Grandma’s Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe

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Craving a refreshing dessert? These Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars blend a soft, buttery sugar cookie base with a tangy lemon glaze, perfect for spring, summer, or any occasion. This easy lemon dessert recipe is quick to make, beginner-friendly, and sure to impress at parties, potlucks, or family gatherings. Ready in under an hour, these bars are a must-try!

I love these Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars! I think it’s because they are so much quicker and easier than drop cookies… plus they are usually much thicker and chewier. So I’ve got my Grandma’s Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars to share. This bar cookie has a delightful, light lemon flavor with a lemony icing drizzled over the top…. so good!

My Grandma’s recipe is for drop cookies, so if you prefer you can make this cookie recipe that way, you’ll just need to shorten the cooking time to 10-12 minutes.

Why Choose Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars?

• Quick Prep: Ready in about 45 minutes, ideal for busy schedules.
• Bright Flavor: Fresh lemon juice and zest deliver a zesty punch.
• Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for sharing at events or enjoying at home.
• Soft Texture: Chewy cookie bars with a sweet-tart glaze.

Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars Ingredients

• flour
• baking soda
• cream of tartar
• salt
• powdered sugar
• oil
• butter
• eggs
• vanilla
• fresh lemon juice

Making Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars

Start by combining your dry ingredients in a bowl. Take your all purpose flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt and whisk them together until smooth.

In my mixer bowl, I beat the butter, oil, and sugar. Scrape the sides down with a spatula and beat again until smooth. Then add the eggs one at a time, mixing them between each adding.

Add the vanilla extract and lemon juice to the mixer bowl and mix until combined.

Put the mixer on low speed, and gradually add the dry ingredients to the mixer bowl. Mix until all the powder if combined with the creamy butter mixture and it’s now smooth.

Spread the sugar cookie dough into a prepared pan. I spray my pan with nonstick spray, but you could use parchment paper instead if you prefer.

Once your bar cookie is baked and cool it’s time to add the lemon glaze! Whisk together the those ingredients and then I drizzle it on top in a zig zag pattern. If you prefer you could use an offset spatula and spread the glaze over the top evenly.

Tips for the Best Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars

• Fresh Lemons: Use freshly squeezed juice and zest for maximum flavor.
• Avoid Overbaking: Bake until edges are just golden for soft bars.
• Storage: Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days or refrigerate for up to 7 days.
• Freezing: Freeze unglazed bars for up to 2 months. Thaw and glaze before serving.

Here’s the Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars recipe…

Grandma’s Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars Recipe

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My Grandma's Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars has a delightful, light lemon flavor with a lemony icing drizzled over the top…. so good! It's thick and chewy too!

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Cooling Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Serving Size 12 bars

Equipment

• mixer

Ingredients

Lemon Sugar Cookie

• 4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup confectioner sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest if desired

Lemon Icing

• 4 tablespoons confectioners sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon water

Instructions

Cookie Directions

• Spray a 9″x13″ pan with cooking spray. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
• In a bowl whisk together your flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt.
• In a separate bowl beat the sugar, butter and oil together.
• Add the eggs and mix in one at a time.
• Add the vanilla and the lemon juice. Mix to combine.
• Add the flour mixture and mix on a low speed until combined.
• Bake for 28-30 minutes, until top is lightly browned and the center is set.

Lemon Icing Directions

• Combine the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth.
• Once the cookie bar has cooled, drizzle the lemon icing on top and then serve.

Drop cookies

• You can make drop cookies with this recipe. Just make sure to refrigerator the dough for at least 30 minutes. Drop by the teaspoon onto a slightly greased cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Notes

Bar Cookies can be keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days or in the refrigerator for a week.

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These bar cookies are the perfect dessert to bring to a summer potluck or for a picnic in the park.  They are light, yet just sweet enough for an afternoon treat and a summer dessert.

Recipe Variations

• Berry Twist: Add fresh blueberries or raspberries to the batter.
• Citrus Mix: Replace half the lemon with lime juice and zest.
• Colorful Glaze: Add a drop of yellow food coloring for a vibrant finish.

This lemon sugar cookie bars recipe is a perfect balance of sweet and tart, with a soft, chewy texture that’s easy to love. The simple ingredients and quick prep make it ideal for beginners, while the bright lemon flavor appeals to all ages. These bars are easy to slice, serve, and share, making them a go-to for any event.

Other Lemon Recipes

Frozen Lemon Bars

Strawberry Scones with Lemon Icing

Lemon Sponge Cake