Glazed Lemon Squares

For this month's Secret Recipe Club, I was assigned to Cook Lisa Cook.  If you've never seen her blog before, you simply must check it out.  She makes the most delicious things and her adorable daughter gets to eat them.  I must admit, I'm envious.  At first, I couldn't decide whether I should make the Oatmeal Cashew and Chocolate Granola Bars (which look way better than store-bought ones), Cinnamon Bun Cookie Bars, White Chocolate Marshmallow Cranberry Cashew Bark, (perfect for Valentine's Day), or her Glazed Lemon Squares.  In the end, I decided on the Lemon Squares, in part because I can't resist anything lemony, and also because these are different from any other lemon squares I've ever made.  Usually, you would top them with powdered sugar.  But, in this case, they're covered with a lemony glaze, giving you a double lemon kick in these bars. 

I loved how these bars came out of the oven with a crackly, crispy, shatter-y crust on top.  Then, hiding underneath is all that soft, lemony, melt in your mouth filling.  But, the glaze, oh the glaze is what makes these bars a star.  You cannot leave it off, the bars would just not be the same without them.  Like I said, it adds another layer of lemon flavor that you just wouldn't get with plain, old powdered sugar.  Plus, the tartness helps to even out the sweetness so that it becomes perfectly balanced.

I made this batch to share with another lemon bar lover and I think she's going to be over the moon to get them.  From one Lisa to another, thanks for the yummy recipe!

Glazed Lemon Squares (from Cook Lisa Cook)

1 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 c. powdered sugar
1/2 c. butter

Filling:
2 Tbsp. flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 large eggs
1 c. sugar
2 1/4 tsp. lemon zest
2 1/2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Glaze:
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350F.  Combine the flour and sugar and cut in the butter until the mixture looks like coarse cornmeal.  Press the dough evenly into a parchment paper-lined 8x8 pan.  Bake for 15 min. 

For the filling: 
Whisk the eggs with the sugar until well combined.  Add in the lemon zest and juice and mix well.  Stir in the flour and baking powder till well combined.  Once you take the crust out of the oven, pour on the lemon mixture.  Bake 25 min. or until the filling has set up and starts to turn brown.

For the glaze:
Mix together the powdered sugar and lemon juice till well combined and smooth.  Spread the glaze evenly over the bars once they have cooled completely.  Chill for at least two hours before slicing.