These soft lemon biscuits are the perfect balance of zesty citrus flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture. They’re great for tea time, brunch, or as a delightful dessert. Follow this easy recipe to make a batch of biscuits that will brighten anyone’s day.
Ingredients
For the Biscuits:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup buttermilk (or regular milk with 1 tsp lemon juice, let sit for 5 minutes)
- Zest of 2 lemons
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Lemon Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
1. Prepare the Dough
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the chilled butter to the flour mixture. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to work the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, egg, buttermilk, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing just until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix.
2. Shape the Biscuits
- Turn the dough onto a floured surface and gently pat it into a 1-inch-thick rectangle.
- Use a biscuit cutter or a round glass to cut out biscuits and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Re-roll scraps to cut out more biscuits, but handle the dough gently to avoid overworking it.
3. Bake
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12–15 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden.
- Remove from the oven and let the biscuits cool slightly on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack.
4. Make the Lemon Glaze
- In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest until smooth.
- Adjust the consistency as needed by adding more lemon juice for a thinner glaze or more powdered sugar for a thicker glaze.
5. Glaze the Biscuits
- Once the biscuits have cooled, drizzle the lemon glaze over the top or dip the tops of the biscuits into the glaze for a more even coating.
- Let the glaze set for a few minutes before serving.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy these soft lemon biscuits fresh with a cup of tea or coffee. They’re also delicious as a light dessert after dinner.
Storage
Store the biscuits in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze unglazed biscuits for up to 3 months and glaze them after thawing.
These bright and tangy biscuits are sure to become a favorite in your baking repertoire!
