These Easy Lemon Crinkle Cookies are so delicious, lemony, and perfect for picnics, parties, or an every day afternoon snack!
No matter how stressed out I am or how much work I have to do, cooking and baking soothes my soul and centers me.
Today I'm sharing a recipe that I've made a few times now, and it's always received happy reviews.
Easy Lemon Crinkle Cookies
If you love home cooking and baking as much as I do, but you need a little "cheat" now and then, these cookies will do the trick.
First: they're crazy delicious. I kind of want to make another batch as I am writing this and staring at the photos.
Second: they're what I call cheat cookies because they include store-bought cake mix.
Whaaat? Yeah. I know. But every once in a while, a hungry girl's gotta do what a hungry girl's gotta do. I've made "Cheat" Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies before, as an impulsive experiment because I ran out of flour. So I thought that a lemon cake mix would be awesome for cookies!
And, it totally works here too. Deliciously. These are SO. GOOD.
Ingredients
- 1 box of your favorite lemon cake mix 18.25 ounce box
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ cup melted coconut oil or vegetable oil
- 1 Tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- powdered sugar about ⅓ cup; just enough to roll the cookies in
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a large bowl, mix together cake mix, eggs, oil, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Don't over-mix! Just mix until all ingredients are happily blended together.
- Form dough into a disc shape and wrap either with wax paper or plastic wrap, then refrigerate for 30-40 minutes.
- Place about ⅓ cup sugar into a shallow bowl and set aside.
- Remove dough from the refrigerator and form tablespoon-size balls.
- Roll each ball into the powdered sugar to lightly coat, then place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a SilPat.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 7-9 minutes, until the bottoms of the cookies are lightly browned.
- Let cool on a cookie rack for 5 minutes before eating.
- Repeat steps 1-8 to make another batch once you realize you've somehow eaten the entire first batch in one sitting. (No judgment here, friends!)
Notes
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
I hope you all have a fabulous 4th of July with your friends and family this weekend!
Kate says
I loved it!!!! Thanks for recipe.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
SO glad you loved it! Thanks, Kate!
Heather says
Phenomenally easy and surprisingly delicious! Oh my goodness, this is my new lifesaver recipe! We've made in THREE time now. Each time was a resounding success.
In laws coming over for dinner and no dessert ready. Easy lemon crinkle cookies to the rescue.
New puppy barking incessantly and bothering neighbors. Easy crinkle cookies to the rescue.
Child meltdown after a long day at the pumpkin patch and big sister chooses the wrong TV show on Netflix. Easy crinkle cookies to the rescue!
Melinda says
Oh, man! I LOVE lemon crinkle cookies! I'll have to make these on a day when there will be a lot of people around so I won't eat them all!
Catherine says
Cheats are right up my alley, especially these days! Thanks for the recipe—I'll have to make these soon!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
I'm impressed you're even in the kitchen at 38 weeks, Catherine -- I was all about take-out at that point in my pregnancies! ;)
Monica Louie says
These look delicious and easy! Can't wait to read about your trip! Have a wonderful weekend!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Thanks, Monica! I hope you have a wonderful weekend as well!
Jen says
These look really tasty! Lemon cookies are the best, and these would be perfect right now since they don't require much movement or oven time. :)
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Yes - less oven time during this heat wave, the better! Thanks, Jen!
Barrett @dirtylaundrykitchen.com says
Cake mix for cookies, how smart. I'll have to try it. Any mixes you like? I've never used a lemon cake mix before.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
I used Betty Crocker's Extra Moist Lemon Cake Mix when I have made these the last few times. Hope you try it and like it!
Marye says
I've never tried cookies with cake mix. These look really good!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
You know, I hadn't until a few years ago when I ran out of flour and made those Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies. It was an a-ha moment for sure! :) Thanks, Marye!
Shorty says
These cookies are Super Easy and Totally Delicious !!!
I started making then like 3 years ago for Christmas. And now everyone wants them all the time
Danielle says
I love "cheat" recipes! And lemon cookies are my favorite!! So, this is basically the perfect recipe for me :-) I'm going to pin it to make ASAP. Can't wait to hear about your road trip, cheers!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Lemon cookies really are so yummy, and I love that there are so many different kinds of lemon cookies. Thanks, Danielle! Cheers!
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom says
Right there with you, I get back from vaca and immediately stress about all that needs done. Maybe if I ate a batch of these cookies, I would forget my stresses!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Ahh glad I am not alone in the post-vaca stress. And, eating these cookies does help ;) Thanks, Kristen!
Julia says
Lemon is my favorite! These cookies look so good. I have to try these out this summer.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Mine too! I love lemon everything. Thanks for stopping by, Julia!
Lisa @ Low Carb Yum says
These do look really easy to do. I think this is something even my daughter could bake for her friends.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
I think your daughter would enjoy making these -- they really are super easy!