Description

These lemon sugar cookie bars boast a bright, zesty flavor and a soft, chewy texture, topped with creamy lemon buttercream. Easy to bake in one pan and perfect for sharing.

Ingredients

2½ cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

¾ cup unsalted butter (room temperature)

½ cup block-style cream cheese (room temperature)

1½ cups granulated sugar

1 Tbsp lemon zest

1 large egg (room temperature)

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature, for frosting)

2½ cups confectioners’ sugar (sifted)

2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (for frosting)

1–2 Tbsp milk (optional, for consistency)

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan.
In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In a separate bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until creamy, about 1 minute.
Add sugar and lemon zest and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Mix in egg, vanilla extract, and lemon juice until just combined.
On low speed, add the dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated.
Spread the dough evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 20–25 minutes, until edges are golden and center is set.
Let the bars cool completely in the pan.
To make the frosting, beat the butter until fluffy, about 4 minutes.
Gradually add confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice, beating until smooth. Add milk if needed for desired consistency.
Spread the frosting over the cooled bars.
Slice into 24 pieces and serve.

Notes

For a tangier frosting, substitute ¾ cup cream cheese and ¼ cup butter.
Optional mix-ins include up to 1 cup white chocolate chips or chopped nuts.
Halve the recipe for an 8×8 pan and bake for 18–20 minutes to yield about 16 bars.
Store bars at room temperature for 3 days, refrigerate up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Allow frozen bars to thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 210
Sugar: 20g
Sodium: 90mg
Fat: 11g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Unsaturated Fat: 3g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 27g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 30mg