Ingredients
Scale
- For the Bars:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- Zest and juice of 2 lemons
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp poppy seeds
- For the Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- Optional: ½ tsp lemon zest for extra flavor
Instructions
- Preparing the Batter: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. In a mixing bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, eggs, and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and poppy seeds. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
- Baking the Bars: Bake for 20–25 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely in the pan before glazing.
- Making the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding more lemon juice for a thinner glaze or more powdered sugar for a thicker one. Stir in lemon zest if desired.
- Glazing the Bars: Drizzle the glaze evenly over the cooled bars using a spoon or piping bag. Allow the glaze to set for 15–20 minutes before slicing into squares.
Notes
- For a vegan option, use plant-based butter, egg substitutes, and dairy-free powdered sugar for the glaze.
- Gluten-free alternative: Substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
- Storage tip: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert/Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (1/9th of the recipe)
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg