Name: White Chocolate Lemon Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 200g unsalted butter, softened; 150g caster sugar; 100g light brown sugar; 2 large eggs; 1 tsp vanilla extract; Zest of 2 lemons; 300g plain flour; 1 tsp baking powder; ½ tsp baking soda; ¼ tsp salt; 200g white chocolate, chopped; 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

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Hi👋 I’m MARILYN, a 34-year-old from the United Kingdom. Cooking is my passion, and I love sharing delicious, easy-to-follow recipes. Join me on marilynrecipes.com to explore a world of culinary delights, from comforting classics to innovative creations. Let’s make cooking fun and enjoyable for everyone! Cooking is about more than just food it’s about sharing stories and making memories.

I’ll never forget the first time I baked these White Chocolate Lemon Cookies. It was a rainy Saturday morning, the kind where the soft drizzle taps against the windows, and the whole kitchen smells like comfort. I wanted something bright and cheerful to lift the mood, and the zesty lemons in this recipe seemed to promise exactly that. As I mixed the dough and stirred in generous chunks of white chocolate, I felt this cozy, joyful energy like happiness you could actually eat. By the time the cookies were out of the oven, golden, soft, and lightly crisp at the edges, my family gathered around, eager for a taste. That memory still warms my heart every time I bake these cookies.

These White Chocolate Lemon Cookies are one of those recipes I make over and over. The tangy lemon meets the creamy sweetness of white chocolate in a way that feels both indulgent and comforting. I’ve made them for birthdays, rainy afternoons, and even as a little surprise for friends dropping by. They are easy, quick, and full of love everything I believe a home-baked cookie should be.

Why I Love Making This Recipe

I love this recipe because it’s simple yet impressive. The bright zing of lemon wakes up the senses, while the white chocolate melts in gooey pockets throughout the cookie. Baking these is almost meditative for me mixing, zesting, folding, and tasting as I go. There’s something so satisfying about watching plain ingredients transform into a batch of glowing, aromatic cookies. Plus, this recipe is incredibly forgiving: even if your dough looks a bit different, the end result is still wonderfully soft, chewy, and bursting with flavor.

Making White Chocolate Lemon Cookies also reminds me of my childhood. My mum loved baking, and I’d often perch on the counter, sneaking little bites of chocolate or licking the lemon zest off my fingers. There’s magic in creating treats that become memories, and this recipe carries that magic into every bite.

Ingredients & Little Kitchen Secrets

Here’s everything you’ll need for a batch of about 18–20 cookies:

200g unsalted butter, softened
150g caster sugar
100g light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
Zest of 2 lemons (make sure it’s just the yellow part!)
300g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
200g white chocolate, chopped into chunks
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Little Kitchen Secrets:

Always use freshly zested lemon for the most vibrant flavor. Pre-packaged zest just doesn’t have the same punch.
Chop your white chocolate into chunky pieces it melts beautifully in the middle but still gives you pockets of texture.
Softened butter is key for chewy cookies. If your butter is cold, the cookies will turn out more cakey than soft.

How I Make It, Step by Step

Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, caster sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy. This usually takes about 3–4 minutes.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract and lemon juice. The mixture should look smooth and glossy.
Gently fold in the lemon zest. The smell should instantly make your kitchen feel sunny!
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding gently until just combined. Don’t overmix, or your cookies may become tough.
Fold in the chopped white chocolate. Make sure it’s evenly distributed but don’t crush the chunks.
Use a tablespoon to scoop the dough onto the prepared tray, leaving a couple of inches between each cookie they’ll spread a little as they bake.
Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers remain soft.
Let the cookies cool on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. They firm up slightly as they cool but stay wonderfully soft inside.

How I Serve It at Home

I love serving these White Chocolate Lemon Cookies with a simple glass of milk or a cup of Earl Grey tea. On sunny days, I take them outside to enjoy on the patio there’s something so delightful about the combination of sweet, tangy cookies and fresh air. Sometimes, I sprinkle a little extra lemon zest on top for a fresh pop of color and flavor.

They also make a wonderful gift stack them in a cute tin, tie with a ribbon, and share a little homemade happiness. I promise the recipient will feel the love baked into each cookie!

Storage, Reheating & Make-Ahead Tips

Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
To keep them soft, place a slice of bread in the container it absorbs moisture and prevents the cookies from drying out.
These cookies freeze beautifully. Pop the unbaked dough into a tray, freeze, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake straight from frozen, adding 1–2 minutes to the baking time.
Reheat slightly in a warm oven (150°C for 3–5 minutes) to bring back that just-baked freshness.

100-Word Short Version

Bright, zesty, and irresistibly sweet, my White Chocolate Lemon Cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with flavor. I love making them because they’re simple yet impressive—the tang of fresh lemon perfectly balanced with pockets of creamy white chocolate. With just basic ingredients like butter, sugar, flour, and eggs, you can whip up a batch in under 30 minutes. These cookies are perfect with tea, for sharing with friends, or simply as a little treat for yourself. Soft in the center, lightly golden on the edges, and full of love, they turn any ordinary day into a moment worth savoring.

Recipe Card Section (before conclusion)

⏱️ Time: 25 minutes (10–12 min baking)
🛒 Ingredients: <ul> <li>200g unsalted butter, softened</li> <li>150g caster sugar</li> <li>100g light brown sugar</li> <li>2 large eggs</li> <li>1 tsp vanilla extract</li> <li>Zest of 2 lemons</li> <li>300g plain flour</li> <li>1 tsp baking powder</li> <li>½ tsp baking soda</li> <li>¼ tsp salt</li> <li>200g white chocolate, chopped</li> <li>2 tbsp fresh lemon juice</li> </ul>

👩‍🍳 Instructions: <ol> <li>Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.</li> <li>Cream butter and sugars until fluffy.</li> <li>Beat in eggs, vanilla, and lemon juice until smooth.</li> <li>Fold in lemon zest.</li> <li>Sift and fold in dry ingredients.</li> <li>Fold in white chocolate chunks.</li> <li>Scoop dough onto tray, leaving space between cookies.</li> <li>Bake 10–12 minutes until edges are golden.</li> <li>Cool 5 minutes on tray, then transfer to a wire rack.</li> </ol>

📝 Notes:

Use fresh lemon zest for the best flavor.
Softened butter ensures chewy cookies.
Cookies store well in an airtight container up to 5 days.
Freeze dough for later baking just add 1–2 minutes to cook time.

🍽️ Nutrition:
Per cookie: 180 kcal, 3g protein, 10g fat, 2g saturated fat, 1g fiber, 18g carbs, 12g sugar, 55mg sodium

Conclusion

Baking these White Chocolate Lemon Cookies is like sharing a hug in dessert form. Each bite is soft, tangy, sweet, and completely satisfying. I love how something so simple can bring family and friends together, spark memories, and brighten a dull day. Baking isn’t just about the finished product it’s about the laughter, the little spills, the smells that fill your home, and the smiles on loved ones’ faces. I hope this recipe brings you as much joy as it has brought me over the years. Happy baking!