Description
Zesty lemon bar cookie cups blend tangy citrus with buttery shortbread in a delightful handheld dessert. Sweet and tart flavors mingle perfectly, promising a crowd-pleasing treat you’ll savor down to the last crumbly bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies Base:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 pinch salt
Lemon Filling:
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Topping:
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 pinch lemon zest (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 12-cup mini muffin tin by lightly greasing each cavity.
- Combine flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a mixing bowl, then cut in cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Press the dough firmly into the bottom and sides of each muffin cup, creating a thin, even shell.
- Bake the cookie shells for 12-15 minutes until the edges turn light golden brown.
- While the shells bake, whisk together eggs, granulated sugar, flour, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a separate bowl until smooth and well-blended.
- Remove the cookie shells from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes, maintaining their shape by gently pressing down the centers if they’ve puffed up.
- Pour the lemon filling carefully into each partially baked cookie shell, filling about 3/4 full.
- Return the muffin tin to the oven and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes, or until the filling is set and slightly jiggly in the center.
- Remove from the oven and allow the lemon bar cookie cups to cool completely in the tin.
- Carefully remove the cups from the tin using a small offset spatula or knife.
- Dust the tops generously with powdered sugar and sprinkle with additional lemon zest if desired before serving.
Notes
- Chill the butter before cutting into the flour mixture to ensure a flaky, tender cookie base with perfect crumbly texture.
- Use fresh lemon juice and zest for the brightest, most vibrant citrus flavor that elevates the entire dessert.
- Gently press down the cookie shells after first baking to create a more stable cup shape and prevent uneven filling.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute regular flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 22-27 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg