Lemon Pecan Shortbread Squares are a classic dessert that are known for their buttery, crumbly texture & bright, tangy flavor. To make these soft lemon cookies, all you need is a few simple ingredients: butter, sugar, flour, pecans, lemon extract, and lemon zest.
Lemon shortbread bars are a perfect treat for any occasion, whether it’s a holiday gathering or a simple afternoon snack. They can be served on their own as a sweet treat, or paired with a cup of tea or coffee for a cozy afternoon snack. These lemon shortbread cookies are a timeless dessert that is sure to please any crowd!
Why You’ll Love This Simple Cookie Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: This recipe only requires a few simple ingredients that are likely already in your pantry. They are as basic as flour, sugar, butter, and lemon zest.
- Easy to Make: The recipe is straightforward and easy to follow, making it perfect for beginners or those short on time. The dough comes together quickly and can be made ahead of time and stored for later use.
- Versatile: Lemon shortbread cookies are a versatile treat that can be enjoyed any time of year. They’re perfect for holiday parties, afternoon tea, or as a sweet snack with a cup of coffee.
Ingredients for Lemon Pecan Squares
Butter: For rich tasting bars, add in ½ cup + 2 TBSP of butter, softened.
Powdered sugar: Using ½ cup of powdered sugar will give these bars a nice soft texture and sweet flavor.
Flour: The structural base of these bars is 1 ¼ cup of flour.
Lemon extract: Add in ½ tsp of lemon extract for a well flavored treat.
Lemon zest: 2 TBSP of lemon zest will give these bars a lovely color and even more amazing taste.
Pecans: You will need ½ cup of chopped pecans to give each bit an incredible crunch.
How to make Shortbread Lemon Bars
Dough
In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar using an electric mixer or whisk by hand. Then add in the flour and lemon extract.
Continue to mix until the dough forms a ball and pulls away from the side of the bowl. Next, stir in the lemon zest.
Chill
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 1-2 hours to chill.
Prep
About 10 minutes before the dough is done chilling, get the oven preheating to 325°F.
Bake
Once the dough has chilled, press the dough into an ungreased 9-inch square baking pan. Score the top with a sharp knife into 16 squares and prick each square twice with a fork.
Lastly, sprinkle the pecans over the dough and press them firmly into it.
Place the bars in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned and the pecans are toasted.
Let the lemon squares cool for about 5 minutes, then cut along scored lines. Leave them in the pan, on a wire rack, to cool completely.
Serve and enjoy!
LEMON PECAN SHORTBREAD SQUARES
Ingredients
- 5/8 cup butter softened, ½ cup plus 2 TBSP
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ¼ cups flour
- ½ tsp lemon extract
- 2 TBSP lemon zest
- ½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Dough: In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar using an electric mixer or whisk by hand. Add in the flour and lemon extract. Mix until the dough forms a ball and pulls away from the side of the bowl. Stir in the lemon zest.
- Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 1-2 hours to chill.
- Prep: About 10 minutes before the dough is done chilling, get the oven preheating to 325°F.
- Bake: Press the dough into an ungreased 9-inch square baking pan. Score the top with a sharp knife into 16 squares and prick each square twice with a fork. Sprinkle the pecans over the dough and press them firmly into it.
- Place the bars in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned and the pecans are toasted.
- Let the lemon squares cool for about 5 minutes, then cut along scored lines. Leave them in the pan, on a wire rack, to cool completely. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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How to Store Lemon Shortbread Cookies
To maintain the freshness of lemon shortbread cookies, it is recommended to store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Alternatively, you can freeze them for up to three months in a freezer-safe container or resealable plastic bag.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Baking Shortbread Cookies
The most common mistakes to avoid when baking shortbread cookies are overmixing the dough, using warm or softened butter, and baking them for too long. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies, while warm or softened butter can cause the cookies to spread too much. Baking them for too long can also result in dry and crumbly cookies.
Do I Have To Chill My Cookie Dough?
Yes. When recipes request that you chill your cookie dough it’s usually for a good reason. A good reason is that the flavor gets a little longer to develop and make the cookies taste even more incredible but the biggest reason is because of the butter/fats in the dough.
By chilling the dough we allow the fats to solidify which means your cookies won’t spread out as much while baking so the texture turns out perfectly. This is especially important on warmer days or when your butter is warm or softened.
CAN LEMON SHORTBREAD COOKIES BE MADE IN ADVANCE?
You can make the cookie dough for this recipe up to a week in advance. It is perfect for allowing the cookie flavors to truly develop and for getting to enjoy baked cookies on a busy day by planning ahead.
History of Lemon Shortbread Cookies
Shortbread cookies have been a favorite for centuries, and the addition of lemon adds a refreshing twist to this classic treat. The origins of shortbread can be traced back to medieval Scotland, where it was originally made with leftover bread dough that was dried and sweetened with honey. Over time, the recipe evolved to include butter, sugar, and flour, resulting in the buttery, crumbly texture that we know and love today.
Today, lemon shortbread cookies are a popular treat around the world, and there are many variations of the recipe. Some bakers add lemon zest for extra flavor, while others use lemon juice to create a more pronounced tanginess. Regardless of the variation, lemon shortbread cookies are a delicious and refreshing twist on a classic cookie.
Love shortbread cookies? Try more incredible recipes here:
- Cherry Almond Shortbread Cookies
- Salted Caramel Bar Recipe
- Vanilla Shortbread Cookies
- Salted Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
- Lemon Butter Bars
- Raspberry & White Chocolate Shortbread
- Hidden Cherry Shortbread Cookies
- Lemon Cream Cheese Bars
- Caramel Pecan Thumbprint Cookies
- Blueberry Pie Bars
- Caramel Bars
Lemon Shortbread Squares have a crumbly texture, buttery and bright, tangy flavor. Soft lemon cookies only required a few basic ingredients: butter, sugar, flour, pecans, lemon extract, and lemon zest.
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