Easy Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe: Your Zesty Spring Treat!

As the calendar flips to March, there’s an almost universal longing for the vibrant energy and warmth of spring. If you’re anything like me, you’re dreaming of longer, sunnier days and a world painted in cheerful hues. While winter might be holding on with a stubborn chill, we can certainly usher in the spirit of spring right into our homes, starting with the kitchen. And what better way to do that than with the bright, invigorating flavor of lemon? These Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars are more than just a delightful dessert; they’re a burst of sunshine, a promise of brighter days, and an effortlessly beautiful treat that’s guaranteed to lift your spirits.

Why Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars are Your New Favorite Dessert

Cookie bars are truly a lifesaver for any baker, offering all the scrumptious taste of individual cookies with significantly less fuss. Instead of the time-consuming process of rolling and cutting each cookie, you simply press the dough into a pan, bake it to golden perfection, and then slice it into neat, portioned bars. This convenience makes them an ideal choice for busy schedules or when you need a fantastic dessert in a flash. The brilliance of these Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars lies in their irresistible flavor profile: a buttery, tender sugar cookie base infused with bright lemon zest, topped generously with a creamy, zesty lemon frosting. It’s a symphony of sweet and tangy that’s incredibly refreshing and satisfying.

Beyond their ease and deliciousness, these bars are incredibly versatile and always make a stunning presentation. Whether you’re planning a casual family gathering, a festive party, or need a crowd-pleasing dish for a potluck, Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars are an excellent selection. Their sturdy bar form makes them easy to transport and serve, minimizing mess and maximizing enjoyment. The vibrant yellow frosting instantly adds a pop of cheerful color to any dessert spread, making them as appealing to the eye as they are to the palate. Prepare to impress everyone with these beautiful and delectable homemade treats!

Unleash Your Creativity: Easy Customization for Every Occasion

One of the most appealing features of this Lemon Sugar Cookie Bar recipe is its remarkable flexibility. While the bright lemon flavor is an absolute classic, you have the freedom to transform the entire character of these bars simply by experimenting with different extracts. Imagine a rich vanilla bean, a nutty almond, or even a festive peppermint extract for holiday variations! This adaptability allows you to craft a unique dessert tailored to specific tastes or seasonal themes, ensuring this foundational recipe remains exciting throughout the year.

The customization possibilities extend beautifully to the frosting and decorations. Hosting a baby shower? A few drops of pink or blue food coloring can instantly theme your frosting, making these bars a charming addition to the celebration. For birthdays or holidays, a scattering of colorful sprinkles adds a joyful, festive touch. If you’re aiming for an elegant presentation, try reserving a small portion of the uncolored frosting, then use it to pipe delicate patterns, zigzags, or even a monogram over the colored frosting. With a little imagination and a few simple additions, your homemade cookie bars can be dressed up to perfectly suit any event, looking as exquisite as they taste. This makes them a truly invaluable recipe for your baking repertoire, ready to shine at a moment’s notice.

Expert Tips for Baking Perfectly Tender and Zesty Cookie Bars

Prepping for Success: Ingredients and Tools

To ensure your Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars turn out flawlessly, attention to a few key details is essential. Always start with room temperature butter for the cookie dough. This is critical for proper creaming with the sugar, which incorporates air and results in a lighter, more tender cookie. Cold butter will not combine smoothly and will lead to a denser, less desirable texture. For the frosting, a thoughtful blend of butter and shortening yields the best results – butter for flavor, and shortening for that silky-smooth consistency that spreads beautifully and holds its shape. Make sure to use a large jelly roll pan (typically 13 x 18 inches) to allow the dough to spread evenly and bake uniformly. Greasing the pan thoroughly, or lining it with parchment paper, is a simple step that prevents sticking and makes removal a breeze.

Crafting the Ideal Dough

The secret to tender sugar cookie bars lies in careful mixing. Begin by creaming the room temperature butter and granulated sugar together for a full 5-6 minutes until the mixture is visibly light and fluffy. This aeration process is what gives your cookie bars their signature delicate texture. Incorporate the large eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to ensure full emulsification. In a separate bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add this flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing only until everything is just combined. Overmixing at this stage can overdevelop the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough rather than tender bars. When spreading the dough into your prepared pan, a piece of greased waxed paper or your lightly greased hands can help you press it evenly into all corners, ensuring consistent thickness and baking.

Achieving Golden Perfection in the Oven

Baking these Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars requires a watchful eye. You want them to be just set and slightly golden around the edges, but still soft in the center. Avoid overbaking, as this will dry them out and make them crumbly. The specified baking time of 10-15 minutes is a guide; oven temperatures can vary, so prioritize visual cues over strict adherence to the clock. As soon as they come out of the oven, resist the urge to frost them immediately. It is absolutely crucial to allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan before applying the frosting. Attempting to frost warm bars will inevitably lead to a melted, runny, and disappointing mess.

Whipping Up the Dreamy Lemon Frosting

The creamy, zesty lemon frosting is the crowning glory of these cookie bars. For the silkiest frosting texture, sift your powdered sugar before adding it to the mixture; this prevents lumps and ensures a smooth finish. In a large bowl, combine the butter and shortening and beat them together until light and fluffy. Next, incorporate the lemon extract and a pinch of salt, beating again to ensure they are well distributed. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, a cup at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition until the frosting is smooth and well-combined. Finally, drizzle in the milk (start with 5 tablespoons and add more sparingly if needed) and your desired amount of yellow food coloring. Beat on medium-high speed until the frosting is creamy, spreadable, and reaches your desired consistency. If the frosting seems too thick, add milk a teaspoon at a time; if it’s too thin, a tablespoon or two of extra sifted powdered sugar will help achieve the perfect texture.

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Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 3 teaspoons lemon extract
• 5 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

for the frosting

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 teaspoon lemon extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 5 tablespoons milk
• yellow food coloring

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C). Grease a large jelly roll pan (13 x 18 inches) well. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which usually takes about 5-6 minutes with an electric mixer. Add the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the lemon extract. In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add this dry flour mixture to the wet butter mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough. Spread the dough evenly into the prepared jelly roll pan. You can use a piece of greased waxed paper or your clean, lightly greased hands to press the dough completely to cover the pan’s surface.
2. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn a light golden color and the center is set. The bars should still feel slightly soft in the middle. Remove the pan from the oven and let the cookie bars cool completely on a wire rack before proceeding to frost them. This step is crucial to prevent the frosting from melting.
3. To prepare the frosting: Begin by sifting the powdered sugar into a bowl and set it aside; this will ensure a smooth, lump-free frosting. In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter and shortening. Beat them together with an electric mixer until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Add in the lemon extract and salt, then beat again until fully incorporated. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar to the butter and shortening mixture, beating slowly at first and then increasing speed as it combines, until the frosting is smooth. Finally, add the milk (start with 5 tablespoons and add more only if needed, one teaspoon at a time, to reach desired consistency) and a few drops of yellow food coloring. Beat the frosting until it is light, creamy, and reaches a desired spreadable consistency. Spread evenly over the completely cooled cookie bars.

Did you make this recipe?

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