Best Lemon Squares With Candied Ginger Recipes

LEMON-GLAZED CANDIED-GINGER COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift flour, baking powder and 1/4 teaspoons salt into bowl. Cream butter and brown sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add candied ginger, and beat for 2 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla until well combined. Add flour mixture, then beat on medium-low speed until dough just comes together.
• Shape dough into two 1-inch thick disks. Wrap tightly in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 3 days.
• Preheat oven to 350°F Roll out 1 disk on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness, and cut out 2-inch circles. Place rounds 1/2 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Rolls out scraps. Refrigerate rounds for 10 minutes.
• Bake rotating sheets halfway through, until cookies are set and edges are bright gold, 12-14 minutes. Transfer parchment with cookies to wire racks. Let cook completely. Repeat with remaining dough. Cookies can be stored for up to 3 days.
• Whisk confectioners' sugar, lemon zest and juice, honey, water, and pinch of salt in a bowl until smooth. Drizzle glaze over the cooked cookies. Let stand until glaze is set, at least 20 minutes. Glazed cookies can be stored overnight.

LEMON GINGER COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, baking soda, ginger, allspice, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• In a large bowl using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed until creamed, about 1 minute. Add the egg, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract and beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl and beat again as needed to combine.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. Beat in 2 Tablespoons of chopped crystallized ginger. Dough will be thick and sticky. Scoop small sections of dough (about 1 scant Tablespoon of dough each) and roll into balls. Very lightly dip the tops of each into remaining crystallized ginger. (You don't want too much- just a few pieces.) Place dough balls onto a large plate or lined baking sheet.
• Cover and chill the cookie dough balls in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (and up to 4 days).
• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
• Arrange chilled cookie dough balls 3 inches apart on the baking sheets. Bake for 11-13 minutes or until lightly browned on the sides. The centers will look very soft.
• Remove from the oven and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Whisk the glaze ingredients together. If desired, add more confectioners' sugar to thicken or more juice to thin out. The thicker the glaze, the whiter (and less translucent) it will be. Drizzle on cooled cookies. Icing will set after about 1 hour, so these are convenient to store and transport.
• Cookies without glaze stay fresh covered at room temperature for up to 1 week. Cookies with glaze stay fresh covered at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

BEST LEMON SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Process 2 cups flour, butter, and 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar in a food processor until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; press into the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the edges of the crust are golden brown, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool crust to room temperature.
• Beat white sugar, eggs, 1/4 cup flour, lemon juice, baking powder, and lemon zest together in a bowl using an electric mixer until light and fluffy; pour onto the cooled crust.
• Bake in the oven until custard is set, 25 to 28 minutes. Cool lemon squares completely; dust the top with more confectioners' sugar.