Making lemon sugar cookies is a fun and straightforward process. Follow these steps for guaranteed success:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Add Egg and Flavorings: Add the egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Beat until well combined.
5. Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not over-mix.
6. Chill Dough (Optional): For thicker cookies, chill the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. This helps the cookies maintain their shape while baking.
7. Shape Cookies: Using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon, portion out the dough. Roll them into balls and coat each ball lightly in granulated sugar if desired.
8. Bake: Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spaced about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
9. Cool: Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Glaze (Optional): Once cooled, you can create a simple glaze with powdered sugar and lemon juice for extra sweetness and shine.

With these clear instructions, you’ll have delicious lemon sugar cookies ready to enjoy in no time!