Lemon Cookie Bars have lots of lemon flavor and a sweet glaze. They are buttery, tangy and tart. Such a great balance between sweet and tart.

 
These bars make a really great summer dessert. They are sunshine on a plate. For lemon flavor, there’s a combination of lemon juice and zest. There’s just a little cream cheese in the filling and glaze for a touch of creaminess.
This is a truly easy dessert and only minimal equipment is needed. You’ll need a large bowl, rubber spatula, whisk, plus a 9-inch square baking dish.
HOW TO MAKE LEMON COOKIE BARS:

Make the batter. First whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix together the sugar, melted butter, vegetable oil, and cream cheese. Don’t worry if the cream cheese doesn’t completely mix in. Mix in the egg, egg yolk, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. And finally, mix in the flour mixture. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Bake for 32 to 36 minutes.
Top with glaze and add sprinkles if desired.

 
RECIPE TIPS:
I highly recommend using fresh squeezed lemon juice instead of store-bought bottled juice.
Zest the lemons before you juice them. It’s very hard to zest a lemon that has been juiced. I’ve made that mistake a few times.
Cold lemons are hard to juice. To make juicing lemons easier, microwave whole lemons for 15 to 20 seconds. Let the lemons cool some and then slice them in half and squeeze the juice out.
Parchment paper can...