Description
Bright, soft, and citrusy, these Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars are everything you love about a sugar cookie—tender, buttery, and sweet—topped with a creamy lemon glaze that adds just the right amount of zing. Perfect for a quick dessert, a refreshing treat at brunch, or just an easy baking idea when you’re craving something light and sunny. With only a handful of pantry staples and fresh lemons, these bars are a perfect go-to for lemon lovers looking for a quick dessert, easy snack, or bake sale food idea that never disappoints.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add egg and vanilla extract and mix until fully incorporated.
4. Stir in flour and salt just until combined to form a soft dough.
5. Press dough evenly into prepared pan and smooth the top.
6. Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden and the center is set.
7. Let the cookie base cool completely before glazing.
8. In a separate bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest to form a thick, smooth glaze.
9. Spread glaze over the cooled cookie base and chill for 1 hour to set.
10. Lift bars from pan, slice with a clean sharp knife, and serve.
Notes
Chill the bars before slicing for clean, neat cuts.
Zest the lemon before juicing to make the process easier.
Use room temperature butter for best creaming and a soft cookie texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 70mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: lemon bars, lemon dessert, sugar cookie bars, quick dessert, easy baking, citrus recipe