Lemon Cookie Bars Recipe

By Jill Baird · Published July 4, 2023 · Updated December 21, 2023 · 5 Comments

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These Lemon Cookie Bars are an easy treat with an intense lemon frosting. They are perfectly chewy, sweet, and tart and great for just about any occasion.

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Best Lemon Cookie Bar Recipe
Lemon Cookie Bar Ingredients
How To Make Lemon Cookie Bars
Frequently Asked Questions
Storing and Freezing
Lemon Cookie Bars Recipe
More of the Best Cookie Bar Recipes

Best Lemon Cookie Bar Recipe

These easy Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars are quickly going to become a family favorite.They are based on my favorite sugar cookie recipe which is just a basic chocolate chip cookie recipe where I use all white sugar instead of using white and brown.

They are baked on a baking sheet then slathered with Lemon Buttercream Frosting once cool. The result is a dense, chewy, and buttery cookie bar topped with zesty lemon frosting that is incredibly simple to make. I love to bring these to baby showers, potlucks, or anywhere else where you need to feed a crowd.

If you love cookie bar recipes, be sure to try our chewy Christmas Cookie Bars, Chocolate Cookie Bars, and our Orange Cookie Bar Recipe too.

Lemon Cookie Bars Recipe - The Carefree Kitchen (1)

Lemon Cookie Bar Ingredients

Flour - all-purpose flour works great for these cookie bars.
Baking Soda - this helps to keep the dough nice and soft and allows the cookies to rise slightly in the oven.
Salt - salt helps balance all of the flavors.
Butter - your butter should be softened to room temperature before making the dough. If you forget to pull it out ahead of time, microwave gently for about 10 seconds at a time just until soft.
Sugar - you will need white granulated sugar for these cookie bars.
Vanilla Extract - pure vanilla extract has the best flavor.
Eggs - it helps to have your eggs at room temperature so that they don't shock the butter when added to the dough. You can run them until warm water if needed.

Lemon Buttercream Frosting

Butter - you can use either salted or unsalted butter, depending on the flavor profile you like. Either way, your butter needs to be soft. You can pull it out at room temperature or warm slowly in the microwave for about 10 seconds at a time just until soft.
Powdered Sugar - it helps to add this in a few batches rather than all at once.
Fresh Lemons - you will need both the juice and zest from a fresh lemon. You may need to add slightly more lemon juice depending on the consistency of the frosting that you are going for.
Vanilla Extract - pure vanilla extract has the best flavor.
Lemon Essential Oil - adding this isn't completely necessary but it does enhance the lemon flavor quite a bit.

Lemon Cookie Bars Recipe - The Carefree Kitchen (2)

How To Make Lemon Cookie Bars

Combine the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt and set aside.
Mix the rest of the sugar cookie dough. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the room temperature butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat using the paddle attachment until light and fluffy - about 3 minutes. Slowly add the eggs, then beat on low until well combined, scraping down the sides as needed. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix on low speed until combined. Don't overmix.
Press dough into a baking sheet. Lightly spray a 12" x 17" baking sheet with nonstick spray (or line with parchment paper). Press the cookie dough into the bottom of the pan as evenly as possible.
Bake. Bake in a 325 degree preheated oven for 20-25 minutes ,or until just barely golden brown on the edges. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
Make the Lemon Buttercream Frosting. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the butter and beat using the paddle attachment until light and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar on low speed, then increase to medium to combine. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, lemon essential oil, and vanilla extract. Mix again until light and fluffy.Adjust with lemon juice or powdered sugar as needed to get the desired consistency.
Assemble the cookie bars. Spread the lemon buttercream frosting evenly over the cooled cookie bars. Top with sprinkles if desired. Cut into bars or squares before serving. Enjoy!

Tips for Making the Best Lemon Cookie Bars

Make sure you have your butter at room temperature for your cookies and your frosting. If you forget, you can microwave it for about 10 seconds at a time just until soft.
You can bake these in a 9" x 13" pan if you like thicker cookie bars or you can bake it on a bigger cookie sheet. We made them in both sizes. The flavors are equally delicious but we all liked the thinner cookies a little more.
Frozen Lemon Cookie Bars taste amazing!

Lemon Cookie Bars Recipe - The Carefree Kitchen (3)

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to refrigerate lemon cookie bars?

Because these cookie bars have a buttercream frosting, they should be stored in the fridge. They can sit out, however, for quite some time before needing to be refrigerated so they are perfect for serving at parties.

Can you freeze Lemon Cookie Bars?

Storing and Freezing

Refrigerator: store cookie bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Freezer: frosted cookie bars can be stored frozen for up to 1 month. Unfrosted cookie bars can be stored for up to 2 months.

These Lemon Cookie Bars are an easy treat with an intense lemon frosting. They are perfectly chewy, sweet, and tart.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes