make something so pretty, yet so easily! Happy Baking
Hugs,
Lynn
Not only is lemon one of my favorite flavors, but these cookies are so pretty! How gorgeous would they be on a dessert tray for a special spring event?!
With your flowers and these cookies! The PERFECT Springtime table.
Oh I love lemon. These have such a simple, but elegant look. Great for those upcoming events. Sometimes these over the top cookies and cupcakes are either too expensive, or too time consuming. Most appreciate something like these just as much. Saving for my sweet eating husband.
Oh Rosemary, these are so simple to make! Truly. A simple cookie with a pansy garnish…that’s pretty much it. But it’s that classic, ‘the whole is greater than the sum of the parts’ thing!
Hope hubby enjoys them.
Hugs,
Lynn
Lynn we have a lemon farm back in Greece and I always took them for granted. Now I look at the price tag on them and complain. But I would still love to try one of your lemon cookies because they look so delicious.
Oh Mary, I bet! Lemons and limes are just too expensive! When you got back home, you will surely appreciate all your lemons.
And then, these cookies will be the perfect sweet to make!
Thanks for swinging by today my friend.
Hugs,
Lynn
Love these pretty cookies Lynn, fancy, yet simple — my kind of cookie! I hope to be hosting my mom’s 80th birthday this June, usually we do a tea with her girls, these would be perfect!
Hugs,
Kathleen
They would be a lovely addition to your tea party! And happy birthday to mom!
These are so beautiful. I have the cookies made but just wondered if the glaze hardens. I am looking for a glaze that hardens so the cookies can be stored. Thanks!
Hi Chris,
Yes, the glaze will harden and you will be able to store them! Happy Baking!
Hugs,
Lynn
I have an herb garden and one of my plants is lemon balm. It’s in the mint family but has a lemon taste. I wonder how the leaves would work for the lemon cookies.
Hi Lynne,
What a great idea…give it a try! My only minor concern is that you might taste more mint than lemon? But that’s a personal taste thing. Let me know what you think!
Lynn
Hi- I’m wanting to try a mandolin to cut up veggies.
Do you have any suggestions or do any of your followers have any?
Looking forward to your reply and making those lemon cookies this weekend!
Hi Joy,
I have and like this mandolin for chopping veggies. It is a bit on the expensive side, but it is all metal as opposed to plastic.
https://amzn.to/3PBQroZ
And let me know how you enjoy the cookies!
Have a great day!
Lynn
I’m thinking that lavender buds would work well with this recipe – lavender and lemon go so well together. I’m going to add rosemary to one of the halves and see how that turns out.
It looks like I’m responding in the wrong order! Oops. Thanks for the suggestions.
I’ve tried both rosemary and lemon balm in these cookies (both without glaze) and I prefer them with herbs to without. The herbs take a bit of the sweetness edge off. I think they’re sweet enough for me without the glaze.
Hi Lynne,
I love the idea of adding rosemary and lemon balm. Thanks so much for that recommendation!
Have a great day,
Lynn