Lemon Goo Goo Cookies Recipe

Lemon Goo Goo Cookies on a plate next to Vanilla Extract

Whoever says they don’t like lemon is confused! Like vanilla, I believe lemon to be universally enjoyed by all, making these cookies the best treat to serve a crowd. I utilized our Madagascar Pure Vanilla Extract in this recipe, and it truly shines alongside the fresh and zesty lemon flavor! These cookies are meant to be a bit “gooey” inside, hence the name. There truly is nothing better than biting into a cookie and having it melt in your mouth! These are pretty foolproof as far as recipes go; the tricky part is not overbaking them! I encourage you to stick close to the oven and grab them out of the oven right as soon as the tops and edges are set.  You can always use a smaller scoop and make the cookies smaller for kids; they make the perfect poppable treat to tide them over until Easter lunch is ready. Enjoy!

Banner including Lemon Goo Goo Cookies

Here is the delicious Lemon Goo Goo Cookies Recipe:

Lemon Goo Goo Cookies Ingredients

  • 2¼ cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
  • 1 – 8 ounce Package Cream Cheese, softened
  • 2 teaspoons Vanilla Bean Extract (Recommend our Natural Vanilla Bean Extract)
  • ½ cup Unsalted Butter, softened
  • 1½ cups Granulated Sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Lemon Zest, freshly grated
  • 1½ tablespoons Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1/8 teaspoon Lemon Oil
  • ¾ teaspoon Salt
  • 1 Large Egg + 1 Large Egg Yolk
  • 1 cup Powdered Sugar
Lemon Goo Goo Cookies on a plate with pure vanilla extract next to it

Directions

  1. Using an electric mixer, cream together cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until creamy and smooth. Beat in sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla, lemon oil, and salt. Mix until well combined; the mixture should be light and fluffy. 
  2. Add egg and egg yolk and beat in well for about two minutes at medium speed.
  3. At low speed, gradually add flour and baking powder and mix until just incorporated. 
  4. The dough will be very sticky. Cover the bowl with saran wrap and refrigerate it overnight.
  5. The next day, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Place powdered sugar in a small bowl and set aside.
  6. Using a spring-loaded cookie scoop, measure out the cookie dough and place them on the baking sheet at least 2 inches apart. On a standard size cookie sheet, I am typically able to fit 12 cookies.  
  7. One by one, toss each cookie dough ball in the powdered sugar and shake around until each has been thoroughly coated. Return the baking sheet and repeat with all of the dough. 
  8. Bake until cookies have spread into round cookie shapes and are puffed and crackly, about 15 minutes. Do not overbake. The cookies will still be soft in the centers. If they start to brown around the edges, they have baked too long. The underside of the cookies should be lightly browned.
  9. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for a couple of minutes. Transfer to wire rack and allow cookies to cool completely. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Lemon Goo Goo Cookies with vanilla beans on a plate
Lemon Goo Goo Cookies on a plate next to Vanilla Extract

Lemon Goo Goo Cookies

These delicious cookies pair the powerful zesty flavor of lemon with the sweet smooth taste of natural vanilla!
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Fridge Time 12 hours
Total Time 12 hours 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 cookies

Equipment

  • 1 Oven
  • 1 Fridge
  • 1 Electric or Stand Mixer
  • 1 Large Mixing Bowl
  • 1 Covered Bowl or foil to cover mixing bowl – to hold dough in fridge
  • 1 Baking Sheet
  • 1 Cookie Dough Scoop – or large spoon
  • Parchment Paper
  • 1 Wire Rack – Optional, for cooling

Ingredients
  

  • cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 2 tsp Baking Powder
  • 8 oz 1 Package Cream Cheese, softened
  • 2 tsp Vanilla Bean Extract – Suggest our Natural Vanilla Bean Extract
  • ½ cup Unsalted Butter, softened
  • cups Granulated Sugar
  • 2 tbsp Lemon Zest, freshly grated
  • tbsp Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed
  • tsp Lemon Oil
  • ¾ tsp Salt
  • 1 Large Egg + 1 Large Egg Yolk
  • 1 cup Powdered Sugar

Instructions
 

  • Using an electric mixer, cream together cream cheese and butter in a large bowl until creamy and smooth. Beat in sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla, lemon oil, and salt. Mix until well combined; the mixture should be light and fluffy. 
  • Add egg and egg yolk and beat in well for about two minutes at medium speed.
  • At low speed, gradually add flour and baking powder and mix until just incorporated. 
  • The dough will be very sticky. Cover the bowl with saran wrap and refrigerate it overnight.
  • The next day, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Place powdered sugar in a small bowl and set aside.
  • Using a spring-loaded cookie scoop, measure out the cookie dough and place them on the baking sheet at least 2 inches apart. On a standard size cookie sheet, I am typically able to fit 12 cookies.  
  • One by one, toss each cookie dough ball in the powdered sugar and shake around until each has been thoroughly coated. Return the baking sheet and repeat with all of the dough. 
  • Bake until cookies have spread into round cookie shapes and are puffed and crackly, about 15 minutes. Do not overbake. The cookies will still be soft in the centers. If they start to brown around the edges, they have baked too long. The underside of the cookies should be lightly browned.
  • Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for a couple of minutes. Transfer to wire rack and allow cookies to cool completely. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Keyword Cookies, Lemon, Vanilla

3 Comments

  1. Deborah O. on January 12, 2024 at 6:59 am

    5 stars
    I initially made this recipe a couple years ago when I found it on this website. I had printed it off & made it a couple times, all was good, friends loved these. Until… I LOST the paper recipe while moving. I am so thankful I found it again.

  2. Sami R. Sanderson on November 1, 2023 at 6:25 am

    5 stars
    Good stuff

    • Lone Goose Bakery on November 2, 2023 at 6:05 am

      Thanks Sami

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