Remember when I brought you those fabulous lovely lemon cookies a couple of years back? If you tried them, you know how good they were.
After I first published those cookies, I wanted to make you another cookie that just about anyone could enjoy so I combined my lemon cookies and almond flour sugar cookies into one glorious lemon-flavored sugar cookie packed with poppy seeds and topped with a sweet, zesty lemon glaze. GUYS, these paleo-friendly, gluten free lemon cookies are sooooo soft and chewy!
What more could you want? I mean, besides a cold glass of your favorite milk to pair with them. Or maybe even an afternoon latte?
Mmmm now we’re talkin’. Clearly, my favorite 3pm snack = cookies and coffee.
FREE Ultimate Guide to Cookie Baking
Sign up below and get a FREE printable e-book with my best tips & tricks for baking perfect cookies every time!
Join AK Cookie Week
Cookie Week 2023 is HERE! From 11/27 through 12/10:
- Make ANY Ambitious Kitchen cookie recipe from the blog
- Share a photo on Instagram (in-feed or stories) or in our Facebook Group with the hashtag #AKCookieWeek
- You’ll be entered to win this gorgeous vintage Cuisinart 50th Anniversary Edition Food Processor!
*If your Instagram profile is private, please share your photo in the Facebook Group so that we can see it!
What you’ll need to make the best gluten free lemon cookies
These delicious paleo lemon poppy seed cookies are made with a mix of almond & coconut flour and are bursting with delicious lemon flavor. Don’t forget that bright glaze! Here’s everything you’ll need to make them:
- Almond flour: these cookies call for blanched almond flour. There is no substitute in this recipe.
- Coconut flour: I like to use coconut flour in my paleo recipes, but if you aren’t paleo, gluten free oat flour is a good substitute most of the time.
- Baking soda: you’ll just need a pinch for this recipe.
- Coconut oil: I prefer to use virgin coconut oil in this recipe because it adds flavor, but melted butter or melted vegan butter is a great option!
- Sugar: granulated or organic cane sugar is best in this recipe. You can use coconut sugar, too, which is paleo-friendly. Note that it will change the color of the cookies to a golden brown hue and the flavor may slightly change a bit, but it will still be delightful.
- Egg: you’ll need one egg, and it’s best if the egg is at room temperature before you bake with it. These cookies work very well with a ‘flax egg’ if you want to make them vegan. More vegan notes can be found in the recipe note section!
- Fresh lemon zest and juice: for that true, fresh lemon flavor.
- Almond extract: a hint of almond extract (not vanilla extract!) brings out the incredible flavor in these lemon poppy seed cookies. Don’t skip it.
- Poppy seeds: You don’t need to include poppy seeds in this recipe, but I’m addicted to the flavor and texture it gives the cookies.
How to keep them paleo-friendly
If you’re looking for true paleo lemon cookies, feel free to use coconut sugar in the recipe and my paleo powdered sugar in the glaze. Easy!
How to make vegan lemon cookies
If you want to make these lemon poppy seed cookies vegan, simply use a ‘flax egg’ instead of a regular egg in the recipe (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal + 3 tablespoons water). I’ve tested them and they worked perfectly!
Can I use a different flour?
I would not recommend substituting the almond flour in this recipe as the texture will greatly change. However, you can try substituting the coconut flour for a gluten free oat flour if you’d like. Learn how to make your own oat flour here!
Looking to use regular, all purpose flour? Try these lemon cookies instead!
Tips for the best gluten free lemon cookies
The best part about these healthy lemon cookies? They’re easy to make right in one bowl! Here are some tips for making them:
- Don’t skip the parchment paper. To make sure the cookies don’t stick to the pan, use parchment paper on your baking sheet.
- Pack your almond flour. Be sure to pack the almond flour as you would with brown sugar. Do not pack the coconut flour.
- Use a room temperature egg. Simply run your egg under warm water for a minute before using it in the recipe.
- Fresh lemon juice is best. Make sure you use freshly squeezed lemon juice for this recipe. Do not use lemon concentrate, it’s too potent and sour.
- Don’t forget the lemon zest. The lemon zest is very important to flavoring these lemon poppyseed cookies. Here’s the inexpensive zester I recommend.
- Allow cookies to cool. Before you ice these cookies, make sure to let them cool completely on a cooling rack so that the icing doesn’t soak into the cookie. If you are in a rush and want to speed up the process you can put the cookie sheet in the freezer for 10-15 minutes after baking.
Storing & freezing tips
- To store: Simply store these healthy lemon poppy seed cookies in an airtight container at room temp for up to 5 days.
- Freeze the dough. Simply roll your grain free lemon cookies into dough balls and place them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Chill the dough in the freezer for 30 minutes. Once the cookie dough balls firm up, transfer them to a reusable freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, simply bake the cookies as directed. You’ll likely just need to add a few extra minutes of baking time!
- Freeze baked cookies. Wait for the cookies to cool completely, then transfer them to a reusable freezer-safe bag or container lined with wax or parchment paper. I like to place them in a single layer to avoid any cookies breaking. Cookies will keep well for up to 2 months. Once ready to eat, simply thaw out at room temperature, add the glaze and enjoy.
Recommended tools
More paleo friendly treats
- The Best Healthy Carrot Cake You’ll Ever Eat
- Grain Free Chocolate Orange Pinwheels
- Damn Good Paleo Chocolate Chunk Tahini Cookies
- Paleo Orange-Kissed Loaf with Dark Chocolate Glaze
- Salted Tahini Caramel Millionaire Bars (vegan + paleo)
Get all of our amazing, paleo friendly desserts here!
I hope you love these easy paleo lemon poppy seed cookies! If you make them be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe below. I’d love to hear from you and it helps encourage others to make the recipe too! Thank you — xo!
Paleo Lemon Poppy Seed Cookies
Ingredients
- For the wet ingredients:
- 1/4 cup melted and cooled coconut oil (or sub melted butter or vegan butter)
- 1/3 cup organic cane sugar (or sub coconut sugar)
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- 1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract⠀
- zest from 1 large lemon (about 1 tablespoon lemon zest)
- For the dry ingredients:
- 1 cup packed fine blanched almond flour
- 2 tablespoons coconut flour
- 1 tablespoon poppyseeds
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda⠀
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Optional for rolling the cookies:
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- For the lemon glaze:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar⠀
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, plus more if necessary to thin
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix together the wet ingredients: melted and cooled coconut oil, sugar, egg, fresh lemon juice, almond extract & lemon zest. Mix until smooth and combined.
- Add in the almond flour, coconut flour, poppyseeds, baking soda and salt. Stir to combine. Let dough sit for 5 minutes. Roll into 12 balls. If you want you can roll each ball in a bit of sugar. Place cookie dough balls 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Gently flatten slightly with your hand. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cool completely on baking sheet.
- Make the glaze by mixing together the powdered sugar, fresh lemon juice and lemon zest until smooth. place about a 1/2 tablespoon over each cookie. Enjoy! Makes 12 cookies
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on April 17th, 2019, republished on March 9th, 2021, and republished on April 23rd, 2023.
113 comments
Into these!!!
So good!! Hope you get a chance to try them 🙂
These look delicious! Making them stat!! The recipe calls for regular sugar – have you tried making them with coconut sugar or another alternative so that they truly are paleo-friendly? Thanks!
Yes coconut sugar will be fine! I made a note of it in the post 🙂 It will just make them a bit darker.
These look amazing and so easy to make! I can’t wait to try them out!
They are! Hope you love them 🙂
I adore cookies made with almond flour!!! and I’ve been loving all the lemon things lately 🙂
Perfect!! LOVE all things lemon 🙂
Can these be stored at room temperature, or do they need to be refrigerated? How long will they keep?
You can store them on the counter for 3-5 days.
Omg yum they are delicious!
Glad you love them!!
These were so easy to make and such a hit! Perfection the very first time I made them.
This will now be one of my go-to recipes. So happy I found you on Instagram!
Amazing! I’m glad you found me on IG, too 🙂 and hope you find some new go-to’s here!
They look good,but I am so tired of recipes calling for almond and coconut flour.I have been paleo,then switched to keto for a short bit and ended up with an allergy to both .Now,every time I ingest either one I break out in itchy hives and tiny pimples all over my body.I believe that overeating certain foods,especially nuts, over time will make people sensitive.
Hi Ann! Totally understand where you’re coming from. I do my best to create recipes with a variety of ingredients so that there’s something for everyone here. Coconut & almond flour are easy paleo options to bake with, but I try to include notes for alternatives that I think will work well. Everyone is different 🙂
Maybe cassava flour or tigernut flour would work instead of almond flour ?
I would not suggest replacing the almond flour, sorry!
These are amazing! They have the prefect amount of sweetness and are a nice light cookie
YUM! Made them with olive oil instead of coconut because I like the olive oil lemon combo and didn’t feel like measuring and melting coconut oil! These are perfect and fluffy.
Perfect! Such a great treat.
Monique! I think you and I are baking soul sisters 🙂 Your site is always my go to when wanting to make a healthier option for a baked good, and your savory (especially Mexican!) dishes are always loved in our home.
These cookies are amazing! Almost so light and fluffy I’d like to/could eat the entire cookie sheet. Thanks for the great recipes!
Amazing! So happy to hear that Megan 🙂 Love these ones. Hope you keep finding some baked goods you love!
Not exaggerating when I say these are my favorite cookies of all time. Burned the top of my mouth because I couldn’t wait for it to cool and I’m not even mad about it!!! Monique you’ve done it again. Thank you!!!
So happy you love them!! Perfect for spring 🙂 thanks for your note, Sarah!
I love your recipes and this one also sounds amazing. However I have a question though. I need to bake for someone who has nut allergies. Can I replace the almond flour with regular flour? Thanks!
Try this recipe instead! https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/lemon-cookies-with-lemon-glaze/
Delicious! My family and I already ate 5 while they were still warm! I subbed the flour with oat flour and baked for 13 minutes 😊
Delicious! I’m glad that swap worked out well 🙂
We’ve made these several times in the past week alone- my whole family loves them!!! One of our favorite recipes.
So happy to hear that!
Mine fell flat. What did I do from?!?
Wrong***
Hi! Did you follow the recipe exactly including all of the ingredients? Also is your baking soda fresh?
I’ve tried many of your paleo/gluten free cookie recipes and this is my favorite! I used flax egg just to conserve eggs, and I always substitute coconut sugar for stevia to make your recipes low carb. Held together amazingly, stayed soft on the inside. My husband and I ate the entire batch in 24hrs oops.
Perfect! I’m glad the flax egg works well in these!
10/10 definitely worth waiting for them to cool and glaze. Just whipped up a batch of these bad boys and that tart glaze is perfection. I used regular butter and the texture is excellent. Strong recommend.
Absolutely! So delicious!
THESE COOKIES ARE AMAZING! I made them last night and I only wish the recipe made more because they’ll be gone today. Highly recommend!
So happy you love them!!
holy wow these are incredible!! the glaze is perfect on top. im afraid i might eat them all right now
Such a great treat! Glad you love them 🙂
oh dang! You just made my night with these cookies. I had been craving lemon poppyseed muffins but these were even better than what my body had been wanting! Thank you very much.
Amazing! So glad you loved them!
How about if I want to freeze the cookies? Do I frost them with the frosting or without frosting?
I’d recommend freezing them without the frosting 🙂
Made these last night and they came out super flat. It’s my first time cooking with almond flour, so maybe I need to learn how to bake with it better. I refrigerated for 5 min but think I’ll need to keep it in the fridge longer next time?? It was hard to roll out into balls as it was quite goopy.
I will try again though because the flavour was soooo good! So richly lemony, perfect balance of sweetness and tartness which is exactly what I was looking for! Didn’t even need the frosting.
Update. I refrigerated the dough for 10min instead of 5min and rolled into balls without flattening and they came out perfect! I probably could’ve tapped it down a bit since it firmed up in the fridge better. This my new go to lemon poppyseed recipe, so good!
Perfect! So happy to hear that!
Perfect!!!
One of my favs!
These cookies are to die for! The flavor & texture is perfect, and they are easy to make! Definitely will be baking them again.
One of my favs, too!
Out of these sugars do you have a recommendation for this recipe?
1. Stevia baking sugar
2.Honey
3. Agave
I would recommend following the recipe as is to ensure success, but I think honey would also work okay!
This recipe is fabulous. Easy to make. I used Natural Almond flour from Bob’s Red Mill. I am not sure if the cookies are supposed to be soft or crunchy. I know you said not to substitute for the almond flour. But this is what I had at home during the pandemic. I also used brown sugar instead of white. May be this is why they were soft inside?
Anyway, I used a little less sugar than what it calls for, since I am watching my sugar intake. Overall, this is a repeat for me! Thanks.
They are supposed to be on the softer side but not overly soft 🙂 Glad you liked them!
These are delicious! I used a mixture of butter and coconut oil, and replaced the coconut flour with oat flour. Everything else was as per the recipe (although I wasn’t able to get a whole tbsp of zest out of my lemon). Mine turned out pretty thin / delicate, probably due to the flour substitution. The whole batch was gone within a day!
The flour swap is likely what made the cookies thin. I’m glad they were a hit regardless!
I was in the mood for something bright and sweet and these cookies hit the spot! I used coconut sugar and yes, they do come out a bit darker but it also adds a savoriness to them. I also substituted the powered sugar for arrowroot flour, which made for a super tart glaze – I personally loved it though. Would 10/10 make again.
I’m glad those worked out well! Such a great treat 🙂
Don’t usually make anything paleo but we love these! Great cookies and great icing
This is the perfect recipe to change up your cookies for a spring vibe and a lovely lemon flavor. I rolled the cookies in sugar and the lemon glaze is the perfect addition for a little extra tang! My only complaint is that there aren’t enough cookies from one batch so I will definitely be making another soon!
Absolutely! Great idea to roll them in sugar 🙂
What dreams are made of!!!! So, so good. Could eat the whole batch. The flax egg worked out perfectly! Can’t wait to make these for family and friends this spring! ❤️
Perfect! So glad you loved them!
Super easy and delicious!
Glad you enjoyed!
Delicious & fairly simple to make!
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
My daughter is allergic to wheat so I am always on the search for good baking recipes – this one will be a regular. Easy to make and delicious to eat.
I used Crisco Golden as the fat, regular sugar and flax eggs. I also used the glaze – maybe half of what was called for.
I’m glad that worked out well! Such a great treat.
These are simply amazing! I have my fair share of troubles when it comes to baking – I’m not the best! But my husband gave these a 10/10 and said they’re the best I’ve ever made! Refreshing but sweet and so full of flavor!
So happy to hear that!
Light, refreshing, perfect for Spring! These cookies were a delight and super easy with the one bowl mixing! Will definitely make them again!
These cookies are so good! Had to make a second batch because the family devoured them! Will definitely be making these often. Thanks for sharing!
The best! Glad they were a hit 🙂
I love anything lemon poppyseed so I just had to make these and they did not disappoint! So soft, moist, and delicious. I love them!
The best! Glad you loved them!
These were amazing. I made one batch that my husband and I devoured and then made a bunch to give away to friends for Easter. The texture is nice and chewy and the balance of sweet/zest/salt is spot on. This made it into my physical print-out recipe book.
Wondering how these would taste using lime juice and zest…has anyone tried?
So glad they were a hit! Yes, I’ve made these with lime juice and zest before and they are FABULOUS!
I absolutely loved these cookies and they will definitely become a staple in my house! They were easy to make and the flavor was delicious. I followed the recipe exactly and wouldn’t change a thing.
I’m so glad! Perfect treat 🙂
These cookies are amazing. They’re so moist with the right amount of lemon goodness. They were easy to make. I’ll definitely be making them again soon. 🤤 another AK hit.
So glad you loved them!
These cookies are perfect! I made them for my mom who has dietary restrictions for Mother’s Day. I didn’t have coconut flour so substituted an all purpose GF baking flour. They spread a bit more than the photos but not too much. They’re delicious!
I’m glad they still worked out! Perfect treat 🙂
Love these. So soft and tasty. Made them 3 times in last 2 weeks.
Love that! Perfect treat 🙂
Have you substituted monkfruit in this recipe? Or turbinado?
I haven’t tried it! Let me know if you do 🙂
I used the Zero sugar erythritol, and the cookies turned out fine. Since it was the first time I’ve made them, I don’t know how they would compare. I had super-fine almond flour, but not blanched, so the color is darker than I imagine they would be otherwise. I will make them again, and I think I will use butter next time, rather than the coconut oil. I didn’t use the glaze, as these are plenty sweet enough for me. Thanks for an easy, tasty, and healthy recipe!
So glad that all worked out, Ann! 🙂 Can’t wait for you to make them again soon!
These are excellent! So quick and easy and with a simple ingredient list (I did use coconut sugar).
They are perfectly sweet even though I skipped the sugar rolling and glaze.
This will definitely be one of my new go-to recipes!
Yay! I’m so happy you loved these! Can’t wait for you to make them again and again 🙂
These are so soft and delicious
These are the best! I used monk fruit sweetener instead of the sugar and they are so good and low sugar/keto friendly 🙂
So glad that that worked out and that you loved them, Nicki!
I am not a baker, mostly because I always worry about burning or messing things up. I love to cook! That being said, these are AMAZING and I am excited to try more of Monique’s recipes. These cookies are amazing. I love chocolate but I don’t miss chocolate when I eat these. My dad almost never eats sweets and he ate 3! I will definitely be making this recipe many times and share with anyone who will listen to me.
Aw thank you, I’m so glad these turned out amazing!! Can’t wait for you to try more 🙂
Can you sub maple syrup for the sugar? They sound delish! Thanks!
I wouldn’t recommend that because it would make the dough too moist, sorry! You can definitely use coconut sugar, though 🙂
Love these little cookies! Used coconut sugar and really liked that deep molasses-y flavor. Do NOT skip the glaze! The cookies themselves are not super sweet so they can handle the little extra sugar from the glaze, plus it packs a gorgeous punch of extra lemon flavor.
Hey Monique
Tasty but some how found the mixture to be a bit loose so had to add 2 tbsp of Oat flour just to hold it together! Is that normal ?
Hello! Hmmm I haven’t had that happen. Did you pack your coconut flour into the tablespoon measure? And is there anything you changed about the recipe?
Just made these cookies as part of my Holiday Baking & they are delicious! Tripled the recipe (safe bet – Monique always has delicious recipe’s!), & used my 1″ cookie scoop to make the balls. Ended up with over 50 (so ~16/batch). Half are in freezer to bake later. Thank you for such a delicious gluten free recipe!
Yum, yum, YUM!! I could have eaten all the dough before baking! So delicious, just the right sweetness balanced with just the right amount of lemon tart. Will absolutely be making these over and over again!
I made these for a bridal shower. Followed all directions except used flax eggs to make it vegan. They were a HIT! I got soooo many compliments. Thank you!!
(I left a comment but forgot to put a rating with it. Here’s your 5 stars!!)
Do you think replacing the coconut flour with almond flour would work. I don’t have any coconut flour in the pantry but lots of almond flour.
thank you
I don’t recommend subbing the flour in this recipe.
I made this with a chia seed egg and they came out wonderfully! Perfectly chew and tart.
Oh, awesome!! Glad that worked well. Thanks!