Lemon Cookies

When you hear Levain, you probably picture rich, chocolatey cookies. And you’re not wrong. But for spring, they do something different: Lemon. This zesty, citrusy cookie has a soft, sweet dough sprinkled with tart yet mellow lemon chips. Delightful and golden, this cookie is a match for sunny days and a bright spot during rainy spring moments.

Levain Bakery founders Pam Weekes and Connie MacDonald didn’t plan on creating one of the most popular and influential cookies the world has ever seen – but they did! When they opened their tiny bakery on New York’s Upper West Side back in 1995, they initially intended on only selling fresh-baked breads. But when they decided to whip up a batch of giant chocolate chip walnut cookies, a phenomenon was born. “The cookie,” as it came to be known, soon took on a life of its own. Crowds began to line up for a taste, and the buzz hasn’t died down since.