Meyer Lemon Poppy Seed Bars
Posted: 03/24/2014
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Meyer lemon poppy seed bars are sweet, chewy, tangy, and hard to resist! These cookie bars will quickly become a new favorite.
My love for Meyer lemons continues and this time it is paired with my love for cookie bars. I started with plain-Jane (but amazing) vanilla bean cookie bars. Really, is there anything “plain” about vanilla beans? I don’t think so.
I moved on to orange creamsicle cookie bars, Oreo cookie bars, and gingerbread M&M cookie bars, so Meyer lemon poppy seed bars are an obvious next step.
Even though the photos don’t do justice to these yummy bars, the recipe really is too good not to share. Lemon poppy seed bars are so tasty. They are ultra-chewy, lemony, sweet and the glaze just puts them over the top.
And….there is a secret ingredient in these bars. I again used Princess Cake and Cookie Baking Emulsion. It’s is really hard to describe this flavor of this product — a combination of citrus/almond/vanilla/butter. It has the flavor of a sugar cookie with a bit of citrus so it is a perfect fit for these lemon poppy seed bars.
A teaspoon of the baking emulsion gives the bars that extra something. Adding it to your cakes and cookies will definitely have people asking for your recipe. It’s optional in this recipe but if you haven’t bought this product yet for your pantry, I really suggest you do so.
You’ll find yourself putting it in everything! I just put it in something the other day but I can’t remember what it is because I can’t remember what I had for breakfast because I get no sleep these days. Does that get the award for the most whiny run-on sentence ever?
Enjoy!!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
bars
Meyer lemon poppy seed bars are sweet, chewy, tangy, and hard to resist! These cookie bars will quickly become a new favorite.
Ingredients
Bars
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon Meyer lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Meyer lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon Princess Cake and Cookie Bakery Emulsion (optional)
- 1 egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons poppy seeds
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick spray.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (you can use an electric hand mixer too), combine butter and sugar and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg, lemon juice, Princess emulsion, and lemon zest. Mix on medium until well combined, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Add flour, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds and mix. Mix on low until incorporated and then increase speed to medium and mix until well combined, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Press evenly into prepared baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Place on a wire rack and cool completely.
- When the bars are cool, prepare the glaze by whisking together the powdered sugar and water. Spread evenly over bars. Let harden before cutting into squares.
- Store in an airtight container.
Notes
- If Meyer lemons are unavailable, regular lemons will work fine.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1square, Calories: 133kcal, Carbohydrates: 22g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 18mg, Sodium: 78mg, Sugar: 13g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Verdict: I love the lemon and poppy seed combination in these bars.
Husband’s take: He likes these too! Even though they weren’t chocolate chip.
Changes I would make: None.
Difficulty: Easy.
Disclosure: Post contains an affiliate link.
Lori @ Foxes Love Lemons says
I made Meyer Lemon Bars with Poppyseeds this month, too! Mine are a little different, but when it comes to Meyers, how can you go wrong? But yours sort of win, because they are cookie bars. If only we could have done a swap!
Dianna says
Where do you find the Meyer lemons?
Rachel Gurk says
I got mine via Door to Door Organics (if that’s in your area and you sign up, use code RACHELCOOKS to save 10 bucks!). But I’ve seen them at most grocery stores! They are slightly smaller than regular lemons. Hope you find some!
denise says
yum
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
I agree with the comment that the icing is sinful. I am with the person who can’t resist lemon bars, which are right up there with being an all time personal favorite. I have no resistance to them. I would have to bake these bars and take them to work immediately. Otherwise I would nibble away and probably eat the whole pan in a day. Gosh, that sounded like a Miss Piggy statement. Too bad it’s the truth. Laughing——
Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps says
I think the pictures are still beautiful! The icing? Sinful. :)
Happy Valley Chow says
I love lemon bars and these definitely look amazing. Great job!
Happy Blogging!
sarah k @ the pajama chef says
i love meyer lemons! these bars look so good :)
Claire Gallam says
I really need to get on this whole meyer lemon thing b/c these look insane.
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
Love meyer lemon desserts! These bars look perfect!
Liz@Virtually Homemade says
I love meyer lemons anything! They are the perfect citrus. I think your bars look beautiful:)
steph@stephsbitebybite says
You’re reading my mind! I’ve been craving lemon/poppy seed now with this sun shining a little more. These would help to put my craving at ease!
Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog says
Oh my goodness…these look so yummy! I am totally in love with the lemon-poppy seed combo, and these bars are so gorgeous! I will definitely be giving them a try :) I also happen to have a little meyer lemon tree (no joke, my husband bought me one a year ago) so when it blooms and I have myself a little supply of lemons I’m going to remember this recipe! Thanks Rachel!
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
I just wish I could get my hands on some lemons!! :-(
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
Lemon Poppyseed anything always goes over super well in my house! Especially with a drippy, delicious glaze! I’m drooling all over my keyboard! Pinned
Taylor @ greens & chocolate says
I really need to get on the Meyer Lemon train…these might finally push me over the edge! I simply cannot say no to a good lemon bar and these look irresistible!