Lemon Squares have always been one of our family’s favorite cookie recipes. They are chewy, crunchy, lemony, sweet and tart at the same time! For years and years I would make a double batch of these spectacular bars and put them in a 9×13″ baking pan. That meant we always had twice the deliciousness!

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Lemon Squares are best made with a 10×15″ cookie sheet (with edges) if you’re going to make the double batch. That’s what I’ve done here. I’ve never been one to make a little bitty 9×9″ pan of any kind of baked goods. No, my sweet tooth would never allow such a chintzy amount of any sweet goodie! I would always double any recipe so we had plenty. I still do that today.

Additionally, these delicious cookies, so loaded with lemon flavor, have always been my youngest son’s favorite cookies. I baked these a lot for the kids when they were growing up. Mainly because the recipe was so easy to make and SO inexpensive.  I used to make these particular cookies almost every year for our Christmas Cookie Extravaganza.

After my kids grew up and moved out of the house, Jordan always expected these tasty treats to be in his popcorn-sized Christmas tin! A couple of years ago when I left them out, I got this message on the phone, “Hey, Mom, where are the Lemon Squares? I can’t find any!!!!” “Uh, yeah, well, I wanted to try some new recipes so I left them out this year.” “Oh, man. They’re my favorites.” 🙁 The following year, however, I made sure Lemon Squares made the cut. Last year, though, I left them out again. I substituted another luscious Lemon Coconut Pecan Cookie in its place! “What, no Lemon Squares, you say???” Yikes.

Thankfully, neither of my children have my horrendous sweet tooth. My pediatrician told me when they were born not to give them anything sweet until they were two-years-old. Except for birthday cakes I really stuck to that rule. As a result, neither of them developed a strong desire for sweets at a young age. Now, years later, neither of my boys care all that much for sweets. (I wish my mom had practiced such discipline with me growing up!)

I baked ALL the time when the boys were little. Yet, they would eat one piece of whatever I made (even if it was 3-4 dozen cookies). And that was that! I would end up eating all the rest! It’s a miracle I didn’t weigh 200-300 lbs. considering the way I ate back then. But there are a few desserts the boys would eat on occasion and this has always been one of my youngest’s favorites. The interesting thing about this? I never realized it was his favorite cookie until long after he moved away for college!

I got the recipe from Pat Whitfield, who was our church cook back in the early 1980s. We were members of First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks in Largo, Florida. Pat used to make these quite frequently for the dessert at our church suppers on Wednesday nights.

Pat always cut her bars quite a bit larger than I’ve cut mine, so we got a double or triple dose of luscious lemony flavor. Pat’s main job was as a school cook in the Pinellas County School System. Eventually she became a full-time cook at our church. It grew to thousands of people and we were always having food for some event or other. I collected many of Pat’s fabulous recipes. I think of her fondly every time I make one of them–like these fabulous Lemon Squares.

If you like simple, if you like lemon, if you like sweet and tart, if you like ooey, gooey textures in cookies, you will LOVE these delightful Lemon Squares. The recipe’s been around for decades and I have no idea who originated it. These bars are so fantastic, I think your family will enjoy these wonderful treats almost as much as ours do. Drool, baby, drool!

I recently remade Lemon Squares (November 2014) for our Christmas Cookie Extravaganza 2014. My son kept begging me for some. I wasn’t planning on remaking these, but since I did, I updated the pictures as well. Enjoy.

Lemon Squares are a family favorite!

Lemon Squares are a delightful bar-type cookie that are nice and chewy. They have always been one of our family’s favorite cookie desserts. These cookies are not only pretty to look at, they are marvelous on the taste buds.

Take a platter of these dessert bars to your next tailgating party and they will be gone in short order! Lemon Squares have an ooey-gooey lemony filling that is incredibly rich.

Here’s what I did.

I used these ingredients.

Melt butter in medium mixing bowl. Add UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour. Bleached flour toughens baked goods. Add powdered sugar.

Stir ingredients to combine. The mixture will be rather crumbly.

Spray a 10×15″ baking dish with cooking spray. Carefully fit the mixture into the pan building up a 1/2″ border-edge along the sides. Bake at 350 for about 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned.

Meanwhile, make lemony filling: In a large mixing bowl, break four eggs. Add sugar, baking powder, salt and grated lemon peel or lemon zest. Add lemon juice. If you have a lot of lemons, use fresh lemon juice.

Whisk ingredients until smooth.

After baking 18-20 minutes, remove crust layer from oven.

 Spread the lemon filling over top of the crust and bake at 350 for about 25 minutes or until either a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or when no imprint remains when lightly touched in center.

Here the Lemon Squares are baked. Cool completely.

Sprinkle generously with powdered sugar. Because these bars are so gooey in the center, I usually refrigerate them 30-60 minutes before cutting into bars. Cut into 32 bars.

Lemon Squares are a delicious cookie you’re whole family will enjoy. I warn you in advance, these cookies are addictive.

Don’t Lemon Squares look wonderful? Garnish the Lemon Squares with lemon zest if desired, but they taste equally fine without any garnish.

If you enjoy the taste of lemon in your baked goods, you will absolutely rave over these tasty jewels.

Here’s the recipe.

LEMON SQUARES

(Adapted recipe from Pat Whitfield, cook at First Baptist Church, Indian Rocks, Florida)

Lemon Squares

Teresa Ambra

Lemon Squares are incredibly rich, sweet, lemony and decadent. Every bite is deliciously mouthwatering. These luscious lemony bars have been a traditional family favorite and have been on our regular holiday baking list for years. These ooey, gooey cookies are festive, beautiful and perfect for company or Christmas parties. Delight your family and friends with a batch of these wonderful treats today!

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Cookies, Brownies and Bars, Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 32

Calories 163 kcal

Equipment

• 1 10x15" glass baking dish
• 2 mixing bowls
• 1 electric mixer
• 1 wooden spoon
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• 1 spatula
• 1 lemon zester or grater

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 3 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour bleached flour toughens baked goods
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter softened or melted
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 4 tbsp. lemon juice
• 4 tsp. emon peel grated l
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar for garnish
• 1 tbsp. lemon zest grated for garnish, if desired

Instructions

 

• Mix flour, butter and confectioners’ sugar.
• Press into sprayed 10x15” baking dish, building up a ½” edge.
• Bake about 18-20 minutes, until lightly browned.
• Meanwhile, beat eggs, sugar, salt, baking powder, lemon peel and lemon juice about 3 minutes with an electric mixer until mixture is light and fluffy.
• Pour over hot crust.
• Bake about 25 minutes longer, or until no imprint remains when touched lightly in center.
• Cool completely.
• Sprinkle generously with powdered sugar.
• Refrigerate about an hour before cutting into bars.
• Sprinkle each with grated lemon zest, if desired.

Notes

NOTE: It is easier to cut these bars into serving pieces if you refrigerate or freeze them about an hour first. They are too gooey otherwise.

 

^© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 163kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 56mgPotassium: 27mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 212IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg

Keyword cookie, dessert, lemon

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

These luscious bars have always been my younger son’s favorite cookies. They are yummy!

If you’re looking for a quick and easy dessert recipe, Lemon Squares sure fits the bill. We have made these for many years in the Christmas baskets we give away to family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors each year. 

Time to toss some of these in your cookie jar!

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

English Lemon Shortbread Strips

Cranberry Lemon Sandwiches

Lemon Coconut Pecan Cookies

Lemon Squares

Teresa Ambra

Lemon Squares are incredibly rich, sweet, lemony and decadent. Every bite is deliciously mouthwatering. These luscious lemony bars have been a traditional family favorite and have been on our regular holiday baking list for years. These ooey, gooey cookies are festive, beautiful and perfect for company or Christmas parties. Delight your family and friends with a batch of these wonderful treats today!

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Cookies, Brownies and Bars, Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 32

Calories 163 kcal

Equipment

• 1 10×15" glass baking dish
• 2 mixing bowls
• 1 electric mixer
• 1 wooden spoon
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• 1 spatula
• 1 lemon zester or grater

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 3 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour bleached flour toughens baked goods
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter softened or melted
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 4 tbsp. lemon juice
• 4 tsp. emon peel grated l
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar for garnish
• 1 tbsp. lemon zest grated for garnish, if desired

Instructions

 

• Mix flour, butter and confectioners’ sugar.
• Press into sprayed 10×15” baking dish, building up a ½” edge.
• Bake about 18-20 minutes, until lightly browned.
• Meanwhile, beat eggs, sugar, salt, baking powder, lemon peel and lemon juice about 3 minutes with an electric mixer until mixture is light and fluffy.
• Pour over hot crust.
• Bake about 25 minutes longer, or until no imprint remains when touched lightly in center.
• Cool completely.
• Sprinkle generously with powdered sugar.
• Refrigerate about an hour before cutting into bars.
• Sprinkle each with grated lemon zest, if desired.

Notes

NOTE: It is easier to cut these bars into serving pieces if you refrigerate or freeze them about an hour first. They are too gooey otherwise.

 

^© Can’t Stay Out of the Kitchen

Nutrition

Calories: 163kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 56mgPotassium: 27mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 212IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg

Keyword cookie, dessert, lemon

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!