An effortless lemon blondie recipe

With the spring season upon us, bringing warmer temperatures and sunnier days, I have been craving all things lemon. Personally, I associate the vibrant, citrus fruit with blooming flowers, a fresh springtime scent and beautiful weather, and after scrolling through TikTok, I came across a lemon-centered recipe I knew I needed to try out. 

The second I saw the caption — “starting off spring with these lemon bars” — I saved the TikTok and bought all the ingredients listed in the recipe, not really paying attention to the actual video itself. So, while I thought I was following the steps for making traditional lemon bars with a custard-like filling and shortbread crust, this recipe actually outlined the process for a lemon-bar variation instead — lemon blondies. Blondies are similar to brownies but are typically not chocolate-based. 

First, the process was extremely simple. In fact, the most time-consuming part was fishing out the lemon seeds from the hand-squeezed lemon juice. Also, I only needed to mix together one batter — as opposed to two separate ones for the crust and filling — so the process did not take long at all. Overall, I’m glad I unintentionally baked these easy yet delectable lemon blondies, perfect for sharing with friends or for when you’re in the mood for a cooling, flavorful dessert. 

Prep time: 30 minutes

Bake time: 25 minutes

Cool time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 sticks of unsalted butter 
• 3 large eggs
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 medium-sized lemons
• 2 cups powdered sugar

Blondies Instructions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the two sticks of butter. Once completely melted, allow the butter to cool for 5 minutes.
3. Add the granulated sugar into a large-sized mixing bowl. Then, slowly mix in the melted butter. 
4. Once the butter and sugar have been combined, whisk in the eggs one at a time. 
5. Add the zest and juice of one lemon into the mixture and whisk until smooth.
6. Slowly, add the flour and salt into the same bowl. Mix until combined. 
7. Using butter or a non-stick spray, coat an 8x8-inch pan before pouring in the batter. 
8. Once the oven is preheated, bake for 25 minutes. To ensure the blondies are fully cooked, insert a metal knife into the center of the baking dish. As you pull it out, the knife should exit cleanly.
9. Once done baking, let the blondies cool for at least 5 minutes.

Icing Instructions: 

1. While the blondies cool, add powdered sugar to a medium-sized mixing bowl. 
2. Add in the juice of one lemon, and whisk until the mixture is thin. If the icing remains clumpy, add a teaspoon of water and continue whisking. 
3. Once the blondies have cooled, pour the icing on top. Let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes, or until the icing has hardened, before slicing the blondies and serving. 

The final product is delicious. The lemon blondies are rich, soft and chewy, mimicking the consistency of the traditional blondies you may be familiar with. Additionally, the exterior of the lemon blondies is slightly crispy, providing a nice textural contrast. The flavors are also phenomenal. For instance, the delicate, cooling icing — a crucial component of the dessert — adds a perfectly sweet finishing touch to the blondies. 

My favorite part, however, is the bold lemon flavor that shines through with every bite. The moist interior and light icing is packed with this tangy, citrus lemon essence, resulting in an incredible blend of sweet and sharp flavors. 

Ultimately, lemon blondies are an ideal springtime treat that will undoubtedly satiate any cravings for a refreshing dessert. Even their appearance screams spring, with their soft, warm yellow color that reminds me of sunshine. I will definitely be recreating this recipe multiple times throughout the rest of the season, and I highly recommend you do the same. 

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