Pink Crinkle Lemon Sugar Cookies

Soft, chewy, and full of bright lemon flavor, these pink crinkle cookies look special but are actually super easy to make.

Some days I just want to bake something cute without committing to a whole project, you know?

These pink crinkle lemon sugar cookies are one of those recipes that feel special but don’t take much brain power, which is kind of my sweet spot lately.

They’re soft, chewy, lemony, and pretty enough that people assume you tried really hard.

I usually make these when I need something quick for a school thing or just want a little treat that feels fun.

They’re simple, forgiving, and honestly one of those cookies that makes the kitchen smell so good while they bake!

Ingredients for Pink Crinkle Lemon Sugar Cookies

• All-purpose flour – This is the base of the cookies and keeps them soft instead of crumbly.
• Baking powder – Helps the cookies puff up so you get those pretty crinkles.
• Salt – Just a little to balance all the sweetness and lemon.
• Granulated sugar – This sweetens the dough and gives the cookies that classic sugar cookie texture.
• Unsalted butter – Makes everything rich and so good, butter always does the heavy lifting.
• Egg – Holds the dough together and keeps the cookies tender.
• Lemon zest – This is where most of that bright lemon flavor actually comes from.
• Fresh lemon juice – Adds that tangy kick that makes these cookies taste fresh instead of flat.
• Vanilla extract – Rounds out the lemon and makes the flavor warmer.
• Pink food coloring – Totally optional but it makes the cookies extra fun and cute.
• Powdered sugar – This is what gives the cookies their crackly tops and a little extra sweetness.

How to Make Pink Crinkle Lemon Sugar Cookies

1. Preheat and Prep

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper.

If your oven runs hot, use the middle rack so the bottoms don’t brown too fast.

2. Mix the Dry Stuff

Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl until everything looks evenly mixed.

It only takes a minute but it helps the cookies bake evenly.

If your flour looks clumpy, give it a quick fluff with the whisk first.

3. Cream the Butter and Sugar

In a bigger bowl, mix the butter and sugar until it looks light and a little fluffy.

This is what makes the cookies soft instead of dense.

If your butter’s too cold, give it a few extra minutes on the counter before you start.

4. Add the Wet Ingredients

Mix in the egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla, and pink food coloring until it all comes together.

The dough should smell super lemony at this point and look evenly pink.

Start with less food coloring and add more so it doesn’t turn neon by accident.

5. Bring the Dough Together

Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix just until you don’t see dry spots anymore.

The dough will be soft and a little sticky and that’s normal.

Overmixing here makes tougher cookies so stop once it’s combined.

6. Roll and Coat

Scoop the dough into small balls and roll each one in powdered sugar until fully coated.

This part gets messy but it’s also kind of fun.

If the dough sticks to your hands, lightly damp them with water.

7. Bake

Place the dough balls on the baking sheet with space between them and bake until they puff and crack on top.

They’ll still look a little soft in the middle and that’s what you want.

Pull them out sooner rather than later because they keep baking on the pan.

8. Cool

Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving them to a rack.

This helps them set without falling apart.

If you try to move them too fast, they’ll bend and stick!

When You Want a Cookie That Looks Special

Sometimes you just want a cookie that feels a little extra without actually doing extra work.

These pink crinkle lemon sugar cookies are perfect for that.

They look cute on a plate, taste bright and sweet, and honestly disappear way faster than I expect every time.

This is one of those recipes I come back to when I need a win in the kitchen without making a whole thing out of it.