Not just for blondies, of course, these Lemon Brownies with Lemon Glaze are a citrus lover’s dream - soft, chewy, and bursting with bright lemon flavor! Topped with a sweet and tangy lemon glaze, every bite melts in your mouth, delivering the perfect balance of zing and sweetness. Best of all, they’re incredibly easy to make, so you can whip up a batch anytime a lemon craving strikes!
Craving more bright and zesty lemon recipes? Try my Funfetti Lemon Cake Cookies, Simple Lemon Cake, or Lemon Ice Cream!
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What are Lemon Brownies with Lemon Glaze?
This classic American dessert, lemon brownies with lemon glaze, is a chewy, citrusy twist on classic brownies, featuring a dense, fudgy texture without chocolate! Packed with fresh lemon juice and zest, these treats offer a perfect balance of sweetness and tang. Topped with a zesty lemon glaze, they deliver an extra burst of citrus flavor, making them an irresistible dessert for lemon lovers!
Easy to make and refreshingly bright, they’re perfect for any occasion! Give these delicious brownies a try!
History of Lemon Brownies with Lemon Glaze
Lemon blondie is a modern take on traditional brownies, swapping chocolate for bright citrus flavors. While the exact origin is unclear, they likely evolved from lemon bars popularized in the 1960s.
Home bakers began experimenting with dense, chewy lemon-based treats, inspired by the texture of brownies but craving a tangy alternative. The rise of food blogs and social media in the early 2000s helped lemon brownies gain popularity, with bakers sharing their variations online.
Today, they are a beloved treat worldwide, especially favored in warm seasons for their refreshing, zesty flavor. It is typically enjoyed during the spring and summer months when citrus flavors are most refreshing.
They make a perfect dessert for picnics, brunches, tea parties, and warm-weather gatherings. Their bright and tangy taste also makes them a favorite for Easter, Mother’s Day, and bridal showers. Read on to learn more about this easy lemon brownie with lemon glaze recipe!
Substitutions
- Unsalted butter - ½ cup coconut oil (for a dairy-free option) or ½ cup applesauce (for a lower-fat version)
- Cane sugar - ¾ cup coconut sugar (for a less refined option) or ½ cup honey or maple syrup (reduce other liquids slightly)
- All-purpose flour - ¾ cup gluten-free all-purpose flour (for a GF version) or ¾ cup almond flour (for a nutty, lower-carb option)
- Powdered sugar - blended coconut sugar (for a refined sugar-free version) or monk fruit sweetener (powdered) for a lower-sugar option.
Recipe Variations
- Orange Lemon Brownies – Swap half of the lemon juice with freshly squeezed orange juice for a milder, sweeter citrus flavor.
- Berry Lemon Brownies – Fold in ½ cup of fresh or freeze-dried raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries for a fruity burst.
- Coconut Lemon Brownies – Add ½ cup shredded coconut to the batter and sprinkle some on top of the glaze for a tropical touch.
Storage
- Store the brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to 1 week. Then, thaw at room temperature or in the fridge before serving.
- For longer storage, freeze unglazed or glazed brownies in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, placing parchment paper between layers if glazed.
Ingredients
Listed below are all the ingredients you will need:
- Unsalted butter
- Cane sugar
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Eggs
- Fresh lemon juice
- Lemon zest
- Powdered sugar
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish and add parchment paper for easy removal.
Beat the butter, sugar, and salt in a large bowl until well combined.
Mix together the eggs, 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons of lemon zest in a separate bowl.
Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture.
Beat on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes until you achieve a smooth batter. You may use a stand mixer.
Pour batter into the prepared baking dish.
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 23 to 25 minutes.
Mix together the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
Mix well until it forms a thick glaze consistency.
Add to cooled brownies and allow to sit for 10 minutes so the glaze will harden.
And here you go - a tart lemony dessert!
Hint: Use fresh lemon juice and zest for the best flavor - zest adds extra citrusy goodness! 🍋✨
⭐ Top Tips
- If you are like me, who always forgets to take out the butter from the chiller before baking, slice the unsalted butter into cubes. It will help soften it quickly and will be ready for baking in a few minutes.
- If you do not have a non-stick baking pan, it is best to line your baking pan with parchment paper. It is so much easier to take out your lemon brownies after baking.
- Before pouring the lemon glaze into your lemon brownies, wait for a good ten to fifteen minutes. Cooling the lemon brownies will prevent the glaze from being too watery, and the glaze adheres better to a cooler surface.
FAQ
More Lemon Flavored Desserts:
- Lemon Cake
- Snowball Lemon Drop Cookies
- 3 Ingredient Lemon Ice Cream
- Easy Lemon Sheet Cake
- Funfetti Lemon Cake Mix Cookies
Lemon Brownies with Lemon Glaze
Ingredients
For the Lemon Brownies:
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup cane sugar or granulated sugar
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour sifted
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 pieces eggs
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
For the Lemon Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease an 8-inch square baking dish and line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
Make the Brownies:
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter, sugar, flour, and salt until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients and mix on medium speed until smooth (about 2 minutes).
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
- Bake for 23-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the brownies cool completely before adding the glaze.
Make the Lemon Glaze:
- In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest until smooth and thick.
- Spread the glaze over the cooled brownies and let it set for 10 minutes before slicing.
Watch The Recipe Video!
Storytelling Time!
Is it weird that I don't like to buy lemons? Let me explain. All my life, if I wanted to use lemons in a recipe, I only had to walk into my backyard and pick a lemon. And if I purchased a lemon, my mom or dad would mention we had lemons in the backyard - and that is why I don't like buying lemons.
Anyways, these lemons came from my parents' backyard. They were juicy and sour- just the way I like them. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
PS: What fruits do your bakers have in your backyard? Feel free to share!
Lynne Redman says
Ok hope it turns out well, but recipe is written very poorly. At no time do they tell you when to mix in flour. So guess, then for glaze you pick. Tbsp or tsp of lemon juice . You guess
Lainey says
Hi Lynne, I totally missed adding the all purpose flour in the recipe card, so thank you so much for notifying me. I also fixed the lemon juice measurements. 🙂
Jackie says
This recipe did not work for me unfortunately.
Followed directions to a T--it seemed odd to me to mix the flour, sugar and butter all together but I wanted to stay true to the recipe. I baked it exactly at 22 minutes, and the texture is rubbery. Nice prominent lemon flavor in the glaze and the cake itself, but too tough and oddly chewy. 🙁 Sorry I had to throw the batch out. In the future I would maybe rub lemon zest into the sugar, then cream in the butter and blend, then beat in the eggs one at a time, then fold in lemon juice and flour?
Lainey says
Thank you for sharing your experience and feedback, Jackie! I'm sorry to hear the texture didn't turn out as expected. Your suggested adjustments sound thoughtful and could definitely create a different texture—I'd love to know how it works if you give it another try! Sometimes overmixing or small variations in ingredient measurements can affect the outcome. I appreciate you taking the time to try the recipe and for offering helpful suggestions. 😊
Sweet says
I love brownies but I've never tasted the lemon kind. I wanna make this soon!
Cherry says
This brownie recipe is interesting! I'd like to try this lemon flavor. Thanks for sharing! 🙂