This copycat Girl Scout Lemonades recipe replicates the flavor and texture of the treat with its crispy lemon cookie and tangy lemon-flavored icing. The name of the cookie says all you need to know about what these delicious cookies taste like.
Nearly everyone has their favorite among all of the Girl Scout cookie flavors but I do struggle to pick just one to call their best cookie! Come Girl Scout cookie season, I am just as happy to snack on Peanut Butter Patties or Caramel deLites as I am a Raspberry Rally or a few Lemon Ups.
However, I have to say that Lemonades are definitely towards the top of my best Girl Scout cookie list. The base of the cookies is a shortbread with a rich buttery taste while the sweet glaze is full of bright real lemon flavor.
If you like buttery cookies and adore the citrusy flavor, these may become your new favorite. And if you don’t have a local girl scout council near you selling boxes of cookies at your local grocery stores (or if they, rightfully, sold out of them), you can turn to this recipe to get your lemon girl scout cookies fix.
Common Questions about Copycat Girl Scout Lemonades
What is the difference between Girl Scout Lemonades and Lemon-Ups?
Girl Scout Lemonades have slightly less tangy lemon flavor while the Lemon-Ups have a bolder flavor similar to the Savannah Smiles cookies.
What is the most sold Girl Scout Cookie?
Despite that their recipe and overall taste and texture may differ depending on where you live in the United States (since two different bakeries produce them), Thin Mints are still the most sold.
What are the Lemonades Girl Scout Cookies?
The lemony cookies have a base of shortbread and tangy, bright lemon icing.
Making Girl Scout Lemonades Ahead of Time
You can make the cookie dough ahead of time and refrigerate it until you are ready to bake it.
Storage
These shortbread cookies can be stored on the countertop in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Refrigerator: Store the lemonade cookies in the refrigerator for up to 10 days in a Ziploc bag or airtight container.
Freezing: Homemade Lemonades will last in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Tips For The Best Copycat Girl Scout Lemonades
We have just a few tips for how to get the best results when making Lemonades.
- Make sure not to overmix so that the cookies are not too dense.
- Add food dye in increments to get the right shade.
- Leave even amounts of space in between the cookies when baking.
Ingredients
Be sure that the butter is softened and all ingredients are at room temperature so that the ingredients mix together easily.
Cookies
- Butter (unsalted)
- Granulated sugar (white sugar)
- Salt
- Large egg
- Lemon juice
- All-purpose flour
Lemon Glaze
- Confectioner’s sugar
- Lemon juice
- Yellow food dye
Kitchen Supplies You’ll Need
All you need are the standard supplies you’d use when baking many other shortbread-style cookies.
- Cookie sheets
- Large mixing bowl
- Stand mixer with a paddle attachment or electric hand mixer
- Measuring cups
- Rolling pin
- Circle cookie cutters
- Paring Knife
- Whisk
How to Make Copycat Girl Scout Lemonades
These pretty cookies let you utilize your artsy side.
Cookies
- Mix together the butter, sugar, and salt in a large bowl of a stand mixer.
- Add the lemon juice and egg to the mixture until they are just combined.
- Pour the flour into the egg mixture and combine until the dough forms.
- Using a rolling pin, roll out the cookie dough.
- Use the cookie cutter to cut out circles and place circles on the prepared cookie sheet.
- Roll the dough out again and continue to cut out cookies. Repeat the process until the dough has been used.
- Use a paring knife and a small cookie cutter to create the image of a lemon on top.
- Bake the cookies for the recommended time — bottoms should be a light golden brown.
Glaze
- While waiting for the cookies to bake, prepare the glaze by combining powdered sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl.
- Whisk them together until it is smooth and slightly thick.
- Stir in the yellow food dye.
Decorate
- Allow the cookies to cool to room temperature before decorating them with the glaze.
- Carefully dip the bottom side of each cookie into the glaze to coat.
- After any excess glaze drips off of the cookie, please return it to the parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- Allow the glaze to harden before serving or storing.
What to Serve With Girl Scout Lemonades
These bright and tangy treats deserve a quality pairing.
- Tea – Iced or hot tea, whether black tea or a fruity herbal variety, is a great accompaniment to these cookies.
- Milk – Milk is always a great sidekick for cookies. You can also choose your favorite alternative milk.
- Whipped cream – Dip these cookies into just a little bit of whipped cream.
- Ice cream – Use the cookies as a garnish for a bowl of bright white vanilla ice cream or make pretty ice cream sandwiches.
- Pudding – Turn it into a sandwich cookie by spooning your favorite flavor of pudding in between two of them.
Why You Should Make These Copycat Cookies
If you are a fan of lemon, you’re going to love these Lemonades with their slightly citrusy cookie and tangy lemon icing.
- Pretty – These decorative lemon cookies are a pretty addition to any table.
- Versatile – Adults and kids alike enjoy these tasty cookies and they’re just as perfect at a casual cookout as they are a birthday party or tea party.
- Refreshing – Their bright, citrusy flavor is a departure from richer cookie styles.
Variations and Add-ins
Since these are a copycat recipe we don’t recommend too many changes in order to maintain the flavor and style of the cookie but there are a few things you can do.
- Lime – Instead of lemon flavor, make this cookie lime-themed by replacing the lemon juice with lime juice and using green food coloring instead of lemon.
- Shape and size – Change up the shape or size by using different cookie cutters. You can also carve the tops differently to make a flower shape.
- Zest – For more citrusy flavor add a touch of lemon zest to the cookie dough.
- Sugar – If you’re looking to make these with less sugar, you can use your favorite sugar alternative.
- Lower carb – If you want to make a lower-carb or gluten-free cookie, replace the flour with your favorite alternative.
If you love this Copycat Girl Scout Lemonades recipe, you’re going to love these other copycat recipes too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
Other Creative Cookies
Copycat DoubleTree Hotel Cookies
Lofthouse Sugar Cookies – Copycat Recipe
Tagalong Cookies – Girl Scout Copycat
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Girl Scout Cookies Lemonades – Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
Cookies
- ½ cup butter unsalted – softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Lemon Glaze
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- yellow food dye
Instructions
Cookies
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl blend together the butter, sugar, and salt – mixing until well combined.
- Add the egg and lemon juice to the mixture and mix just until the ingredients are incorporated.
- Measure the flour into the bowl and mix together until a dough forms. It shouldn’t be super stiff, but also should not be sticky at all. If it is, you can add an extra ¼ cup of flour.
- Roll out the cookie dough on a clean lightly-floured surface to about ½ inch thick slab.
- Take your circle cookie cutter and cut out as many circles as you can.
- Place the cut-out dough on the prepared baking sheet.
- Repeat the rolling out process to finish cutting out the rest of the cookies.
- Create a lemon cookie imprint on top using a paring knife and smaller cookie cutter. Create an additional inner circle by pressing the smaller cookie cutter into the dough circles about ¼ inch deep.
- Create the lemon wheel look with a paring knife by creating a vertical line straight in the center of each uncooked cookie, then a diagonal line ⅓ of the way to the left of the vertical line and another ⅓ way to the right of the vertical line.
- Lastly, create little slits within each of the 6 triangles close to the center of the lemon cookie to recreate the look of lemon seeds.
- Bake in the oven for 17-20 minutes or until the bottoms have slightly browned.
Glaze
- While the cookies are baking, whisk together the confectioner’s sugar and lemon juice in a small mixing bowl until a slightly thick glaze is formed.
- Add a few drops of yellow food dye and stir.
- Once the cookies have been removed from the oven, let them cool for about 10 minutes before decorating.
Decorate
- Dip the bottom of each lemon cookie into the lemon glaze, coating the lower half of the cookie completely.
- Let the excess glaze drip off and place it back onto the parchment paper.
- Let the glaze harden on the cookie for about 30 minutes.
Notes
Equipment
- Whisk/Hand Mixer
- 9×11 Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- 2 Circle Cookie Cutters (1 smaller and 1 bigger)
Nutrition
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
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