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

Lemon Cookie Bars are soft homemade bars topped with a sweet lemon glaze for an easy citrus dessert perfect for sharing.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings 15
Calories 358kcal
Author Brandie Skibinski

Ingredients

For the topping:

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with baking spray and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, stir together the 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. Set aside.
    Brown sugar and butter in a bowl.
  • Place the 1 cup light brown sugar and 1 cup unsalted butter in the body of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, and mix for 3 minutes on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, scraping the sides as needed.
    A creamed butter and sugar mixture.
  • Add the 2 large eggs, 1 Tablespoon lemon zest, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Slowly stir to combine.
    Eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla added to a creamed butter mixture.
  • Add the flour mixture a little at a time until fully mixed in with no dry patches, scraping the sides as needed.
    Flour mixture added to a sugar mixture.
  • With moist hands, press the cookie dough evenly into the prepared baking dish.
    A glass dish of lemon cookie dough.
  • Bake for 18-22 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean; do not overbake.
    Lemon Cookie Bars with out the frosting on the bars in a pan.
  • Allow to cool completely.
  • When the cookie bars are cool, make the topping by placing the 1 cup granulated sugar, ½ cup unsalted butter, 2 Tablespoons milk, 2 Tablespoons lemon juice, and pinch salt in a pan.
    A pan with sugar, butter, milk, lemon juice, and salt.
  • Bring to a boil, stirring often, and cook for 2 minutes.
    A butter mixture boiling in a pan.
  • Take off the heat and stir in the 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
  • Immediately pour the topping over the lemon bars.
    Lemon glaze over cookie bars.
  • Allow to cool completely and the topping set. Serve immediately
    A spatula serving a slice of Lemon Cookie Bar.

Notes

  • Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.

Nutrition

Calories: 358kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 19g | Sodium: 94mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 28g
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