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Lemon Cookie Bars

Lemon Cookie Bars have lots of lemon flavor and a sweet glaze. They are buttery, tangy and tart. Such a great balance between sweet and tart.

Lemon Cookie Bars topped with yellow sprinkles on a wood cutting board.

 

These bars make a really great summer dessert. They are sunshine on a plate. For lemon flavor, there’s a combination of lemon juice and zest. There’s just a little cream cheese in the filling and glaze for a touch of creaminess.

This is a truly easy dessert and only minimal equipment is needed. You’ll need a large bowl, rubber spatula, whisk, plus a 9-inch square baking dish.

HOW TO MAKE LEMON COOKIE BARS:

  1. Make the batter. First whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix together the sugar, melted butter, vegetable oil, and cream cheese. Don’t worry if the cream cheese doesn’t completely mix in. Mix in the egg, egg yolk, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. And finally, mix in the flour mixture.
  2. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Bake for 32 to 36 minutes.
  3. Top with glaze and add sprinkles if desired.

Overhead of Lemon Cookie Bars on a wood board.

 

RECIPE TIPS:

I highly recommend using fresh squeezed lemon juice instead of store-bought bottled juice.

Zest the lemons before you juice them. It’s very hard to zest a lemon that has been juiced. I’ve made that mistake a few times.

Cold lemons are hard to juice. To make juicing lemons easier, microwave whole lemons for 15 to 20 seconds. Let the lemons cool some and then slice them in half and squeeze the juice out.

Parchment paper can be used instead of aluminum foil to line the baking dish

Lemon Cookie Bars topped with glaze and sprinkles.

Try These Other Lemon Desserts:

Lemon Cookie Bars

Lemon Cookie Bars have lots of lemon flavor and a sweet glaze. They are buttery, tangy and tart. Such a great balance between sweet and tangy.
PREP: 15 minutes
COOK: 32 minutes
SERVINGS: 16

Ingredients

Bars

  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 6 tablespoons salted butter, melted
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 ounces cream cheese, cut into small pieces and softened
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • zest from 1 lemon
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Glaze

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • sprinkles, optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line a 9-inch baking dish with aluminum foil.
    Spray with cooking spray.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  • In a large bowl, whisk sugar, melted butter, oil, and cream cheese together.
  • Add egg, egg yolk, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract to sugar mixture and whisk until smooth.
  • Add flour mixture and mix in with a rubber spatula.
    Transfer batter to prepared pan, spreading it evenly.
  • Bake for 32 to 36 minutes. Let bars cool completley before glazing.
  • To make glaze, whisk together the lemon juice and cream cheese in a medium bowl. Whisk in confectioners' sugar until smooth. If too thick, add a little more lemon juice or a teaspoon of milk.
    Spread glaze over bars. Add sprinkles if desired. Let glaze set before cutting into squares.

Nutrition

Calories: 292kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bars, lemon, summer

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Recipe adapted from Cook’s Country.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

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4 thoughts on “Lemon Cookie Bars”

    1. The recipe says 9” square, but I just made it and ended up transferring to a 9×13. That must be a typo in the text of the recipe. Go with a 9×13.
      Also, the recipe says it makes 16 bars and there’s no way anyone is going to get 16 bars out of a 9×9 pan.
      I agree that the glaze should be doubled.

  1. Amazing cake with sweet and sour taste, I’ve eaten it before and it’s really delicious. Thanks for the instructions, I will go to the market and prepare the ingredients for this cake right away.

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