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Air Fryer Lemon Cookies

Name: Air Fryer Lemon Cookies
Prep time: 210 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 215 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup Butter (softened (omit salt if using salted butter)); 1 3.4oz Instant lemon pudding mix; 1/2 cup Sugar; 1 large Egg (room temperature); 2 tbsp 2% milk; 1 1/2 cups All-purpose flour; 1 tsp Baking powder; 1/4 tsp Salt ((omit if using salted butter)); 2/3 cup Confecioners' sugar; 2-4 tsp Lemon juice (add on tsp of lemon juice until you get the consistency you want. )

4.20 / 5 ( 5 Reviews )

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Delightfully tangy with a hint of sweetness, these Air Fryer Lemon Cookies make for a perfect and effortless summer treat.

May 31, 2024 The links in the post below may be affiliate links. Read the full disclosure

air fryer lemon cookies

Our family tends to have quite the sweet tooth, but with these Air Fryer Lemon Cookies, you get the best of both worlds with the sweet and sour flavors. Plus, there is this delicious lemon icing that you can put on top to send this recipe over the edge into dangerous territory, making these not last long in our house.

They are perfect to take for your next get-together or if you are having brunch with friends. Since they aren’t overly sweet, they will be perfect for most tatstebuds!

You can find even more air fryer desserts on my YouTube channel too!

Ingredients and Supplies You’ll Need to Make Air Fryer Lemon Cookies:

lemon cookie ingredients

Ingredients:

Butter, softened (omit salt if using salted butter)
Instant lemon pudding mix
Sugar
Large egg, room temperature
2% milk
All-purpose flour
Baking powder
Salt (omit salt if using salted butter)

Icing:

Confectioners’ sugar
Lemon juice

Supplies

Large bowl
Hand mixer
Spatula
Plastic wrap
Aluminum foil
Wire rack
Small mixing bowl
Whisk
Air fryer (Cosori Pro II)

Will lemon extract work instead?

If push comes to shove and all you have is lemon extract you can use it. However, I would only use maybe a teaspoon (or less) of it and then use milk to get the consistency you want for the icing.

But the best option would be to use lemon juice for this recipe if you have it.

how to make lemon cookies

Why 2% milk?

These icebox cookies are all about the flavor, and flaky layers that are developed. When you use a high fat content milk you will get a richer cookie.

But, if you don’t have 2% milk that is okay, they will still turn out good, it just all depends on personal preference and what you have available to you when you want to make your lemon cookies.

Why does the dough need to be refrigerated?

These cookies are considered a type of icebox cookie, They are a richer dense cookie, When you refrigerate the dough, you allow the butter to set back up and it helps the cookie keep its shape and avoid spreading out.

How to make Air Fryer Lemon Cookies:

Step 1: Cream the mixture

butter, pudding mix, and sugar in bowl

First, in a bowl, cream the butter, pudding mix ,and sugar until light and fluffy.

egg and milk added to bowl

Once you have the sugar and butter creamed, add in the egg and milk and continue to beat everything together to combine.

Step 2: Add dry ingredients

dry ingredients in bowl with electric mixer

Now that you have the wet ingredients combined, gradually add in the flour, baking powder, and salt until your dough is completely combined.

Step 3: Refrigerate dough

rolled up log of dough in plastic wrap

Lightly flour a surface, divide the dough in half, then shape each half into 6-in-long rolls. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate 3 hours or until firm (Can keep in the refrigerator up to 2 days).

Step 4: Preheat and prepare cookies

When you are ready to make the cookies, preheat the air fryer to 330 degrees F or 166 degrees C.

cut cookie dough

While the air fryer is preheating, unwrap the dough and cut the dough it into 1/2-inch. slices of cookie dough.

Step 5: Bake the cookies

cookies in air fryer basket on parchment paper

With a foil sling or parchment paper, place the cookies in the air fryer basket. Cook for 5-8 minutes, depending on the size of the cookies (mine were smaller so they cooked in 4-5 minutes), or until slightly golden. Let the cookies rest in the warm air fryer for 2 minutes.

glazed air fried lemon cookies

Remove the lemon cookies from the air fryer and let them cool on a rack.

Step 6: Ice the cookies

finished lemon cookies with glaze

In a small bowl, mix together the powdered sugar and enough lemon juice to reach a drizzling consistency.

Dip the top of the cookies into the icing, put them back on the rack, and let them stand until set completely.

Fun air fryer recipes

You might be shocked by just how much you can make in the air fryer. Maybe even some of your favorites. Take a look below and pick your next air fryer recipe to try.

Tasty air fryer recipes:

lemon cookies in air fryer basket

Final Thoughts

Make the cookies! Make sure to plan ahead since these do need time to be refrigerated, but they are definitely worth the wait.

Also, don’t skimp on the lemon icing for these cookies, they make them even better, and you won’t regret it!

Delicious Lunch and Dinner Recipes to make:

lemon cookies in the air fryer

Air fryer tips and tricks