Lemon Brownies
One bowl lemon brownies are light and delicious. Gooey and lemony, these dessert brownies are a refreshing citrusy dessert that is delightfully simple to make.
Ingredients
Brownies
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 zest lemon, about 2 teaspoons
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 large eggs, plus 1 egg yolk (room temperature)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice, or more water
- 1 to 2 teaspoons lemon zest, optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x9 square glass baking dish with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Mix together oil and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer or standing mixer to combine.
- Beat in lemon extract, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Add one egg at a time and then the egg yolk, mixing well between each one.
- Stir together the flour, salt, and baking powder and add to the wet mixture.
- Beat together 1 to 2 minutes until fluffy and well combined.
- Spread batter into prepared baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 30 minutes before preparing glaze.
- Whisk together the powdered sugar, water, lemon extract, and lemon juice until a smooth paste-like glaze forms.
- Spread glaze over the brownies. Allow brownies to cool completely and the glaze will set so that it’s dry to the touch. Cut into pieces and serve.
Video
Notes
- Add more or less lemon juice/extract/zest to adjust the depth of lemon flavor in the brownies and/or the glaze.
- The oil and the egg yolk (more fat) help produce a fudgier brownie. The extra egg yolk also gives the brownie a bit more saturated yellow color. You could always add food coloring for a more vibrant yellow brownie.
- When mixing the glaze, add the liquid ingredients gradually to control the consistency of the glaze. Too much water/liquid will make a very runny and less opaque glaze. I like the white contrast to the brownie color so I like the glaze to be more opaque and thick. The glaze is very sweet. Just a light glaze or even a drizzle would be great, too.