These Lemon Raspberry Cookies are soft and fluffy, sweet with a slight tang. This eggless sugar cookie recipe is made with lemon zest, lemon juice and frozen raspberries. The dough balls are rolled into lemon sugar prior to baking, which gives them a little extra pizazz! Finally, these raspberry lemon cookies are drizzled with a sweet raspberry glaze and sprinkled with some extra lemon zest. They taste like a refreshing glass of raspberry lemonade! If that wasn't enough, these cookies are gluten free, nut free, eggless and can easily be vegan!
This lemon raspberry cookie recipe is so refreshing! The outside of these beauties has a slight crunch thanks to the lemon infused sugar and the inside is soft and chewy! The lemon flavor isn't overpowering; it blends beautifully with the sweet-tart raspberry flavor profile! You don't have to add the raspberry drizzle but I think it makes these cookies seriously stunning! Thanks to all the moisture from the fruit, these raspberry cookies stay soft for days like my Strawberry Sugar Cookies!
For more fruity sugar cookie recipes, try my Lemon Sugar Cookies, my Blueberry Cookies, my Fruity Pebbles Cookies and my Lemon Blueberry Cookies.
Reasons to Love These Cookies
- Allergy Friendly- These cookies are gluten free, nut free, egg free and can easily be dairy free (vegan)!
- Soft & Chewy- The insides of these cookies are so fluffy!
- Covered in Lemon Sugar- The lemon sugar coating helps bring out that lemon flavor and gives the outside a nice crunch!
- Fresh Lemon Juice- The juice from the lemons gives the cookies this gorgeous yet mild tang like in my Lemon Buttercream Frosting!
- Raspberry Glaze- This pink glaze gives the cookies a lovely sweetness and a stunning (all natural) color like in my Raspberry Lemonade Cookies!
- That Gorgeous Color- These beauties have a gorgeous marbled pink, red and yellow hue and a stunning pink glaze with flecks of red! Best yet, these colors are all natural!
Ingredient Notes
- Gluten Free Flour- If you also have nut allergies, make sure to use a brand that’s made in a nut free facility. I really love to use this gluten free flour because it’s nut safe but it does contain dairy. It also contains xanthan gum which really helps give baked goods their bounce.
- Milk- If there are no dairy allergies or if you’re not vegan, you can use regular whole milk. For non dairy, use a non dairy milk of your choosing.
- Unsalted Butter or Vegan Baking Sticks- Don’t use melted; the cookies will spread into a giant mess.
- Cornstarch and Water- These cookies have no egg so this mixture helps bind everything together.
- Lemons- Please only use fresh squeezed lemon juice. Prepackaged lemon juice can result in the cookies having a chemical taste. We need a total of 3 medium lemons for the juice and zest combined.
- Raspberries- You must use frozen raspberries and they must be chopped into tiny pieces. Eggless cookies want to spread and if you use fresh raspberries or frozen raspberries that are not chopped, there will be too much moisture. The dough will become a slimy wet mess and will spread out into a liquid disaster when baking.
See my recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Substitutions and Variations
How to Make these Vegan
- Use a gluten free flour that’s free from dairy.
- Make sure the brand of sugar you use is vegan.
- Use vegan baking sticks instead of butter.
- Only use a non dairy milk of choice.
How to Make this recipe with All Purpose Flour
- Use 2 packed cups of regular flour (336 grams).
- You still need to chill the dough due to the lack of eggs.
This recipe has not been tested with these substitutions and/or variations due to celiac disease and food allergies. If you change any of the ingredients, please let us know how the recipe turned out in the comments below!
How to Make Lemon Raspberry Cookies
Here are the step by step instructions to make these raspberry lemon cookies!
Zest and Juice the Lemons and Chop the Raspberries
Step 1: Zest the Lemons
Wash and dry all 3 lemons. Take a zester and zest all 3 lemons. Put the zest in a little bowl and cover with plastic wrap so it doesn't get crunchy. Set aside.
Step 2: Juice the Lemons
Take one lemon, cut it in half and juice it. Make sure to remove any seeds if they get in the juice. Set aside.
There should be about 2 tablespoons of juice. If there isn't enough, juice another lemon.
Step 3: Chop the Raspberries
Measure out ½ cup frozen raspberries. Rough chop the raspberries into small pieces. Be careful not to over chop; you don't want a puddle of raspberry pulp.
Place the chopped raspberries into a freezer safe bowl and pop back into the freezer until you're ready to add them into the dough.
Make the Cookies
Step 1: Whisk Together the Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
Step 2: Make the Cornstarch Water
In a small bowl, using a spoon, mix together the 2 heaping tablespoons of cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of water until thin and watery. It will be thick and tacky at first.
Step 3: Cream the Sugar
In a large bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter or vegan baking stick and 1 ¼ cups of the sugar until it is soft and creamy. About 2-3 minutes.
Step 4: Add in the other Wet Ingredients
Slowly beat the cornstarch water mixture, milk, 1 tablespoon of lemon zest and the 2 tablespoons of lemon juice into the creamed butter and sugar. It will look pale yellow and chunky.
Step 5: Add in the Dry Ingredients, Chopped Raspberries and Freeze the Dough
Slowly beat in the gluten free flour mixture a little at a time until just combined.
Gently using a spatula, fold in the frozen chopped raspberries. The dough will become a lovely marbled pink color.
Keep the dough in the bowl, cover the top with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 1 hour. You must not skip this step or the cookies will spread everywhere and it must be frozen, not in the fridge.
Step 6: Make the Lemon Sugar
Once the dough is done chilling, in a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar and the remaining 1 teaspoon of lemon zest. Mix until completely combined.
Step 7: Scoop the Dough and Coat with the Lemon Sugar
I use an ice cream scoop or a large cookie scoop to make large cookies. It makes 11 scoops.
Roll each dough ball in the lemon sugar mixture to coat completely.
Step 8: Bake the Cookies
Place dough balls about 3-4 inches apart on the parchment lined baking sheet. Bake the cookies at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-16 minutes.
Store extra dough balls in the freezer while the rest are baking if they don't all fit. I only bake 6 at a time.
Immediately reshape the cookies when they come out of the oven by using a spatula to push them into a circle shape and let cool on the baking sheet for 5 min before transferring to a cooling rack. If you don't do this, the cookies will break apart into a giant mess.
If adding the glaze, let the cookies cool completely before adding it, otherwise the glaze will turn into a liquid mess.
Make The Glaze (If Desired)
Step 1: Mix The Glaze Ingredients
In a small bowl, whisk together the 1 cup of confectioners' sugar, 1 or 2 raspberries and the 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon water until combined and smooth.
Step 2: Drizzle The Glaze
Drizzle the raspberry glaze on top of the cool cookies. If you drizzle it on warm cookies, the glaze with melt. Let the glaze harden. Sprinkle with more lemon zest if desired.
Expert Baking Tips
- Use Packed Cups of Flour- Normally in baking we do not use packed cups however, when working with gluten free, I've found using packed cups works best to help the baked goods keep their shape. Or read the gram measurement.
- Use Room Temperature Butter- Do not use softened or melted butter/vegan baking sticks. The cookies will spread out when baking into a giant mess.
- Use Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice- This is to prevent the cookies from having a chemical taste.
- Keep the Lemon Zest Airtight- If you leave it uncovered and not in a bowl covered in plastic wrap while you bake, it will dry out and become crunchy.
- Do not use Fresh Raspberries- Using fresh makes the dough way too wet and causes the cookies to spread out everywhere. Also make sure you chop the frozen raspberries otherwise they will spread out too.
- Freeze the Dough- If you don’t freeze the dough for at least 1 hour, the cookies will spread and be flat and thin.
- Wash Your Cookie Scoop- If you noticed the dough is starting to get sticky, wash and dry your cookie scoop halfway through making the dough balls.
- Reshape the Cookies- If you want your cookies nice and round, reshape them as soon as they come out of the oven. Use a spatula to push them back into a circle shape.
- Making The Glaze- If the glaze appears too watery, add more confectioners’ sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. If it appears too thick, add more water ¼ teaspoon at a time. You want the glaze thin enough to drizzle but thick enough to solidify on the cookies. Also, if you want it a darker pink, add another raspberry.
Recipe FAQs
You can make the dough balls ahead of time and then freeze them. If doing this, there is no need to freeze them again, prior to baking.
Most gluten free baked goods are best made the same day, but you can make these cookies a day before!
Unlike most gluten free cookies, they’re actually so soft they stay fresh for several days but they must be stored in the fridge. Just make sure the glaze has completely solidified prior to storing them.
Yes! You can use a small cookie scoop.
Bake the cookies at the same temperature but for 13-14 minutes. Reshape as needed. Should make around 22 cookies.
No. Unfortunately due to the nature of the eggless cookies, that doesn't usually work. For more cookies with fruit, you can check out my recipes for Lemon Blueberry Cookies, Strawberry Sugar Cookies or Blueberry Cookies.
Once the glaze has hardened, store the cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Do not leave them at room temperature as they get very wet due to the raspberries.
They're still soft when in the fridge but you can leave let them come to room temperature before eating if desired. I prefer to eat them cold! They're so refreshing that way!
Other Lemon and Raspberry Recipes You'll Love
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📖 Recipe
Lemon Raspberry Cookies
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 2 cups gluten free flour (I use a 1:1 gluten free flour with xanthan gum)
- 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter or vegan baking stick, room temperature
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- 2 heaping tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons water
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice (from about 1 medium lemon)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest (from about 2 medium lemons)
- ½ cup frozen raspberries , chopped
For the Lemon Sugar
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (from about 1 medium lemon)
For the Glaze
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1-2 frozen raspberries
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon water
Instructions
Make the Cookies
- Wash and dry all 3 lemons. Take a zester and zest all 3 lemons. Put the zest in a little bowl and cover with plastic wrap so it doesn't get crunchy. Set aside.
- Take one lemon, cut it in half and juice it. Make sure to remove any seeds if they get in the juice. Set aside. There should be about 2 tablespoons of juice. If there isn't enough, juice another lemon.
- Measure out ½ cup frozen raspberries. Rough chop the raspberries into small pieces. Be careful not to over chop; you don't want a puddle of raspberry pulp. Place the chopped raspberries into a freezer safe bowl and pop back into the freezer until you're ready to add them into the dough.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, using a spoon, mix together the 2 heaping tablespoons of cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of water until thin and watery. It will be thick and tacky at first.
- In a large bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter or vegan baking stick and 1 ¼ cups of the sugar until it is soft and creamy. About 2-3 minutes.
- Slowly beat the cornstarch water mixture, milk, 1 tablespoon of lemon zest and the 2 tablespoons of lemon juice into the creamed butter and sugar. It will look pale yellow and chunky.
- Slowly beat in the gluten free flour mixture a little at a time until just combined.
- Gently using a spatula, fold in the frozen chopped raspberries. The dough will become a lovely marbled pink color.
- Keep the dough in the bowl, cover the top with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 1 hour. You must not skip this step or the cookies will spread everywhere and it must be frozen, not in the fridge.
- After 1 hour, preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Take the dough out of the fridge. Using an ice cream scoop, or a large cookie scoop, scoop the dough out. You should have 11 scoops.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar and the remaining 1 teaspoon of lemon zest. Mix until completely combined.
- Roll each dough ball in the lemon sugar mixture to coat completely.
- Place dough balls about 3-4 inches apart on the parchment lined baking sheet. Bake the cookies at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-16 minutes.
- Store extra dough balls in the freezer while the rest are baking if they don't all fit. I only bake 6 at a time.
- Immediately reshape the cookies when they come out of the oven. Use a spatula to push them into a circle.Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 min before transferring to a cooling rack. If you don't do this, the cookies will break apart into a giant mess.If adding the glaze, let the cookies cool completely before adding it, otherwise the glaze will turn into a liquid mess.
Make the Glaze (If Desired)
- In a small bowl, whisk together the 1 cup of confectioners' sugar, 1 or 2 raspberries and the 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon water until combined and smooth.
- Drizzle the raspberry glaze on top of the cool cookies. If you drizzle it on warm cookies, the glaze with melt. Let the glaze harden. Sprinkle with more lemon zest if desired.
kellie barker
The nutrition value is per how many cookies?
Lee
It's for one cookie. They're very large cookies. For less calories per cookie, use a normal size cookie scoop instead of the large scoop that I use.
Lindsey
Delicious! I ended up not having any corn starch so I was forced to use an egg. I still put the mixture in the freezer and about halfway through baking I took them out, dipped a glass in sugar, and squashed the cookies down slightly so they were less dome-shaped. They turned out super moist and delicious and there was no extra spreading or reshaping after they were done.
Maria
I’m not GF, but I made these for my son’s wedding because his wife is. They were a huge hit with everyone. Now I make them fairly often even though I’m not GF. They taste EXACTLY the way they look. So beautiful!
Lee
So glad!!!! Thanks so much for sharing!
Trudy
Could I use frozen wild blueberries? Has anyone tried this? I have made with raspberries and they were great, it is 1 degree here today and I have frozen blueberries!
Lee
Hi! I have a separate recipe for Lemon Blueberry Cookies! Click that and it will take you to the recipe! I actually use frozen wild in the recipe but also explain how to make them with frozen regular blueberries. Hope you love them!
Nani Perez
I saved this cookie recipe post months ago the moment I saw it with the intent of making them for an annual girls Christmas cookie swap. I never had the chance to test the recipe, but the post made them look amazing!
I substituted 1 egg for ever 3 teaspoons of cornstarch and used regular flour. I was only able to freeze the dough for 30 minutes as I was behind schedule. The cookies turned out not only beautiful but delicious!!!! I had many friends compliment the recipe and I even shared the recipe on this blog with one. definitely worth the time and effort of zesting lemons (my first time!) and freezing cookie dough. I would recommend this for any event, any season.
Lee
Thank you so much!!! I am so glad it worked out well with an egg and AP flour! Thank you for taking the time to share with other readers!
Judi simecek
I made these and they are lovely. I somehow missed the milk entirely, but they were just a little dry without it. Probably better with it though. I think the zest of 2 lemons would have been plenty. But they were delicious and very pretty.
Jennie McMorrow
hi! I am about to make these tomorrow. do I need to use 1 cup of xantham gum per 1 cup of flour?
Lee
No no! Sorry for the confusion. The 1 to 1 is just the type of multipurpose gf flour I use. My flour already has xanthan gum in it. If your flour doesn't have xanthan gum in it, typically you add 1/4 teaspoon per 1 cup of gf flour. I hope this makes sense!
Kim
I am not a gluten-free baker, but I made these for a friend. Of course, I had to sample them! They are deliciously soft, with just the right amount of sweetness. They are also beautiful. I used a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop and it made 23 cookies. Baked for 15 minutes.
Emily
These cookies look lovely, and I'm planning to make them for an upcoming party! Unfortunately, I only have time to make these 2 days in advance. I notice that you said the cookies can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days. Do you have any recommendations on how to defrost/prepare the cookies to be eaten? I hope it would taste just as good as when freshly baked!
Lee
Hi Emily! I actually prefer to eat them cold from the fridge! They taste so refreshing that way! Just make sure when you store them in the fridge, you store them in a single layer once the glaze has hardened. Do not stack them on top of one another or the drizzle will get wet. Hope that makes sense!
Vanessa
Have you ever used a complete gluten free flour substitute like Cup4Cup instead of the flour plus xantham gum? If so do you see a difference or have a preference for one reason or another?
Lee
Hi Vanessa! I actually use cup4cup. I link it in the section entitled "Ingredient Notes" on this blog post. Cup4cup contains xanthan gum. Hope that makes sense.
Vanessa
Thank You! One more - I see where you say you can freeze the dough. Have you ever frozen the cookies after baking?
Nancy
These cookies are not only beautiful but they taste amazing . They were a big hit with my family.
Teresa Pors
Quick
Question.. does the glaze harden enough to be able to pack in individual cookie bags? I’d love to give them
Out to some of my clients
Lee
Yes! And I do recommend keeping them in the fridge as I mention in the FAQs under "storing". Hope this helps!
Teresa
Thanks so much Lee! These will be a winner at work for the team to take on the road during their work day x
Lisa
Love the sound of these cookies - lemon and raspberry - what more is there to life? I am not gluten free or vegan and wondered if it would be possible to make this with regular flour and add an egg or two to this to make it a regular recipe? Think it would work?
Lee
Hi Lisa! If you scroll up, I list how to make this recipe with AP flour. It's in the "notes" section of the recipe card and it is also in the section entitled, "substitutions and variations." Sadly I cannot test it due to celiac disease but some have made this recipe successfully with AP flour. Reading the comments may help because some people were kind enough to list what they did. As for eggs...sadly I cannot test this recipe with eggs due to my son's severe allergy. It actually took me years to try to mimic the texture of a cookie with eggs, so I am not truly sure what adding one would do. If you wanted to try, I would use packed cups of flour, no cornstarch water mixture, one egg and only 1.5 tablespoons of milk. Hope it works out! However, you may want to read through the comments. Some people made them with eggs. Sorry I can't be of more help!
Cara
Absolutely love this recipe. It’s easy & the cookies taste phenomenal! Tysm.
Lee
So glad! Thank you!!!
Lisa
I’ve made these incredible cookies twice, once as written and once with all purpose flour. The recipe process is a little different from traditional cookies, so I actually had to read it and follow the directions. They were awesome both times! The flavor combination is perfect and rolling them in the lemon sugar puts them over the top! Thanks for the perfect summer cookie recipe!
Kayla
What if I have to do something? Can they stay in the freezer longer than an hour?
Lee
Hi Kayla! Yes that should be fine! They may just have to bake a few minutes longer if they are rock hard. Hope that helps!
Felicity
This recipe is amazing!! Super easy instructions, and I actually ended up with 14 large cookies instead of 11 as a bonus. My whole family is obsessed, and I love how easy it is to substitute allergy free ingredients! Will definitely be making these again soon
Lee
So glad! Thank you so much!