Lemon Brownies

Satisfy your sweet tooth with these zesty lemon brownies. With their perfectly tangy and delicious taste, these lemon brownies will have you coming back for more.

Do you enjoy recipes like this? You might also like to try cosmic brownies, tiramisu brownies, cream cheese brownies, or mint milano brownies.

Why You’ll Love It

So delicious: These lemon brownies with their fresh lemon flavor and hint of vanilla are so good. It’s hard to stop at just one.
Easy to make: There’s nothing hard about making these tasty brownies.
Family-friendly: This is the kind of baked treat the whole family is going to love.
Lighter than conventional brownies: Swapping the chocolate for white chocolate and adding lemon and vanilla accents gives these brownies a lighter, less rich flavor.

Lemon Brownie Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

White chocolate chips: Rather than semisweet chocolate, milk chocolate or dark chocolate, these lemon zest brownies are made using white chocolate.
Eggs: Both egg yolks and a whole egg go into the brownie batter.
Vanilla extract: Use 100% pure vanilla extract for the very best result.
Lemon juice and lemon zest: Use fresh lemon juice and zest for absolutely delicious brownies.
Powdered sugar: To make the lemon glaze. Granulated sugar would be too grainy.
Baking powder: To get the texture just right.

How to Make Lemon Brownies from Scratch

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Prepare the brownie batter: Microwave the butter and chocolate chips in a mixing bowl until melted. Whisk in the eggs, vanilla and lemon juice until well combined, and then whisk in the white sugar and lemon zest. Mix in the flour and baking powder.
Bake the brownies: Pour the wet batter into a prepared pan and spread evenly with a spatula. Bake them for half an hour and let them cool on the counter while you work on the glaze.
Make the lemon glaze: Whisk the powdered sugar with lemon juice to make the glaze. Add more lemon juice or more powdered sugar to achieve your desired consistency. Pour the sugar lemon glaze over the cooled brownies.
The finishing touches: Let the glazed brownies cool some more and then remove them from the pan, slice and serve.

Substitutions and Variations

Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free flour.
Lemon zest: You can add lemon zest to your glaze as well. I like to grate some fresh lemon zest right on top of the brownies after they’re sliced.
Lemon glaze: If your glaze feels a little thick then you can add an extra teaspoon or two of lemon juice.
Salted butter: You can sub unsalted butter and a pinch of salt.

Serving Suggestions

Appetizers: Begin dinner with one of these simple air fryer appetizers.
Main course: Serve chicken fricassee or roasted apricot chicken with crack green beans and mashed potatoes next. 
Dessert: These luscious lemon brownies make a wonderful dessert!

How to Store Homemade Lemon Brownies

Store: You can store your brownies on the counter for up to 6 days or in the refrigerator for the same length of time, although they’ll dry out a little more if refrigerated. Make sure you keep your brownies in an airtight container to preserve their freshness.
Freeze: You can freeze them for up to 2 months. Wrap each brownie first in plastic wrap and then in foil before putting them in a large freezer bag.
Thaw: Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.