Step 1: Preheat and Prepare

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This ensures that the cookies won’t stick and bake evenly.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

Step 2: Make the Cookie Dough

3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This will take about 3-4 minutes. The butter should be soft but not melted, so make sure it’s at room temperature.
4. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract (if using) to the butter mixture. Beat until fully combined. The lemon zest will give the dough a wonderful aroma, and the lemon juice adds the right amount of tang.
5. Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. You want the dough to be thick but pliable. If the dough feels too sticky, add a little milk (start with 1 tablespoon) to help bring it together.
6. Chill the Dough: For best results, chill the dough in the fridge for at least 15 minutes before baking. Chilling helps the cookies maintain their shape while baking and prevents them from spreading too much.

Step 3: Shape the Cookies

7. Form the Cookies: Scoop out tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading. Press each ball down lightly with the back of a spoon or your fingers to flatten them slightly.
8. Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers are set. These cookies will continue to firm up a bit as they cool, so be careful not to over-bake them. The cookies should have a light, golden brown edge and a slightly soft center.

Step 4: Make the Glaze

9. Prepare the Glaze: While the cookies are cooling, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest until smooth. If the glaze is too thick, add a tablespoon of milk to thin it out to your desired consistency. The glaze should be smooth and pourable but not too runny.

Step 5: Glaze the Cookies

10. Cool the Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling the cookies before glazing helps prevent the glaze from melting too much.
11. Glaze the Cookies: Once the cookies are completely cool, drizzle or spoon the glaze over the top of each cookie. You can cover the cookies completely or just drizzle a little bit for a decorative touch. Allow the glaze to set for about 10 minutes before serving or storing the cookies.

Optional Garnish:

• Sprinkles: Add colorful sprinkles or sanding sugar on top of the glaze for a festive look.
• Extra Lemon Zest: For an added burst of flavor, top the cookies with a little extra fresh lemon zest.