Best Lemon Cookie Bars with Lemon Glaze
Servings: 12 Servings
Ingredients
For the Cookie Crust:
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
For the Lemon Glaze:
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 3 to 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice adjust to desired consistency
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Instructions
To Make the Crust:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), and line a 9x13-inch (33x23 cm) baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.1 cup unsalted butter, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- Add the egg, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. Mix until fully combined. The mixture may look slightly curdled from the lemon juice. This is normal.1 large egg, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Add the flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix just until the dough comes together. Don’t overmix.2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon baking soda
- Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan. It will be thick, so use a spatula or your hands to spread it into the corners.
- Bake for 20–24 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned and the center looks set. Let the bars cool completely in the pan.
To Make the Glaze:
- Whisk the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and zest together until smooth. Spread over the cooled bars.1 ½ cups powdered sugar, 3 to 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- Once the glaze sets, slice into squares and serve.
Notes
- Servings: The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients in the recipe card and a serving size of 1 cookie bar. This assumes the bars are cut into 12 equal bars. Actual calories will vary.
- Lemon Juice: I highly recommend that you use fresh squeezed lemon juice not bottled.
- Cutting the Bars: You can cut the bars then glaze as I did in the video. The other option is to glaze the bars in the pan, remove them using parchment paper, then slice. That's how the instructions are written. It's up to you.
- Storage: Store leftovers in the fridge for 3–4 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
Nutrition Facts
Best Lemon Cookie Bars with Lemon Glaze
Amount per Serving
Calories
393
% Daily Value*
Fat
16
g
25
%
Saturated Fat
10
g
63
%
Trans Fat
1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
4
g
Cholesterol
54
mg
18
%
Sodium
248
mg
11
%
Potassium
47
mg
1
%
Carbohydrates
60
g
20
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
40
g
44
%
Protein
3
g
6
%
Vitamin A
494
IU
10
%
Vitamin C
4
mg
5
%
Calcium
13
mg
1
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
