Lemon Brownies

If you love lemon, you will want to try these easy lemon brownies with lemon glaze! Made with fresh lemon, white chocolate, and a hint of vanilla, these delicious brownies are baked to gooey perfection and then topped with a tangy, finger-licking lemon glaze. They are like a chewy, fudgy cross between brownies and lemonade!

Jump to:

• 🌟 Why this is the best recipe
• 📝 Ingredient notes
• 👩‍🍳 How to make this recipe
• 🎓 Storage and Freezing
• ✨ Flavor variations & substitutions
• 🎓 Expert tips
• 🥣 Equipment Notes
• ❓Recipe FAQs
• 🍫 More Brownie recipes
• Lemon Brownies

🌟 Why this is the best recipe

1. It is the most delicious - Unlike other lemon brownie recipes that don’t even use chocolate, this recipe uses high-quality white chocolate, fresh lemon juice, and pure vanilla extract to give it an unforgettable bright and fresh flavor.
2. It is super easy to make - Both the lemon brownies and the lemon glaze are simple to follow and do not require any special equipment or ingredients.
3. It has the best technique - I intentionally omit baking powder and baking soda to ensure wonderfully moist, gooey, and fudgy lemon brownies.
4. It is versatile - You can customize these brownies with other add-ins and toppings and use the delicious lemon glaze for lemon pound cake or other lemon desserts, such as my delightful lemonade bundt cake.

📝 Ingredient notes

For the lemon brownies

1. White chocolate - When making lemon brownies with white chocolate, always use high-quality white chocolate for the best flavor. I recommend using Callebaut or Lindt.
2. Butter - Always use unsalted butter, as it allows you to fully control the amount of salt. You can also make your butter at home!
3. Sugar - This lemon brownies recipe calls for plain, white granulated sugar. See my sugar guide to learn more about the different types of sugar and how to use them in baking.
4. Lemon Zest - You will need the zest of one large lemon to give the brownies its zesty lemon flavor. Organic lemons are best.
5. Lemon Juice - You will also need freshly squeezed lemon juice to add flavor to the brownies. Avoid bottled lemon juice, as the flavor will not be as delicious.
6. Egg - You will need three whole eggs, which must be at room temperature to emulsify correctly.
7. Pure Vanilla Extract - Vanilla extract is another essential ingredient that adds to the mouthwatering flavor of these brownies. Avoid using imitation vanilla extract!
8. Flour - All purpose flour works best for this recipe. See my flour guide to learn more about the different types of flour and how to use them in baking.
9. Salt - Salt is an essential ingredient to balance the sweetness of the recipe. Do not skip it!

For the lemon glaze

1. Lemon Juice - Like the brownie batter, freshly squeezed lemon juice will give you the best zesty flavor for the glaze!
2. Powdered sugar - Use fine, sifted powdered sugar to avoid lumps in the glaze.

🛒 You’ll find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the Recipe Card at the bottom of this post

👩‍🍳 How to make this recipe

1. Step-by-step process of making lemon brownies

1. Preheat your oven to 175 C / 347 F. Do not use a fan.
2. Brush the brownie pan with a bit of oil, then line the bottom with parchment paper.
3. Next, rub the lemon zest and granulated sugar together to create a lemon-sugar mixture.
4. Bring some water to a simmer over low-medium heat. Place the butter and white chocolate in the bowl and place it in the water. Continue to simmer until the butter and chocolate melt. 
5. In a separate bowl, using an electric hand mixer whip the room temperature eggs with the lemon sugar mixture for approximately 5-7 minutes until pale.
6. Then, pour the melted butter and chocolate mixture into the egg and lemon sugar mixture. Whisk until thoroughly combined, then add the vanilla extract and fresh lemon juice.
7. Use a sifter to add the flour and salt to the mixture. Then, use a rubber spatula to gently fold the mixture until combined. Refrain from overmixing the batter, which can incorporate too much air, develop gluten, and result in tough, cake-like brownies.
8. Pour the batter into the prepared brownie pan.
9. Use an offset spatula to smooth the top of the batter. Then, place the batter in the oven and bake for approximately 25-30 minutes until the edges appear baked and the middle is slightly gooey (but not raw). The brownies will set further as they cool, so it is okay if they seem somewhat underbaked. Just make sure not to overbake them!
10. Allow the brownies to cool and set completely before glazing.

💡 Top Tip: For ease of melting the white chocolate and butter over the simmering water, use a double boiler. Whether you use a double boiler or a bowl, you must heat it over very low heat to avoid overheating the chocolate. Overheating can cause the chocolate to separate and become greasy.

2. How to glaze lemon brownies

1. In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar with the freshly squeezed lemon juice until well combined. 
2. Pour the glaze over the cooled brownies, then allow it to set for a few minutes.
3. Serve and enjoy!

💡 Top Tip: Add more powdered sugar to the mix for thicker lemon glaze. For a thinner glaze, add more fresh lemon juice.

🎓 Storage and Freezing

Brownies are super easy to store and enjoy at a later date. However, you must let them cool completely before putting them away, as the moisture from the heat could lead to mold growth. I recommend cooling them on a rack for at least an hour first.

How to store?
Once cooled, store leftover brownies at room temperature in an airtight container. You can also store them in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

How to freeze?
Once cooled, wrap the brownies tightly in parchment paper or a plastic freezer bag. Then, wrap them again in aluminum foil and move them to a zippered freezer bag. The extra wrapping will help prevent freezer burn from forming. Freeze for up to three months.

✨ Flavor variations & substitutions

With different citrus fruits - Put a twist on these delicious lemon brownies by using orange or lime zest and juice instead.

With different extracts - Instead of vanilla extract, try this recipe with almond extract. Or, make it super lemony by using lemon extract!

With different toppings - Instead of the lemon glaze, you can top these brownies with powdered sugar, melted white chocolate, or my creamy cream cheese frosting. You can also top it with a raspberry glaze, as I do in my baked raspberry donuts recipe, or the blueberry glaze in my baked blueberry donuts recipe.

For substitutions, check my butter substitute and egg substitute articles.

🎓 Expert tips

1. Always preheat your oven for the best results. Since every oven differs, you may need to adjust the total baking time slightly.
2. Do not attempt to reduce the sugar in the recipe, as it will affect the texture of the brownies. Although it is a sweet dessert, the lemon will help to offset some of the sweetness. Likewise, do not attempt to adjust or change the other ingredients or steps in the recipe, as minor changes can drastically affect the outcome.
3. You can also use a microwave to melt the chocolate and butter if necessary. However, I recommend using a plastic versus a glass container since glass makes it much easier to burn the chocolate.
4. When cooling, place the brownies in the refrigerator to help them set quicker and give them a cleaner, prettier look when cut.
5. For perfect, gooey brownies, consider slightly underbaking them.

🥣 Equipment Notes

Always use a digital scale to measure your ingredients for the most consistent results. Cup measurements can be inaccurate and result in an undesirable taste and texture. Likewise, a digital oven thermometer ensures an accurate temperature.

I prefer a 7-inch/18 cm square brownie pan to make nine brownie slices in this recipe. You will need an electric hand mixer when mixing the egg and sugar. However, you will need a rubber spatula to fold the wet and dry ingredients to prevent overmixing. An offset spatula is a handy tool for smoothing the top of the brownie batter after you pour it into the pan.

❓Recipe FAQs

🍫 More Brownie recipes