Name: Lemon Pudding Cookies
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened; 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant lemon pudding mix; 1/2 cup sugar; 1 large egg, room temperature; 2 tablespoons milk; 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; zest from one lemon; 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar; 2 to 4 teaspoons lemon juice; Sprinkles, optional

Lemon Pudding Cookies

L is for Lemon!

When life gives you lemons, make these delicious Lemon Pudding Cookies!

For the letter L in our Alphabet Challenge, I’m bringing you an easy cookie that come together fast with instant pudding mix, finished with a lemony glaze and they’re perfect for everything from after school snacking to wedding dessert tables.

How to Make Them

Cream together the butter, lemon pudding mix, and sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in the egg and milk.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients, then gradually add to the creamed mixture.
Divide the dough into two logs, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate until firm—about 3 hours.
Slice into rounds, bake until just golden at the edges, and cool completely.
Drizzle with a simple lemon icing and let it set before serving.

Tips for Perfect Lemon Pudding Cookies

Use a Microplane to add fresh lemon zest to the dough for extra lemon flavor and aroma.
Chill the dough thoroughly—this makes slicing easier and helps the cookies bake up with clean edges.
For the best results, slice the dough with a bench scraper to keep your rounds even and neat.
Keep an eye on baking time; cookies should be lightly golden at the edges but still soft in the center.
Adjust the lemon juice in the glaze to get the balance of sweetness and citrus just right for your taste.

🕒 Make-Ahead

You can make the dough up to two days ahead of time—just wrap it well and refrigerate. When you're ready to bake, slice and pop the cookies in the oven.

Thank you again to Wendy for hosting the 2025 Alphabet Challenge and to the other bloggers for sharing their recipes this year! Check them out using the links down below! You can see all of the recipes I've made for the challenge here — Alphabet Challenge 2025.

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Lemon Pudding Cookies

Author: Jolene's Recipe Journal

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 package (3.4 ounces) instant lemon pudding mix
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
2 tablespoons milk
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
zest from one lemon

Glaze

2/3 cup confectioners' sugar
2 to 4 teaspoons lemon juice
Sprinkles, optional

Instructions

In a large bowl, cream butter, pudding mix and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg and milk. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture.
Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, shape each into a 6-in.-long roll. Securely wrap in waxed paper; refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours.
Preheat oven to 375°. Unwrap and cut dough crosswise into 1/2-in. slices. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until edges are light brown, 8-10 minutes. Cool on pans 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.
In a small bowl, mix confectioners' sugar and enough lemon juice to reach a drizzling consistency. Drizzle over cookies. Let stand until set. Add sprinkles if desired.

Notes

To Make Ahead: Dough can be made 2 days in advance. Wrap in waxed paper and place in a resealable container. Store in the refrigerator.

Source: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/lemon-slice-sugar-cookies/

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