These Lemon Cookies are perfect for a party! Super easy to make with just a handful of ingredients! Lemon zest and lemon juice give these amazing cookies a bright, bold flavor that’s impossible to resist! Love lemon treats? Make sure to try my Lemon Blueberry Scones and Lemon Zucchini Cake!
Lemon Cookies
Nobody loves an easy recipe more than I do. I rely on them daily. Whether it’s breakfast, dinner, or dessert, I like to have an arsenal of easy recipes at the ready for those days when time is in short supply. Now that I think of it, that may be every day…
I am a big fan of cookies. Love them for easy desserts, snacks, lunch boxes, parties and more. What I love even more than a cookie is a lemon cookie. I love lemon everything. It makes me happy.
I almost added white chocolate chips to these soft lemon cookies. White chocolate and lemon are made for each other after all. I left them out though because I want you to try these cookies on their own first.
What Ingredients Do I Need To Make Lemon Cookies
For this easy recipe, you need just 5 ingredients.
1. Lemon cake mix – I use the cake mix with the pudding inside.
2. Cool Whip
3. Egg
4. Lemon – you’ll need the lemon zest and juice from the lemon
5. Powdered Sugar – this is what gives these lemon cookies that cool, cracked top.
The BEST Lemon Cookies EVER
Bold lemon flavor, a beautifully soft interior, and a powdered sugar-coated exterior make these lemon cookies total showstoppers. And you’re going to love how few ingredients they take too! Now, this easy recipe can be adapted with other flavors of cake mix – strawberry, spice, carrot cake. The options are truly endless!
This recipe calls for a lemon cake mix and you’re going to want to buy one that has pudding in the mix – makes these lemon cookies extra moist and delicious! Unlike many of my cake mix cookie recipes, I didn’t use cream cheese. Instead, I used Cool Whip. Yep. Cool Whip.
Cake mix, cool whip, and an egg. I upped the lemon factor by adding in some lemon zest and fresh lemon juice – fantastic!
The cookie dough is scooped and then rolled in powdered sugar before being baked – this is what gives them that gorgeous cracked top. So festive and fun! Just look at them!
My boys find these easy cookies entirely irresistible!
Favorite Lemon Desserts
I am such a big fan of lemon desserts. That sweet and tart combo is something I find irresisitble. If you love lemon desserts too, make sure to check out some of my favorites!
- Lemon Drop Bars
- Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies
- No Bake Blueberry Lemon Cream Pie
- Lemon Meringue Cookie Cups
- Lemon Strawberry Trifle
How To Make Lemon Cookies
Lemon Cookies known as Lemon Whippersnaps
Ingredients
- 15 oz package lemon cake mix with pudding in the mix
- 2 cups Cool Whip
- 1 egg lightly beaten
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine cake mix, Cool Whip, egg, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a large bowl.
- Stir until completely combined.
- Place powdered sugar in a small bowl.
- Use a cookie scoop to scoop cookie dough.
- Drop cookie dough into the powdered sugar and roll to thoroughly coat.
- Place on the parchment-lined cooke sheet.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool for several minutes on the cookie sheet before moving to a cooling rack.
Video
More cookies to try!
Chocolate Chip Turtle Pudding Cookies
Monster Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Brown Butter White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
For all cookie recipes, go HERE.
For all dessert recipes, go HERE.
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Kim says
I don’t see any credit given to Joanne Fluke, author of ‘Candy Cane Murder published October 1, 2008 in your post. Her original recipe for Lemon Whippersnappers is in that book. I think it’s incredibly disrespectful to practically plagiarize her recipe and not even give her credit for any inspiration she provided. It makes me wonder how many other authors’ recipes you’re passing off as your own creation. I have no issue with reposting, with or without changes, but it’s only fair to add even a simple line like “Inspired by Joanne Fluke’s Lemon Whippersnappers from her novel”
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Oh my dear Kim. This recipe has been around A LOT longer than 2008. My grandma made this back when I was a little girl. And yes, I completely agree. If I knew who initially came up with the idea of adding Cool whip to a cake mix and making cookies, I would credit them. I even make mine differently than my grandma. Adding zest and juice for more flavor. Thanks for stopping by!
Leslie says
I’m making this ones tomorrow but i couldn’t find the lemon cake mix with pudding on in the only one I found was moist lemon cake would it be okay if I use that one?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Yes, that will totally work!
Nancy says
I made these and they were sooo delicious. I then made them again using different kinds of cake mix (rainbow chip, spice, red velvet etc). Unbelievable!! Yummy!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
It’s a super versatile recipe! So glad you enjoyed it Nancy!
Mary W. says
The cookies turned out great, super light and yummy. Any suggestions on how to keep the cookie scoop working smoothly and not get gummed up with sticky batter?
Kimberly Watson says
My kids are pretty picky and they always want chocolate chip cookies or brownies. I decided to change things up and give this recipe a try. The only problem I had was that I should have doubled up the batch 🙂 My two kids gobbled the cookies up the same day, they were delicious!
Georgia says
I made Lemon Whippersnaps for New Years eve and my son is asking me now to make him again. Thank you for taking time to share this recipe with us. Have an amazing 2018!
CLA says
Lemon cookies for Christmass!! I`m so happy that I found this recipe before my son birthday (25 Dec) :). I will let you know how it goes. Thank you and Happy Holidays!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Enjoy!
Suger says
Followed this recipe to the tee, and they are wonderful. I’ve never heard of these types of cookies but sure glad I tried them, trying chocolate ones next. Thank you so much.
Teresa says
Hi!
Is cool whip as you say….whipped cream cos hear in Australia there’s no such thing as “cool whip”!!!!! ?
R.drake says
Use heavy cream…better than the poison in cool whip.
Deborah J Fugate says
Unbelievably irresistable!!! 🙂
Danielle says
Wow. My kids love those whippersnaps. Love your blog!
Christine says
I was surprised to find out my kids loved the whippersnaps and your instructions helped me follow the recipe right to the point. It’s time for the zucchini cake now – love your blog!
Ali says
What can you use instead of cool whip please. We don’t have that here. Thanks
Naomi says
I live in Australia and I would use whipping cream,you can buy it a Woolworths
Jennifer says
I’m gonna try to make these sugar free
Courtney says
Mine came out gooey. I baked them for 12 mins. Is this normal?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I would add an extra minute or two because they shouldn’t be gooey.