These lemon clementine crinkle cookies are bright, citrusy and the perfect chewy cookie for snacking on alongside a hot cup of tea.
Last week it was double cinnamon crinkle cookies – this week, lemon clementine cookies. Same idea, but totally different taste.
If I had to choose which I liked better, I’m not sure I could make a decision. I loved the fresh and bright taste of these. The sweetness of the cookie was perfectly balanced with the tanginess and citrus flavor of the lemon and clementines. The cinnamon cookies were amazing too — perfect with a hot cup of coffee. I’ll just have to eat both. Both had the perfect balance of chewy centers and slightly crispy edges. Cookie perfection, if you ask me.
If you don’t have clementines on hand, feel free to substitute oranges. They would be great in these cookies. We just allllllways have a bag or a crate of clementines on hand so it was an obvious choice for me. If you’re not an orange/clementine fan, try these with lime! Or even grapefruit. Oh man — I think I need to head back to the kitchen, I’m starting to get hungry for more cookies.
Again, like the cinnamon crinkle cookies, these are a simple cookie recipe that are easy to make and fun to get the kids involved with. If you’re making a huge mess with powdered sugar, might as well let the kids have some fun too, right?
Lemon Clementine Crinkle Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon clementine zest
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a stand mixer, combine butter and sugar and mix on medium speed until combined and light in color. Add vanilla and egg and beat again until combined.
- In a medium bowl, mix together flour, clementine zest, lemon zest, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Roll into small balls (1-2 tablespoons) and then roll in powdered sugar until coated. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 9-11 minutes or until no longer shiny. Pleeeease don’t overbake these — they need to be chewy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Craving more citrusy cookies like these lemon clementine crinkle cookies? I don’t blame you, I am too. Try these: Lemonade Cookies or Honey Lemon Shortbread Cookies.
Just made these and they turned out chewy and citrusy. I used the zest of 3 clementines and 1 lemon. Great.
I would make a couple changes: I would pass on rolling the cookies in icing sugar. I know this would mess up the crinkle part, but I just found the extra sugar to be more sweetness than I like. Personal preference.
I’d also bump up the citrus by changing the extracts to 1/2 tsp orange extract and 1/2 tsp vanilla.
Thanks for the recipe.
So glad you enjoyed these! Love the idea of adding orange extract! :)
I have been OBSESSED with clementines this winter. Some years they are just not that great but this year they are spot on. Love the look of these cookies and they have the perfect crinkly top.
perfect way to brighten a chilly winter day
Ooh fantastic! Chewy, crisps, citrusy…fantastic little spring-fling!
I love crinkle cookies! These are so fun!
Crinkle cookies are my favorite – I love these flavors!
I’ve never baked with clementines, but I love the idea of the sweeter citrus with the tart lemon :)
I tried these two ways:one with grapefruit zest and one with lime zest. I also subbed a little lime juice for the vanilla in the lime ones. Both were very tasty. I don’t think I could choose a favorite. Being more of a crispy cookie fan, I rolled them in white sugar and baked them a couple extra minutes. Thanks for a winning recipe! I love the bright citrus flavor on a cold cold winter day. Really, a high of nine degrees? I’m moving to Florida…
these are just perfect! the perfect crinkles :) i wish i had a tray of them to eat right now!
Great crinkle cookies ! Can’t wait to try them! Pinned!