Lemon Cookie Bars – The Nation Cook dinner

June 18, 2026

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Lemon Cookie Bars are mushy selfmade lemon cookie bars topped with a candy lemon glaze for a simple dessert filled with shiny lemon citrus taste!

A Citrus Packed Summer time Dessert

I believe these Lemon Cookie Bars have develop into certainly one of my new favourite issues to make in the summertime. I’m a HUGE lemon lover. It’s in all probability certainly one of my favourite dessert flavors. This recipe packs huge lemon taste into one little sq. of sweetness. Solely make this in the event you love lemon like I do! Did I point out how mushy they’re too? They all the time fly off the dessert desk!

A small stack of Lemon Cookie Bars with the top one missing a bite.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions:

What different toppings can I take advantage of?

Different toppings that may be good embrace lemon buttercream or lemon cream cheese frosting. You may additionally make these with out the icing and simply mud them with powdered sugar.

Can I make these much more lemon flavored?

Completely. You’ll be able to exchange the milk within the topping with further lemon juice and add extra lemon zest for a stronger lemon taste.

Why are my bars dry?

Overbaking could make the cookie bars dry as a substitute of sentimental and tender. Pull them from the oven as soon as a toothpick comes out clear.

Can I make these forward of time?

Sure. These bars maintain up properly for a number of days, making them nice for events, potlucks, and holidays.

Do these Lemon Cookie Bars have to be refrigerated?

No. They are often saved at room temperature in an hermetic container.

How you can retailer leftover Lemon Cookie Bars?

Retailer leftover lemon cookie bars in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as 5 days. For longer storage, freeze the bars in a freezer-safe container for as much as 3 months. Thaw at room temperature earlier than serving.

A spatula holding a Lemon Cookie Bar above the rest of the bars.

Elements Wanted: (See Recipe Card Under For The Full Recipe)

all-purpose flour – in the event you don’t have a scale (and I do know many people don’t), simply use the news and swipe measuring technique. Don’t measure out of the flour bag. Pour the flour right into a bowl and stir with a fork. Then spoon the flour into your measuring cup (don’t pack it in!), then as soon as it’s overfull, take the flat finish of a butter knife and swipe off the surplus. It will make sure you don’t overmeasure the flour and find yourself with dry and crumbly bars.
baking powder – be certain your baking powder isn’t expired. I do know loads of instances we purchase these items after which they keep within the cabinet for ages. Then you definately go to bake one thing and surprise why it didn’t end up. It’s normally as a result of your leavening agent is now not lively.
mild brown sugar– Granulated sugar can be utilized in the event you wouldn’t have brown sugar readily available. I made this each methods and everybody appeared to choose the brown sugar one only a bit greater than the common sugar however the granulated sugar was nonetheless superb.
unsalted butter– you wish to use room temperature butter because it lotions higher. You need to use these Tricks to Soften Butter Sooner in the event you want them.
giant eggs– room temperature
lemon zest – simply bear in mind when zesting a lemon, you don’t need the white half, solely the yellow half or it would style very bitter.
lemon juice– recent squeezed lemon juice makes all of the distinction right here. The bottled stuff simply tastes like acid and won’t deliver the brilliant pop of refreshing lemon taste to those bars that you really want.
granulated sugar – I haven’t examined it but however I’m positive you possibly can use a sugar substitute right here like a Splenda 1:1 substitute.
milk – in the event you can, use complete milk right here. The fats in the entire milk helps with moisture.
vanilla extract – need a fair stronger lemon taste, attempt utilizing lemon extract as a substitute of vanilla.

All-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, light brown sugar, unsalted butter, eggs, lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, vanilla extract, granulated sugar, and milk.

Put together dry elements

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with baking spray and put aside. In a big bowl, stir collectively the flour, baking powder, and salt. Put aside.

Cream butter and sugar

Place the brown sugar and butter within the physique of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (os use a bowl with a handheld electrical mixer), and blend for 3 minutes on medium-high velocity till mild and fluffy, scraping the edges as wanted.

Flour mixture in a bowl, a bowl with butter and sugar and a creamed butter and sugar mixture in a bowl.

Add eggs and lemon to butter

Add the eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla. Slowly stir to mix.

A bowl with a butter mixture and eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla being mixed.

Add dry elements to butter combination

Add the flour combination somewhat at a time till totally blended in with no dry patches, scraping the edges as wanted.

Unfold into baking dish and bake

With moist fingers, press the cookie dough evenly into the ready baking dish. Bake for 18-22 minutes till a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clear; don’t overbake.

Unbaked cookie dough in a glass pan and a dish with baked cookie bars without glaze.

Make the topping

Enable to chill utterly. When the cookie bars are cool, make the topping by putting the sugar, butter, milk, lemon juice, and salt. Carry to a boil, stirring typically, and prepare dinner for two minutes. Take off the warmth and stir within the vanilla. Instantly pour the topping over the lemon bars.

Butter and sugar being mixed together to form a glaze that gets poured over cookie bars.

Enable to chill utterly and the topping set. Serve instantly

A spatula serving a slice of Lemon Cookie Bar.

Craving Extra Recipes?

A few frosted Lemon Cookie Bars in a pile with one missing a bite.

Cook dinner ModeForestall your display from going darkish

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with baking spray and put aside.
In a big bowl, stir collectively the 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. Put aside.
Place the 1 cup mild brown sugar and 1 cup unsalted butter within the physique of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, and blend for 3 minutes on medium-high velocity till mild and fluffy, scraping the edges as wanted.
Add the 2 giant eggs, 1 Tablespoon lemon zest, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Slowly stir to mix.
Add the flour combination somewhat at a time till totally blended in with no dry patches, scraping the edges as wanted.
With moist fingers, press the cookie dough evenly into the ready baking dish.
Bake for 18-22 minutes till a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clear; don’t overbake.
Enable to chill utterly.
When the cookie bars are cool, make the topping by putting the 1 cup granulated sugar, ½ cup unsalted butter, 2 Tablespoons milk, 2 Tablespoons lemon juice, and pinch salt in a pan.
Carry to a boil, stirring typically, and prepare dinner for two minutes.
Take off the warmth and stir within the 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
Instantly pour the topping over the lemon bars.
Enable to chill utterly and the topping set. Serve instantly

Please consult with my FAQ’s (Ceaselessly Requested Questions) and ingredient record above for different substitutions or for the solutions to the most typical questions.

Course: Dessert

Delicacies: American

“The Nation Cook dinner” shouldn’t be a dietician or nutritionist, and any dietary data shared is an estimate. If calorie depend and different dietary values are essential to you, we suggest working the elements via whichever on-line dietary calculator you like. Energy and different dietary values can range fairly a bit relying on which manufacturers had been used.

Lemon Cookie Bars – The Nation Cook dinner

A Citrus Packed Summer time Dessert

Ceaselessly Requested Questions: