10 Simple Springtime Cookies

Spring is in the air, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with fresh, seasonal cookies that capture the essence of the season.

From bright citrus flavors to floral hints and pastel colors, these delicious springtime cookies are perfect for everything from Easter gatherings to afternoon tea in the garden.

1. Lemon Sugar Cookies

These bright, tangy cookies bring sunshine to any spring day. The light, buttery base gets a zingy punch from fresh lemon zest, while the simple glaze adds just the right amount of sweetness to balance the citrus.

Ingredients:

• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1½ cups granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• For glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar and 2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Recipe Instructions:

1. Mix butter and sugar until fluffy, then add egg, vanilla, and lemon zest
2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt separately, then gradually mix into wet ingredients
3. Chill dough for 1 hour
4. Roll into balls, flatten slightly, and bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes
5. While warm, brush with glaze made from lemon juice and powdered sugar

2. Fresh Strawberry Shortbread

Buttery, crumbly shortbread cookies studded with bits of fresh strawberries create a delightful spring treat. The natural sweetness of the berries shines through in every bite.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup finely diced fresh strawberries, patted dry
• Additional granulated sugar for sprinkling

Recipe Instructions:

1. Cream butter and sugar, then mix in vanilla and finely diced fresh strawberries
2. Gradually add flour and salt until just combined
3. Form into a log, wrap in parchment, and chill for 2 hours
4. Slice into rounds and bake at 325°F for 12-15 minutes
5. Cool completely on a wire rack before serving

3. Honey Lavender Cookies

These delicate cookies offer a subtle floral note that’s perfect for spring. The honey adds natural sweetness while complementing the gentle lavender flavor.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon dried culinary lavender
• 2 tablespoons honey
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Recipe Instructions:

1. Steep 1 tablespoon of dried culinary lavender in 2 tablespoons of hot honey for 30 minutes, then strain
2. Cream butter and sugar, then add egg, infused honey, and vanilla
3. Mix in flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined
4. Chill dough for 30 minutes
5. Roll into balls, press down slightly, and bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes

4. Carrot Cake Cookies

These cookies capture all the flavors of traditional carrot cake in a handheld treat. Moist, spiced cookie bases topped with cream cheese frosting make these perfect for spring celebrations.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ginger
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup finely grated carrots
• ½ cup chopped walnuts
• For frosting: 4 oz cream cheese, ½ cup powdered sugar, splash of vanilla

Recipe Instructions:

1. Beat butter and both sugars, then add egg and vanilla
2. Mix in dry ingredients, then fold in carrots and walnuts
3. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons onto baking sheets
4. Bake at 350°F for 12-14 minutes until edges are golden
5. Cool completely before topping with cream cheese frosting

5. Flower Icing Sugar Cookies

These cheerful flower-shaped cookies bring the garden to your dessert plate. The crisp sugar cookie base provides the perfect canvas for colorful royal icing decorations, allowing you to create a bouquet of spring blooms in whatever colors you fancy.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon almond extract (optional)

For the royal icing:

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons meringue powder
• 5-6 tablespoons warm water
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (clear if possible)
• Gel food coloring in spring colors (pink, yellow, purple, etc.)

Recipe Instructions:

1. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then beat in egg and extracts
2. Gradually add dry ingredients until just combined
3. Divide dough in half, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 2 hours
4. Roll dough to ¼-inch thickness and cut with flower-shaped cookie cutters
5. Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes until edges are barely golden
6. Cool completely, then decorate with royal icing in various colors, using different piping techniques to create flower details

6. Butterfly Sugar Cookies

These charming cut-out cookies capture the whimsy of spring with their delicate butterfly shapes and colorful decorations. They’re perfect for garden parties or spring celebrations.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• For icing: 2 cups powdered sugar, 2-3 tablespoons milk, ½ teaspoon vanilla, food coloring

Recipe Instructions:

1. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then add egg and vanilla
2. Gradually mix in dry ingredients until just combined
3. Chill dough for at least 1 hour
4. Roll out to ¼-inch thickness and cut with butterfly cookie cutters
5. Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, then cool completely before decorating with colored icing

7. Blueberry Lemon Thumbprints

Classic thumbprint cookies get a spring makeover with bright lemon-flavored dough and sweet blueberry filling. The combination of tart and sweet makes these irresistible.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• ⅔ cup granulated sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup high-quality blueberry jam

Recipe Instructions:

1. Cream butter and sugar, then beat in egg yolks, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla
2. Mix in flour and salt until dough forms
3. Roll into 1-inch balls and place on baking sheets
4. Press thumb into center of each cookie to create a depression
5. Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes, then fill indentations with blueberry jam while still warm

8. Orange Blossom Snickerdoodles

These cookies take the classic cinnamon-sugar favorite and add a springtime twist with orange zest and a hint of orange blossom water for a subtle floral note.

Ingredients:

• 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1⅓ cups granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon orange zest
• ½ teaspoon orange blossom water (optional)
• For rolling: ¼ cup sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon cinnamon

Recipe Instructions:

1. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs, orange zest, and orange blossom water
2. Mix in dry ingredients until combined
3. Chill dough for 30 minutes
4. Roll into balls, then coat in cinnamon-sugar mixture
5. Bake at 375°F for 8-10 minutes until cookies are set but still soft in center

9. Pistachio Drop Cookies

These easy drop cookies have a lovely light green color perfect for spring. The chopped pistachios add wonderful texture and flavor to these simple treats.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 (3.4 oz) package instant pistachio pudding mix
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped pistachios
• Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)

Recipe Instructions:

1. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy, then mix in pudding mix
2. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla
3. Gradually add dry ingredients, then fold in chopped pistachios
4. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto baking sheets
5. Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes, then dust with powdered sugar if desired

10. Raspberry-Almond Sandwich Cookies

Delicate almond-flavored cookies sandwich a layer of vibrant raspberry jam for an elegant spring treat that’s surprisingly simple to make.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• ⅔ cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• ½ cup seedless raspberry jam
• ¼ cup powdered sugar for dusting

Recipe Instructions:

Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, cool completely, then sandwich with jam and dust tops with powdered sugar Spring is in the air, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with fresh, seasonal cookies that capture the essence of the season. From bright citrus flavors to floral hints and pastel colors, these 10 simple springtime cookies are perfect for everything from Easter gatherings to afternoon tea in the garden.

Cream butter and sugar, then add egg and almond extract

Mix in flour and salt until dough forms

Chill dough for at least 1 hour

Roll out to ⅛-inch thickness and cut with 2-inch round cookie cutters

Recipe Instructions:

1. Mix butter and sugar until fluffy, then add egg, vanilla, and lemon zest
2. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt separately, then gradually mix into wet ingredients
3. Chill dough for 1 hour
4. Roll into balls, flatten slightly, and bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes
5. While warm, brush with glaze made from lemon juice and powdered sugar