Soft Lemon Cookies & Creepy Manga: A Cozy Chaos Pairing

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What do you do when you’re craving something sweet and unsettling at the same time? You bake lemon cookies… and read Ibitsu while they’re in the oven, obviously.

These lemon cookies are soft, buttery, just the right amount of tart, and weirdly comforting; kind of the opposite of the manga I read while baking them. (Ibitsu is creepy. It’s weird. I love it.) But honestly? It made for a perfect afternoon of cozy chaos in the kitchen.

And yes, I took photos of the whole baking process and propped the manga up next to the finished cookies like it’s the star of a cooking show.

So if you’re looking for an easy baking project that smells like summer and pairs well with manga girls who maybe want to murder you… this is it.

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Soft Lemon Cookies Recipe:

Makes about 24 cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

• ½ tsp baking powder

• ¼ tsp baking soda

• ¼ tsp salt

• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 egg

• 1.5 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 tbsp lemon zest

• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

• Optional: ¼ cup sugar for rolling

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 mins).

4. Beat in the egg, vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice until smooth.

5. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet and mix until combined.

6. Roll dough into tablespoon-sized balls. Roll in sugar if desired.

7. Place on the baking sheet 2 inches apart.

8. Bake for 8–10 minutes. Edges should be lightly golden; centers soft.

9. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack.

Reading While Baking:

I flipped through Ibitsu while the cookies were in the oven. The juxtaposition of pastel lemon cookies and dark horror manga was chef’s kiss. (No spoilers, but if you enjoy chaotic creepy girls, give it a try.)

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Here is the step-by-step with photos and commentary!

I didn’t include them in the recipe above because I know how annoying it can be if that’s all you came here for. lol!

Soft Lemon Cookies Recipe:

Makes about 24 cookies (Mine made more, but I’m terrible at sizing the cookies perfectly. lol)

Ingredients:

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

• ½ tsp baking powder

• ¼ tsp baking soda

• ¼ tsp salt

• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened (Don’t forget like I did. Makes it 10x harder lol)

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 1 egg

• 1.5 tsp vanilla extract (I used imitation because I’m on a budget $)

• 2 tbsp lemon zest

• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

• Optional: ¼ cup sugar for rolling

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 mins).

4. Beat in the egg, vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice until smooth. Ignore the splatter on my Keurig. I live in an apartment and have limited space. lol

5. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet and mix until combined.

6. Roll dough into tablespoon-sized balls. Roll in sugar if desired.

7. Place on the baking sheet 2 inches apart.

8. Bake for 8–10 minutes. Edges should be lightly golden; centers soft.

Step 8.5.. Catch up on your reading while you’re waiting on them to bake! I’m currently reading Ibitsu.

9. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack.

Pin this for later. Bake this immediately. Avoid creepy girls in frilly dresses.

Discover more moody manga picks that pair perfectly with your favorite treats.