Lemon Poppy Seed Cheesecake Cookies (Printable)
Zesty lemon poppy seed cookies topped with creamy cheesecake frosting for a delightful treat.
# What You Need:
→ Cookie Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
→ Cookie Wet Ingredients
06 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 1 cup granulated sugar
08 - 1 large egg
09 - 2 tablespoons lemon zest (from 2 lemons)
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ Cheesecake Frosting
12 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
13 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
14 - 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
15 - 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
16 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
17 - Pinch of salt
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds until well blended.
03 - In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes.
04 - Beat in the egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Take care not to overmix.
06 - Sop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them approximately 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
07 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
08 - In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add powdered sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt. Beat until light and fluffy.
09 - Once cookies have cooled completely, spread or pipe a generous layer of cheesecake frosting onto each cookie. Optionally garnish with additional lemon zest or poppy seeds.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The combination of tangy lemon and creamy cheesecake frosting is irresistible
- These cookies strike that perfect balance between sophisticated and comfort food
- They keep beautifully in the fridge, getting even better after a day
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients prevent the frosting from curdling and ensure smooth creaming
- Overmixing the dough creates tough cookies, so stop as soon as flour disappears
- Completely cool cookies before frosting or it will melt right off
03 -
- Use a microplane for the finest zest without any bitter white pith
- Chill the frosted cookies for 30 minutes to set the frosting before stacking