Delightful Lemon Shortbread Bars: Your Ultimate Spring Dessert Recipe

Embrace the vibrant essence of spring with these incredibly buttery and irresistibly zesty Lemon Shortbread Bars. Crafted to perfection, they offer a delightful burst of fresh lemon flavor in every bite, making them a quintessential treat for any occasion. If you’re searching for a dessert that brightens your day and delights your taste buds, look no further.

Why These Lemon Shortbread Bars Are a Must-Try

There’s something inherently uplifting about lemon. Its bright, tangy profile and sunny hue evoke feelings of warmth and freshness, making it the perfect flavor to usher in the spring season. When paired with the rich, tender crumb of classic shortbread, it creates a dessert that is both comforting and exhilarating. These Lemon Shortbread Bars are more than just a sweet treat; they’re an experience. They boast a melt-in-your-mouth buttery crust, generously infused with lemon zest and extract, and crowned with a luscious, tangy lemon glaze that perfectly balances the sweetness. The result is a harmonious symphony of textures and flavors that will leave you craving more. Whether for a springtime gathering, an afternoon tea, or simply a sweet indulgence, these bars are guaranteed to impress.

The Allure of Lemon: A Taste of Spring

For many, lemon is synonymous with spring. Its refreshing zest brightens not only culinary creations but also our homes, with its uplifting aroma filling the air through candles, soaps, and cleaners. In the kitchen, lemon is incredibly versatile, pairing beautifully with everything from fresh berries and seasonal asparagus to transforming a simple glass of water into a refreshing drink. Its vibrant acidity cuts through richness, enhances other flavors, and provides that much-needed zing that awakens the palate. That’s why, when I received a bottle of premium lemon extract from Adams Extract, I knew instantly that these Lemon Shortbread Bars had to be created. The extract isn’t just an optional addition; it’s the secret weapon that elevates the lemon flavor from pleasant to absolutely extraordinary, creating a truly unforgettable dessert.

Crafting Perfect Lemon Shortbread Bars: A Simple Guide

Creating these Lemon Shortbread Bars is a straightforward process, resulting in a dessert that looks elegant and tastes divine. The recipe involves two main components: a rich, tender shortbread crust and a bright, tangy lemon glaze.

Ingredients for the Best Lemon Shortbread Crust

The foundation of these bars is a perfectly balanced shortbread crust. We combine all-purpose flour for structure, powdered sugar for tenderness and sweetness, and cornstarch, which is key to achieving that desirable melt-in-your-mouth texture. Fresh lemon zest is incorporated directly into the dough to infuse it with natural citrus oils, providing a delightful aroma and flavor. A touch of salt balances the sweetness, while vanilla extract and a crucial addition of lemon extract from Adams Extract amplify the bright lemon notes. Unsalted butter, softened to room temperature, is essential for a smooth dough and rich flavor.

The Zesty Lemon Glaze

The glaze is where the lemon truly shines. It’s a simple mixture of powdered sugar for sweetness and body, fresh lemon zest for an aromatic punch, fresh lemon juice for tartness and liquid, and another hint of lemon extract to intensify the citrus flavor. A touch of vanilla extract adds depth to the overall profile.

Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Bake Lemon Shortbread Bars

1. **Prepare Your Pan:** Begin by preheating your oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line a 13×9 inch baking pan with heavy-duty foil, ensuring the foil extends over the sides to create “handles” for easy removal. Lightly spray the foil with cooking spray. This step is crucial for preventing sticking and making the cutting process effortless.
2. **Combine Dry Ingredients for the Crust:** In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, cornstarch, and lemon zest until well combined. This ensures an even distribution of flavors throughout the crust.
3. **Cream Wet Ingredients & Form Dough:** In the bowl of your stand mixer (or a large bowl with a hand mixer), cream together the softened unsalted butter, lemon juice, salt, vanilla extract, and lemon extract until smooth and light. Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a tough crust.
4. **Press into Pan:** Using lightly floured hands, gently press the dough evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking pan. Aim for an even layer to ensure uniform baking.
5. **Bake the Crust:** Bake the shortbread crust for approximately 45 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and the center is set. The low baking temperature ensures a tender, crumbly texture.
6. **Prepare the Glaze:** While the crust is baking, prepare your lemon glaze. In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, lemon extract, and vanilla extract until smooth. Adjust the consistency with a tiny bit more powdered sugar or lemon juice if needed, aiming for a pourable but not too thin glaze.
7. **Glaze and Cool:** Immediately upon removing the hot shortbread crust from the oven, pour the prepared lemon glaze evenly over the top. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread it if necessary. Allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature, which helps the glaze set beautifully. Once fully cooled, use the foil handles to lift the entire shortbread out of the pan and cut into bars.

Tips for Baking Perfect Shortbread Bars

• **Room Temperature Butter:** Ensure your butter is truly at room temperature. This allows it to cream properly with the sugar, creating a light and airy base for the shortbread.
• **Don’t Overmix:** Overmixing the dough can develop gluten, resulting in a tougher shortbread. Mix until just combined.
• **Proper Pan Preparation:** Lining the pan with foil is key for easy removal and clean cuts. Don’t skip this step!
• **Cool Completely:** Patience is a virtue here. Allowing the bars to cool completely before cutting ensures the glaze sets and the shortbread maintains its structural integrity. Warm bars will crumble and the glaze will be messy.
• **Use Fresh Lemon Zest and Juice:** While extracts enhance flavor, fresh zest and juice provide an unparalleled brightness and aroma.

Delicious Variations: Beyond Lemon

While lemon is undeniably the star of this recipe, the shortbread base is wonderfully adaptable, allowing you to explore other citrus flavors:

• How to Make Lime Shortbread Bars

  Simply substitute fresh lime zest and lime juice for the lemon components in both the crust and the glaze. A touch of lime extract can further enhance the flavor, creating a tropical twist.

• How to Make Orange Shortbread Bars

  For a sweeter, milder citrus experience, swap out the lemon for orange zest and orange juice. An orange extract will deepen that sunny orange flavor, perfect for a less tart, equally delightful bar.

The beauty of these bars lies in their simplicity and versatility. The extract, especially from a quality brand like Adams Extract, truly punches up the flavor, bringing the citrus to a whole new level of deliciousness. It provides a concentrated burst of flavor that fresh zest and juice alone sometimes can’t achieve, especially after baking.

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Lemon Shortbread Bars

Prep 10 mins

Cook 45 mins

Inactive 1 hour

Total 1 hour, 55 mins

Author Megan | Strawberry Blondie Kitchen

Yield 24 servings

These Lemon Shortbread Bars are buttery and bursting with bright and fresh lemon flavors!

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
• ⅓ cup cornstarch
• ¼ cup lemon zest
• 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

Lemon Glaze

• 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a 13×9″ baking pan with heavy foil, extending foil over the sides. Spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Into a large bowl, stir together flour, powdered sugar, cornstarch and lemon zest.
3. Into the bowl of your stand mixer or into a large bowl using a hand mixer, combine butter, lemon juice, salt, vanilla extra and lemon extract. Slowly add in flour mixture until combined.
4. With lightly flour hands, press mixture into the bottom of your prepared pan.
5. Bake for 45 minutes or until edges are lightly golden brown.
6. While the crust is baking, mix together the lemon glaze.
7. Immediately pour glaze over crust, spreading evenly, and allow to cool at room temperature until set.

Courses Dessert

Cuisine American

A Special Thanks to Adams Extract

I am absolutely thrilled to have this Adams Extract lemon extract in my kitchen. As a huge fan of their products, I can attest to the exceptional quality of their extracts, especially their “twice as strong” vanilla flavor, which is a staple in my baking. Their range of seasonings and rubs also consistently delivers outstanding results. For all your baking needs and BBQ essentials, I highly recommend exploring Adams Extract’s fantastic selection!

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Wednesday #SpringSweetsWeek Recipes

• Buttermilk Carrot Cake by The Crumby Kitchen
• Carrot Cake Baked Donuts with Cream Cheese Glaze by House of Nash Eats
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars by The Speckled Palate
• Coconut Cream Sweet Rolls by Cooking With Carlee
• Crêpes with Orange Caramel and Mascarpone by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Easter White Chocolate Dipped Sugar Cookies by A Savory Feast
• Easy Pina Colada yogurt parfaits by Creative Southern Home
• Lemon Frozen Yogurt with Cake Mix Crust by Our Good Life
• Key Lime Tart by Sweet Beginnings
• Krispy Peeps Treats by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Lavender Blueberry Cheesecake Bars by The Gingered Whisk
• Lemon Blueberry Baked Donuts by Palatable Pastime
• Lemon Blueberry Scones by Blogghetti
• Lemon Shortbread Bars by Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
• Lemon Totos by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Marshmallow Chick Cupcake by Simply Inspired Meals
• Peeps Snack Mix by Home Sweet Homestead
• Rainbow Cookies by Kate’s Recipe Box
• Spring Bling Meyer Lemon Almond Cake by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Spring Sugar Cookie Bars by Cookaholic Wife
• Strawberry Cheesecake Brownies by The Tip Garden
• Tres Leches Cake by Kelly Lynn’s Sweets and Treats
• Vegan Raspberry Dark Chocolate Energy Bites by The Baking Fairy
• Welcome Spring Gravity Drip Cake by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks

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Thank you to our #SpringSweetsWeek Sponsors: Dixie Crystals, Swiss Diamond, Nancy’s Yogurt, Barlean’s, Sprinkle Pop, PEEPS, Melissa’s Produce, and Adams Extracts for generously providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and products to use for #SpringSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions expressed are my own. The #SpringSweetsWeek giveaway is open to residents of the United States who are 18 years of age or older. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering, you grant the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Eight (8) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. The #SpringSweetsWeek Bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members residing in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase is necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, or any other social channel mentioned in the #SpringSweetsWeek posts or entry.