Lemon Sugar

This luscious Lemon Sugar is the perfect addition to cocktails, cookies, cakes and so much more. Infuse sugar with the tart flavors of lemon for a lovely, simple and elegant garnish.

A small glass jar filled with coarse bath salts, placed on a white surface with a golden spoon and a lemon in the background.

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About this Lemon Sugar recipe

Whether you’re baking some cupcakes and cookies, or making a lemon drop martini, this easy lemon sugar is the perfect addition. The light citrus flavor paired with sugary sweetness is oh so tasty!

Fruity sugar always adds a little something special to your cocktails and baked goods. I mean, strawberry sugar on the rim of a strawberry margarita is just to die for. And this citrus sugar on a lemon cocktail, like limoncello, is absolutely delicious.

The best thing about lemon sugar is how easy it is to make! It just takes two ingredients and a couple minutes of prep time to throw it together. Who knew that something so simple would elevate your desserts and cocktails so much?!

Grab those bright and citrusy lemons and make sure you have plenty of sugar on hand. Because once you make one batch of this lemon sugar, you won’t be able to stop. It’s just too tasty!

More garnish recipes: Lavender SugarCinnamon SugarMargarita Salt

A small clear jar filled with coarse lemon salt sits open with a gold spoon inside. Two whole lemons are placed nearby on a white surface.

Why you’ll love this recipe

What’s not to love about a simple, homemade recipe like this one:

  • Homemade lemon sugar makes for a very sweet (and a bit tart) gift! I love to tie a pretty ribbon around a fresh jar of lemon sugar and add a recipe to a gift tag that uses the sugar.
  • The fresh lemon flavor of this sugar elevates any cocktail or sweet treat. It’s truly the perfect finishing touch.
  • Anyone can make this! As long as you know how to zest a lemon, then you’re set to make the best lemon sugar ever.

Tools & equipment

You only need a few basic kitchen tools to make lemon sugar. As long as you’ve got a zester, a measuring cup, a bowl and a spoon then you’re good to go. You’ll also need an airtight container to store the lemon sugar.

If you don’t want the rest of the lemon to go waste, then make sure you’ve got a juicer to make fresh lemon juice!

A lemon, a bowl of lemon zest, and a tablespoon of sugar are arranged on a white marble surface. The items are labeled: lemon, lemon zest, and sugar.

Ingredients

Yes, you really only need two ingredients to make this amazing lemon sugar! It’s super simple and so very flavorful:

  • lemon zest: Use any kind of fresh lemon you want! You can actually use this exact same method with different citrus fruits. It’s great for grapefruit or oranges, and I use the same method with limes for my margarita sugar.
  • granulated white sugar: Both coarse and fine sugar will work in this recipe. Chose whichever you like best, or just whatever you have on hand!

Instructions

Make lemon sugar in just a few basic steps. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

Using a microplane zester, finely zest the lemon peel. Avoid the bitter white pith and try to just get the yellow zest on the outer edges.

A hand with red nail polish uses a zester to grate the peel of a lemon over a small glass bowl.
A small clear glass bowl containing a small amount of grated orange zest on a white surface.

Add the granulated sugar and lemon zest to a medium mixing bowl. Then use your fingers to rub the sugar granules into the lemon zest until fully combined and no clumps of lemon zest remain.

A whole lemon next to a clear bowl containing lemon zest and granulated sugar on a white surface.
A hand with red nail polish mixing a yellow and white powdery substance in a clear glass bowl on a white surface.

Store the mixture in a food-safe, airtight container. Use within 12 months if stored in a cool, dry place.

A clear glass bowl containing a mixture of grated or shredded yellow and white ingredients, placed on a white surface.
A jar of lemon powder with a gold spoon inside, placed on a white surface, with a cut lemon partially visible in the background.

Tips & tricks

Check out these tips so that your lemon sugar is extra tasty:

  • Make sure to only get the yellow part of the lemon peel when zesting. The white pith is really bitter and could effect the flavor of your lemon sugar.
  • Give your lemon sugar a taste test once you mix it up. If it needs more of that citrusy bite, add extra zest. You can also add more sugar if it has too much citrus flavor.
  • It is really important to store your lemon sugar in an airtight container so that it lasts! Keep it in a cool, dry place if you don’t plan to use it quickly.
A lemon martini in a glass with a slice of lemon.

How to use Lemon Sugar

There are endless uses for lemon sugar! Personally, it is one of my favorite garnishes on the rim of my cocktail glasses for certain drinks, but it’s also great in baking.

Drinks: It’s traditionally used on a lemon drop martini, but you could jazz up your homemade lemonade or lemon champagne punch with it too.

It’d be so tasty on an Italian margarita or lemon mojito too. Really, use it as a garnish on any lemon beverage! If you’ve never added sugar to a glass, then check out my post on how to rim a glass.

Dessert garnish: Don’t forget the baked goods. From sprinkling the citrusy sugar on top of champagne cupcakes and lemon drop cookies to coating chewy sugar cookies and donuts in this bright mixture, it’s a tasty addition to many different recipes.

Baking: You can also use it in in lieu of sugar in all kinds of recipes. Try it in thin pancakes, puffy madeleines or decadent iced lemon pound cake for an even stronger lemon flavor.

A hand with red nail polish dips the rim of a glass into a plate of coarse sugar on a black plate.

FAQ

What is the shelf life of lemon sugar?

When properly stored in an airtight container, lemon sugar will last for about 12 months. Store in a cool, dry place and ensure that no moisture gets into the storage container.

Can you eat lemon zest?

Absolutely! When mixed with something like sugar, it adds a wonderful citrus flavor to many different recipes. It’s perfectly safe to eat lemon zest.

A small clear jar filled with coarse lemon salt sits open with a gold spoon inside. Two whole lemons are placed nearby on a white surface.

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A small clear jar filled with coarse lemon salt sits open with a gold spoon inside. Two whole lemons are placed nearby on a white surface.

Lemon Sugar

Yield: 4 tablespoons
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Easy lemon sugar will be your new bar cart and baking staple! This simple recipe is the best way to add bright and citrusy flavor to any recipe.
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ingredients

instructions

  • Finely zest the lemon. Avoid the bitter white pith and try to just get the yellow zest on the outer edges.
  • Add sugar and lemon zest to a medium bowl. Use your fingers to rub the sugar granules into the lemon zest until fully combined and no clumps of lemon zest remain.
  • Store in an food-safe, airtight container. Use within 12 months if stored in a cool, dry place.

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nutrition information

Yield: 4 tablespoons

amount per serving:

Serving: 1tablespoon Calories: 49kcal Carbohydrates: 13g Protein: 0.02g Fat: 0.04g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.003g Sodium: 0.2mg Potassium: 3mg Fiber: 0.2g Sugar: 13g Vitamin A: 1IU Vitamin C: 2mg Calcium: 2mg Iron: 0.02mg
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