Lemon Poppy Seed With Cheesecake Frosting (Print View)

Buttery lemon cookies with poppy seeds and tangy cheesecake frosting—ideal for tea time treats

# Ingredient List:

→ 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

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds until evenly distributed.
03 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar with 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 and smooth.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough cookies.
06 - Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
07 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
08 - In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed.
09 - Add sifted powdered sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt. Beat until light and fluffy, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
10 - Once cookies are completely cool, spread or pipe a generous layer of cheesecake frosting onto each cookie. Optionally garnish with extra lemon zest or a sprinkle of poppy seeds.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The cheesecake frosting transforms a simple cookie into something that feels like dessert from a fancy bakery
  • Lemon and poppy seeds are the combination you never knew you needed until now
  • These cookies strike that perfect balance between tangy and sweet without being overwhelming
02 -
  • Overmixing the dough will make your cookies tough so stop as soon as the flour is incorporated
  • Wait until cookies are completely cool before frosting or it will melt right off
  • Room temperature ingredients for both cookies and frosting makes everything come together smoothly
03 -
  • Use a small cookie scoop to get perfectly uniform cookies that bake evenly
  • Chill the dough for 30 minutes if it feels too sticky to work with
  • Add a tiny pinch of yellow food coloring to the frosting for that extra pop

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