Lemon Cookie Bars with Lemony Glaze

  • Lemon Cookie Bars with Lemony Glaze

    Lemon on lemon.

    If you like lemon, then this dessert is for you.

    If you like crunchy cookie situations with tart icing on top, then you’ll love me forever.

    And if you like being lazy (rather than waiting for 9 minutes for each sheet of cookies to maybe be done baking, oh- 1 more minute and it’ll be done, oh- put the hot sheet pan on the cooling rack and scoop 12 more cookie balls from the batter, but DON’T GO FAR because the timer is set for 9 minutes from now- again), just bake the freaking batter into a 9″ pan and call them bars.

    Put lemon icing on top of said bars, and well.  Say no more.

    Adapted from my Easy Lemon Cookie recipe…

    COOKIE BARS:

    1/2 (1 stick) cup salted butter

    1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

    3 egg yolks

    1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

    1/4 teaspoon lemon extract

    3/4 teaspoon lemon zest

    1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

    1/2 teaspoon baking soda

    1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

    LEMON ICING:

    1 cup confectioners’ sugar

    1 -2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

    1. Line a 9″ square baking pan with foil and grease with non-stick spray; set aside.
    2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy (about 3 – 5 minutes).
    3. Add egg yolks and extracts to butter/sugar mixture and beat for a minute, scraping sides of bowl.  Mix in lemon zest.
    4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients (flour, baking soda and cream of tartar).  Add to wet mixture and mix until well blended.  Press into prepared pan and chill dough while oven preheats (at least 15 minutes).
    5. Preheat oven to 350°.
    6. Bake for 15 – 18 minutes, depending on desired softness/crispness.  (Bars should look golden in color but still be springy and soft in middle of pan.)  Allow to cool on cooling rack.
    7. ICING:  mix confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice until smooth; drizzle over top of cooled bars and refrigerate to set.  Cut into bars and serve at room temperature.

    Tips:

    • Want more lemon flavor?  Add more zest!  Add more lemon extract!
    • No lemon extract?  Worry not.  Add a tablespoon on fresh lemon juice and more zest.
    • Soft or crispy?  Bake them for less time if you like gooey bars, and if you like a satisfying crunch, bake them until they look well done (note: they might not cut neatly if they are really crumbly).
    • Of course these freeze well… just wrap them tightly.
    • Enjoy!

     

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    May 21st, 2014 | More Sweets Please | No Comments | Tags: , ,

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