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–+ servings
3 lemon sugar cookie bars stacked on top of each other.

Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars

Brooke Homec
These lemon sugar cookie bars are irresistibly chewy, perfectly sweet and bursting with fresh lemon flavor. They're so simple to make, and perfect when you're craving something lemony or need a quick sweet treat.
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 33 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 178 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest one lemon
  • ½ cup (113.5 g) salted butter room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 large egg room temperature
  • ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) lemon extract
  • ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) salt
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1¼ cups (175 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar for topping

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 325 F. Spray and line an 8x8 baking pan with cooking spray and parchment paper.
  • Place sugar in a medium mixing bowl and add 1 tablespoon of lemon zest. Rub with your fingers until the zest has become flavorful and mixed into the sugars.
  • Add the butter to the bowl and beat together until light, about 3 minutes. You can also mix this by hand. Add lemon juice, extracts and egg and mix again.
  • Slowly mix in baking soda, salt, baking powder, cornstarch and flour until combined.
  • Spread cookie batter evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Sprinkle with extra sugar on top.
  • Bake the cookie bars for 18-22 minutes. You're looking for a nice light golden brown around the edges. Allow them to set up and cool completely before cutting and serving.

Notes

Rubbing the sugar and zest together helps the lemon oils from the zest to develop and the taste to come out stronger.
If you don't have lemon extract you can skip this part.
I have given both cups and grams as measurements. Grams will be more precise, especially when measuring flour. If you don't have a kitchen scale, no problem! Just lightly spoon flour into your measuring cup to insure its not packed in there. Light and fluffy is the key.

Nutrition

Calories: 178kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 156mgPotassium: 25mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 259IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg
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