Bars, Blondies & Brownies

Sugar Cookie Lemon Jam Bars

A crunchy sugar cookie crust, topped with a layer of your favorite lemon jam and then dusted with a generous amount of powdered sugar.  These are like “cheater” lemon bars because we are only making the crust from scratch…the lemon layer can be any type of store bought lemon curd, marmalade or jam!  

Lemon desserts scream SPRING to me and since I have already shared my classic Lemon Bars here on the blog, I thought I would switch it up and make a crisp sugar cookie crust and then slather lemon marmalade all over it.  So much easier than making your own lemon curd, for those times you just want lemon bars now!!

I baked up my sugar cookie crust and then let it cool before adding an entire jar of Jamnation Sublemonal Message Meyer Lemon Marmalade with Ginger on top.

Check out the lemon peels in the jam!!

Sugar Cookie Lemon Jam Bars

Print Recipe
Serves: 12-16 Cooking Time: 17-20 minutes

Ingredients

  • SUGAR COOKIE CRUST:
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • pinch of salt
  • pinch of nutmeg
  • JAM LAYER:
  • 10-ounce jar of lemon jam, curd or marmalade

Instructions

1

PREPARE SUGAR COOKIE CRUST: Line a 8-inch x 8-inch baking pan with foil and spray the bottom and sides with baking spray. Set aside. Preheat oven to 350-degrees. In the bowl of your stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the vanilla extract and almond extract to the bowl and mix until incorporated. Change the mixer to low speed and add the flour, salt and nutmeg. Mix until just combined. Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a rubber scraper to ensure all ingredients are incorporated. Drop cookie dough into prepared pan and press into an even layer.

2

Bake crust in 350-degree oven for 17-20 minutes, or until the edges start to brown lightly. Remove from oven and let crust cool in the pan.

3

JAM LAYER: Once cool, add the jam layer on top of the cookie crust and dust with a generous amount of powdered sugar. Cut into desired sized squares. Store bars in the refrigerator.

Do you like easy, semi-homemade desserts like this?  Are you a lemon dessert lover or hater?  Are you as ready for Spring as I am?!  Leave me a comment below!

XOXO,

Kelly

PS- I have linked this recipe up at the following link parties: Meal Plan Monday, Sugar and Spice, Foodie Friday, Pretty Pintastic Party, Reader Tip Tuesday, The Pin Junkie.

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30 Comments

  • Reply
    Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
    May 3, 2018 at 6:06 AM

    I cannot get enough lemon desserts! They scream SPRING to me too :). And I love the jam shortcut here! Have a great weekend, Kelly

    • Reply
      Kelly
      May 3, 2018 at 9:03 AM

      Thanks Kelsie! I agree! I am all about the lemon right now! Have a great weekend too Kelsie! XOXO

  • Reply
    patrick@looneyforfood.com
    May 3, 2018 at 4:10 PM

    You read my mind! Currently craving all things lemon!

    • Reply
      Kelly
      May 4, 2018 at 2:19 PM

      Hehehe great minds think alike!! More lemon to come! 🙂

  • Reply
    Judy
    May 3, 2018 at 5:01 PM

    Yes Kelly I’m ready for spring but I’m afraid the way it is looking it’s going to go right into a hot! Summer so spring will pass us by have a good week end and stay cool

    • Reply
      Kelly
      May 4, 2018 at 2:21 PM

      Thanks Judy! That happens here too! It seems like Spring is barely a season anymore! Have a great weekend 🙂 XOXO

  • Reply
    Codrut @ Clickfunnels Review
    May 4, 2018 at 12:19 AM

    Mmm…. lemon jam bars… never have eaten something like this… it looks better than apple pie 🙂

    • Reply
      Kelly
      May 4, 2018 at 2:22 PM

      Thanks Codrut! These are super yummy and easy to make too! Have a great weekend! 🙂

  • Reply
    Susan @ Culinary Envy
    May 4, 2018 at 7:33 AM

    Can I get a dozen to go please! Oh my goodness, my mouth is watering…Pinned

    • Reply
      Kelly
      May 4, 2018 at 2:22 PM

      Coming right up Susan! Thanks for pinning! XOXO 🙂

  • Reply
    Milena Perrine
    May 4, 2018 at 10:17 AM

    Crisp sugar cookie crust with slathered lemon marmalade on it is as close to perfection as lemon bars can get..So making these for tomorrow. Imagine them as dessert after eating tacos and sipping on a margarita. OMG! Pinned!

    • Reply
      Kelly
      May 4, 2018 at 2:24 PM

      Ooooh I love your thinking Milena! You will have to let me know what you think after you make this! Have a great weekend and thanks for pinning! XOXO

  • Reply
    Amy (Savory Moments)
    May 4, 2018 at 10:35 AM

    These look super yummy – I love lemony desserts!

    • Reply
      Kelly
      May 4, 2018 at 2:24 PM

      Thank you Amy! XOXO

  • Reply
    Christina
    May 4, 2018 at 3:35 PM

    DROOOOOLING! I’m laying off sugar for the moment but I’m hunting down amazing dessert recipes for my next cheat day! So in the meantime, don’t mind me, I’m just the weirdo stalker drooling over your photos 🙂

    • Reply
      Kelly
      May 7, 2018 at 6:59 AM

      Thanks Christina!! I love that you are drooling over my photos 🙂 I hope you come back and make one of my treats when it’s time for a cheat day!!! XOXO

  • Reply
    Roseann Hampton
    May 4, 2018 at 6:32 PM

    I have been craving lemon lately – I think these might be added to my baking this weekend! Thanks for sharing at The Blogger’s Pit Stop! Roseann from This Autoimmune Life

    • Reply
      Kelly
      May 7, 2018 at 7:00 AM

      Thanks Roseann! I hope you make these easy lemon bars! And thanks for hosting Blogger’s Pit Stop! XOXO

  • Reply
    Maria Doss
    May 6, 2018 at 5:47 PM

    Spring totally screams all things lemon!!! Many a times, we all need such short cuts and that meyer lemon marmalade sounds super yummmmmy. Hope your weekend is going great Kelly:)

    • Reply
      Kelly
      May 7, 2018 at 7:03 AM

      Thanks Maria!! I am loving all things lemon right now! And I have been so busy with work and moving, that I need easy shortcuts like these bars hehehe. Have a great week! XOXO

  • Reply
    Pies and Prejudice
    May 6, 2018 at 6:24 PM

    I love how easy these are to make, especially when you’re craving a lemon bar and you don’t have time to make lemon curd haha. Lemon bars (or anything lemon, really) screams spring to me as well and I love the refreshing taste when it gets hot outside. These shortcut bars look so perfect, love the pieces of lemon peels in the jam. YUM!! Hope you had a wonderful weekend, Kelly! 😀

    • Reply
      Kelly
      May 7, 2018 at 7:07 AM

      Thanks Dana! The lemon jam is amazing….Jamnation Jams comes up with some pretty creative flavors….they just need a little sugar cookie base to finish them off hehehe. Have a great week my friend! XOXO

      • Reply
        Pies and Prejudice
        May 31, 2018 at 9:58 AM

        I’ve never tried lemon jam, that sounds wonderful. Sounds even better with a sugar cookie base haha! Thanks girl and hope you’re having a fabulous week xo

  • Reply
    Liz Berg
    May 7, 2018 at 3:15 PM

    Oh, boy, these jam bars look outstanding!! Love how the tart marmalade plays off the sweet crust!! YUM~

    • Reply
      Kelly
      May 10, 2018 at 6:38 AM

      Thank you Liz! The jam on this sugar cookie crust is EVERYTHING 🙂 XOXOX

  • Reply
    P~
    May 14, 2018 at 11:37 AM

    That lemon marmalade looks incredible! It goes without saying that the bars look to-die-for good! P~

    • Reply
      Kelly
      May 15, 2018 at 8:57 AM

      Thank you P~!! XOXO

  • Reply
    Amy
    May 16, 2018 at 12:19 PM

    Congratulations on the Feature on Sugar and Spice link party. These lemon bars look delicious!

    • Reply
      Kelly
      May 18, 2018 at 7:02 AM

      Thank you Amy! These are delicious!! XOXO

  • Reply
    Classic Lemon Bars - Kelly Lynn's Sweets and Treats
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    […] LOVE lemon bars?!  Then check out these recipes too: LEMON BARS WITH NILLA WAFER CRUST and SUGAR COOKIE LEMON JAM BARS. […]

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