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Honey Lemon Shortbread Cookies

4.58
/5
8 hrs 22 mins
40 Comments
Jump to Recipe
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 10/14/2013Updated: 03/23/2023

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Honey Lemon Shortbread Cookies | RachelCooks.com

Honey lemon shortbread cookies are perfect for a girly event like a baby shower but even the most manly-man will devour these cookies.

Several cookies stacked, with cut lemon and bottle of honey, on black background. Text overlay reads "honey lemon shortbread cookies."
I am so excited to be teaming up with a whole bunch of food bloggers to throw a surprise virtual baby shower for Liz of The Lemon Bowl. Liz is a good blogging friend who helped with the planning of Taste of MI.

Baby shower invitation.

Liz is also one of the most positive, encouraging people I know (it’s almost annoying sometimes…kidding, Liz!). She also isn’t afraid to give you a reality check/wake up call when you need one. And I think that’s what true friends do.

Stack of 7 honey lemon shortbread cookies, on black background.

Today we’re celebrating! Liz is having her second baby boy! I cannot wait to meet this little guy and see if he is as cute as his big brother (no doubt in my mind, he will be!). Liz is a great mom and she is going to have so much fun watching her two boys play together and grow close.

Having two kids is the most amazing thing ever, Liz. It’s so special to watch your kids develop such unconditional love and affection for each other. And now I’m going to cry.

Love you, Liz. Congrats!!!

Overhead view of several cookies, cut lemon, honey jar, and red measuring spoon with honey.

For Liz’s shower, we asked everyone to make a recipe that included lemon as a recipe. It was an easy theme to come up with!

I made honey lemon shortbread cookies for the shower. You’ll enjoy the rich buttery goodness of these indulgent cookies. Honey and lemon are a match made in heaven! The sugar on top gives the cookies such great texture and crunch. Plus, they are slice and bake cookies which are so convenient. Simply freeze the dough until you’re ready to bake them. 

stack of several cookies on black background, with honey, lemon, and red spoon.

Shortbread cookies are so good!

I love that you can freeze the dough and slice off what you need when you’re ready to bake them! Try:

 

  • Mexican Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
  • Gingerbread Shortbread Cookies with Cranberries
  • Honey, Lemon, Apricot, and Pine Nut Shortbread Cookies
  • Peppermint Shortbread Cookies
  • Apple Cheesecake Shortbread Cookies
  • Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies with Cream Cheese (slice and bake)

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Stack of honey lemon shortbread cookies with honey , cut lemon, and red measuring spoon.
Recipe

Get the Recipe: Honey Lemon Shortbread Cookies

4.58 from 7 votes
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 12 mins
Freezing Time: 8 hrs
Total Time: 8 hrs 22 mins
60 servings
Print Rate Recipe
Prevent your screen from going dark
Honey lemon shortbread cookies are dainty but even the manly man in your life will love the light but powerful flavors.

Ingredients

  • 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, room temperature (3 sticks)
  • ¾ cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • ¼ cup honey

Icing:

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice, more as needed
  • 2 teaspoons honey

Instructions

  • In a medium sized bowl, combine flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together butter and sugar for 3 minutes, or until light in color and fluffy. Add honey and lemon zest; beat until just combined. Scrape sides of bowl as necessary.
  • Add flour mixture gradually and continue to mix until just combined.
  • Divide dough in half. Shape dough into logs (about 2 inches in diameter). Roll up in parchment or wax paper and freeze dough overnight.
  • To Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Take dough out of the freezer and slice into ¼ -inch slices (see note). Place on parchment or Silpat-lined baking sheets.
  • Bake cookies 10 to 12 minutes or until just golden brown. Let cool 5 minutes on baking sheets before removing to a cooling rack.
  • When cookies are completely cool, prepare icing. Mix powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Add honey; stir well. Thin with additional lemon juice, if necessary.
  • Place baking sheet or parchment paper beneath cooling rack to catch drips. With a spoon, lightly drizzle icing on cookies. Let icing harden completely before storing cookies in an airtight container.

Notes

  • Makes about 5 dozen. Bake as many cookies at a time as you wish. The dough keeps well in the freezer until you're ready to use it. 
  • If you'd rather not ice the cookies, they are great without icing or you can brush the unbaked cookies with additional honey, and sprinkle them with granulated sugar, turbinado sugar, or colored sugar; bake as directed.
  • Recipe card updated after retesting 12/8/2022. 

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 100kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 12mg, Sodium: 23mg, Potassium: 15mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 142IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 6mg, Iron: 0.4mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk
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  1. Lauren says

    September 1, 2020 at 4:11 pm

    I dipped half the cookie in a lemon glaze (make sure to add zest to it) and even though the cookies don’t need it, it made them even more delicious. People still bring these up and I brought them into work over a month ago at this point. 

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      September 2, 2020 at 6:11 am

      Yum! I bet that was so good! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment :)

      Reply
  2. Aubrey says

    April 2, 2016 at 11:35 am

    Hi! These look really lovely. Was wondering: is it possible to refrigerate the dough flat and cut them out into shapes after? Would the shape hold or does the dough spread too much? Thank you! :)

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      April 2, 2016 at 4:03 pm

      I’ve never tested the recipe that way so I’m not sure. Let me know if you try it!

      Reply
    • Veronika says

      January 5, 2021 at 2:12 pm

      Hi, did you try this? I really want to know if it’s ok to roll out and cut shapes xxx thank you.

      Reply
  3. Christy @ My Invisible Crown says

    October 21, 2013 at 6:21 pm

    I love shortbreads so these sound perfect! I don’t know Liz but I saw lot’s of yummy things on Instagram the day of the shower. Looks like you guys did a great job!

    Reply
  4. Deborah says

    October 16, 2013 at 2:37 am

    I love shortbread and I’m really loving this flavor combination! Thank you so much for being such a great host!

    Reply
  5. Nikki @Seeded at the Table says

    October 15, 2013 at 11:02 pm

    Such beautiful cookies, Rachel! Thank you for hosting this shower. What a great turn out!! :)

    Reply
  6. Erin @ Texanerin Baking says

    October 15, 2013 at 2:28 pm

    Aww, what a sweet post. Thank you for organizing the shower! You three did an awesome job. :)

    And these cookies look amazing. Lemon shortbread are definitely the best type of shortbread!

    Reply
  7. Alaina @ Fabtastic Eats says

    October 15, 2013 at 10:14 am

    I love shortbread! These cookies sound perfect! Such a wonderful and fun surprise! Thank you for putting it all together!

    Reply
  8. Faith (An Edible Mosaic) says

    October 15, 2013 at 1:12 am

    Such beautiful cookies, I bet they are perfect with a cup of tea! Thanks so much for the work you did you organize this event!

    Reply
  9. Laurie {Simply Scratch} says

    October 15, 2013 at 12:21 am

    Ohhhh yes, yes and YES! Honey and lemon IN A SHORTBREAD?! It’s pure genius!

    Reply
  10. Cassie | Bake Your Day says

    October 14, 2013 at 9:33 pm

    These are incredible!! Shortbread cookies are one of my favorites!

    Reply
  11. Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain says

    October 14, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    Rachel, these are stunning! Thanks so much for helping to put all of this together! You are a rock star my dear!

    Reply
  12. Javi Trulove @ T3treats says

    October 14, 2013 at 8:06 pm

    Awwww such an amazing treat… this cookies are to die for.. perhaps i can make a sandwich with them and filling it with some cream cheese… my mouth is watery right now hehhee

    Reply
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