Crunchy Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies have the familiar flavor of lemon poppy seed muffins, baked into a crisp cookie form! With no icing and only lightly sweetened, these cookies are the perfect treat for when a craving calls for just “a little something”.
Why you’ll love this recipe
A Crunchy Lemon Poppy Seed Cookie is a welcome bit of sunshine any time of year, but it’s especially welcome alongside a steaming cup of coffee or tea. The bright lemon flavor With weeks and weeks of cold ahead of us, now is a good time to stock the cookie jar or care package with a cookie that pairs well with any warming beverage.
Warning to all lemon lovers: After one or two Lemon Poppyseed Cookies, you will likely be craving a few more.
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, poppy seeds, and salt.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer using the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar at medium speed until fluffy. Mix in egg yolks, vanilla, and zest. Scrape sides of the bowl. At low speed, gradually add flour mixture just until combined.
- Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
- When ready to bake, use a small (1 tablespoon) scoop to scoop the cookie dough then roll with hands into a ball. Roll the dough ball in ground almonds to coat. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet 2” apart.
- Bake for about 15 minutes until the bottoms are golden brown. Use a spatula to transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Optional: Dust cooled cookies with confectioner’s sugar
More lemon cookie recipes
Lemon Butter Cookies are beautiful cookies piped into roses and sandwiched with a crunchy lemon filling.
Lemon Sugar Cookies are deliciously crisp rollout cookies to cut out in your favorite holiday shapes.
Mexican Sugar Cookies called Polvorones are thick and crunchy bakery-style cookies flavored with a splash of citrus.
Shrewsbury Biscuits are lovely lemon cookies traditional in the UK with a cup of tea.
Italian Lemon Cookies are soft, lemon pillows coated in sparkling sugar!
My experience with this recipe
In January, I crave lemons, limes, and grapefruit. Maybe I have a vitamin C deficiency, but I think citrus flavor brightens the winter days.
Lemon poppy seed muffins are one of my favorite ways to bake with citrus. Unfortunately, I haven’t found a care package worthy lemon muffin, as they tend to dry out after a few days.
Luckily, the same lemony burst and poppy seed crunch can be packed into Crunchy Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies, which retain their freshness for several weeks.
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Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoons poppy seeds
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest zest from 3 medium lemons
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or paste
- 1 cup ground almonds or almond flour
- ½ cup confectioner’s sugar optional
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, poppy seeds, and salt.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Mix in egg yolk, vanilla, and zest. Scrape sides of the bowl.
- Gradually add flour mixture just until combined.
- Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350° F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Use a small (1 tablespoon) scoop to divide the dough. Scoop the dough then roll with hands into a ball. Roll the dough ball in ground almonds to coat. Place on prepared baking sheets 2” apart.
- Bake for about 15 minutes until the bottoms brown.
- Use a spatula to transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Optional: Once cooled, dust the top of each cookie with confectioner’s sugar.
- Store completely cooled cookies in an airtight container or freezer weight ziplock bag at room temperature for several weeks.
Notes
- Because they are thin, Crunchy Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies should be packed carefully to keep them from moving around inside the container during shipping.
- The cookies are sturdier when wrapped in pairs, bottoms together, in plastic wrap.
- Stack wrapped bundles in an airtight container or freezer weight ziplock bag.
- Cushion the inside of the shipping box with tissue paper or other packing material.
Nutrition
First published January 7, 2017. Last updated October 21, 2021. Updated for additional information and better reader experience.
Miz Helen
Hi Wendy,
We will love your Crunchy Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies, they look delicious. Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday. We look forward to seeing you again real soon!
Miz Helen
Monica
I agree…this is a great January cookie! I was just making a batch of crepes this morning with lemon zest and thinking how nice that pop of lemon is! I have been loading up on oranges and grapefruit too so I am very on board. : ) Enjoy your lovely nibbles and hope 2017 is off to a great start!
The Monday Box
Thanks, Monica! It may sound silly, but I think we develop cravings for things our body needs. No, it may not actually NEED cookies. It’s the citrus part I am referring to. 🙂 Perhaps citrus appeals so much in the winter because we need it. Your crepes sound fantastic! Happy 2017!
Ashley
Cottage cheese with ranch dressing definitely sounds, um, interesting!! haha But these cookies! Interesting in a very good way!! I loveee poppy seed sweets – these sound scrumptious!
The Monday Box
Thanks, Ashley! I totally agree (at this point) that cottage cheese and ranch dressing is WEIRD, but at the time it was perfection. 🙂 Lemon poppy seed isn’t a combo that’s used in cookies very often. It should be!
Kim~madeinaday
Oh I love lemon poppy seed muffins so these are right up my alley! Thanks for the recipe! Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday! Pinned & Sharing on G+! Have a great week!
Kim
The Monday Box
Thank you, Kim! These are lemon poppy seed muffins in cookie form. 🙂 Thank you for hosting Merry Monday and thanks for sharing! Enjoy your week. 🙂
Reeni
I love lemon poppy seed EVERYTHING! Never came across the combo in a cookie before. Delightful is the word that comes to mind and refreshing after all the minty and super sweet cookies from the holidays. Save a stack for me! 🙂
The Monday Box
I am holding a stack with your name on it, Reeni! I agree wholeheartedly on the deliciousness of lemon poppy seed and was delighted to find a recipe with that combo that stays fresh for such a long time! I was thinking “refreshing” too!
saltandserenity
Lemon Poppyseed is one of the greatest flavour combos ever! I was just wondering what you would post about in January, since everyone else posts healthy salads and vegetables. These are just what I need right about now, although I suspect I won’t be able to limit myself to just a few!
The Monday Box
Well, healthy salads and veggies don’t travel well in a care package, and in my opinion aren’t much fun to receive. I will just cater comfort food to those interested in emotional health, until the health nuts snap out of their January resolution delusions. 😉 Difficulty limiting myself is why I pack up all of my baking and ship it out asap! 🙂
Chris Scheuer
These sound wonderful after all the over-the-top sweet holiday indulgences. I love most anything with poppyseed! It’s funny what a fun and gourmet touch they add!
The Monday Box
Thanks, Chris! These cookies are simple, yet full of flavor. The poppyseed does give a gourmet touch!