Lemon Brownies are fluffy and tangy, and are much lighter than chocolate brownies. When you want a bright, zesty refreshment, these lemon squares are perfect for tea parties and desserts.
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Why this Lemon Brownie Recipe is a Keeper
These delicious lemon brownies are a great twist on the classic brownie recipe. Lemon brownies are made with sugar and lemon zest glaze, making a great recipe full of fresh lemon flavor. Here are a few reasons why you’ll love these lemon brownie bars:
- 30 Minute Dessert: Have these lovely lemon blondies ready in just 30 minutes.
- Crowd-Pleaser: This refreshing lemon brownie recipe is sure to be a hit with your guests, no matter the occasion.
- Seasonal: Say hello to summer with these lemon zest brownies. Everyone likes these lemon brownies.
How Can I Add Lemon Flavor into the Brownies?
Despite their sour flavor, lemons are popular in dessert baking because of their versatility. When balanced right with sweet ingredients, lemons offer a bright, citrusy flavor to cakes, brownies, pies, and more. If you’re a lemon lover like us, you may want to intensify the lemon taste in these brownies by increasing the amount of lemon flavor. Add more lemon zest and lemon juice, or add in a dash of lemon extract, lemon oils, or lemon sugar.
Ingredients to Make Lemon Brownies
- Fresh Lemon Zest: Use a zester, a grater, or a fork to score the peel of the lemon. This will give you freshly grated lemon zest.
- Lemon Juice: Use lemon juice in both the brownie mixture and to make the glaze on top.
- White Sugar: Make this lemon recipe with white granulated sugar.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Lemon Brownie Prep Ahead Suggestions
- Lemon Zest and Juice: For fresh lemon juice, juice your lemons before making the brownies. You can also zest a lemon in advance as well.
- Glaze: Make the lemon glaze and store in the fridge until ready to use.
Pro Tip for this Lemon Dessert
Let the brownies cool completely before cutting. This will help prevent them from crumbling.
How to Make this Recipe for the Best Lemon Brownies
These brownies have a bright lemon flavor, and are topped with a simple lemon glaze. They’re chewy and fudgy, but also are light and refreshing thanks to fresh lemon juice and zest. To learn how to make these sweet lemon brownies, follow the steps below.
These are the basic steps for making chewy lemon brownies. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Prep the Brownies
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F a line a baking pan with parchment paper. Then, mix together flour, sugar, salt, and softened butter in a large bowl.
2. Combine Ingredients
In a separate bowl, add the lemon juice, eggs, and lemon zest. Whisk together to combine. Add to the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
3. Bake the Brownies and Create a Lemon Glaze
Pour the brownie batter into the pan, then bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the brownies comes out clean. Remove the brownies from the oven and allow to cool. When the brownies are done baking and cooling, combine lemon zest into the powdered sugar and lemon juice for the glaze. Pour the delicious lemon glaze over the brownies.
How to Store Lemon Brownies
- Storing: To store the brownies, cover the brownie pan with two layers of plastic wrap, or transfer the brownies to an airtight container, and store at room temperature.
- Using Leftovers: Consume leftover brownies up to four days after storing.
Variations and Substitutions for Lemony Brownies
- White Chocolate Chips: White chocolate chips will help balance the lemon flavor with some sweetness.
- Fruit Glaze: Make the glaze with a different fruit juice instead of lemon, like raspberry or blueberry.
Tart Lemon Brownies FAQs
Serve these brownies with lemon curd, lemon icebox pie, and peach cobbler.
For a fudgy texture, mix in some brown butter. This will help you avoid dry brownies while giving them a rich texture.
Yes. For instance, you can use a low-fat or vegan butter option, or a gluten-free flour.
Expert Tips for Easy Lemon Brownies
- Lemon curd: Swirl lemon curd into the brownie batter for a burst of tangy sweetness to the lemon squares recipe.
- Nuts: Chopped walnuts or pecans can add a nutty crunch to your brownies.
- Poppy seeds: Sprinkle poppy seeds throughout the batter for a subtle crunch and a touch of visual interest.
More Recipes for Lemon Lovers
If you love lemon dessert recipes, here are some of our favorite lemon desserts for you to try!
- Icebox Lemon Cake
- Lemon Cooler Cookies
- Strawberry Lemon Blondies
- Lemon Blueberry Loaf
- Lemon Ricotta Muffins
- Lemon Curd Trifle
Lemon Brownies
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Ingredients
- ¾ cup Flour
- ¾ cup Sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ½ cup Butter, softened
- 2 Eggs
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
- ½ Lemon Zest
Lemon Glaze
- ½ cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
- ½ Lemon Zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare an 8×8 inch square pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar and salt. Mix in the softened butter.
- In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, lemon juice and zest. Add to the bowl of dry ingredients and stir to combine.
- Pour batter into 8×8 inch prepared pan. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove and let cool.
- Make the glaze by whisking the powdered sugar, lemon juice and zest together. Pour over the top of the cooled brownies.
Christina’s Notes
- Lemon curd: Swirl lemon curd into the brownie batter for a burst of tangy sweetness.
- Nuts: Chopped walnuts or pecans can add a nutty crunch to your brownies.
- Poppy seeds: Sprinkle poppy seeds throughout the batter for a subtle crunch and a touch of visual interest.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.