It was one of those warm, breezy afternoons when the garden strawberries practically begged to be picked. I couldn’t resist gathering a bowlful, their sweet scent filling the air. That’s when I thought: a batch of strawberry lemon blondies would be just the thing to bring a little sunshine right to the kitchen table.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These Strawberry Lemon Blondies
These strawberry lemon blondies taste like summer in every bite. The buttery, tender bars have just the right hint of zesty lemon to brighten things up. The texture of these strawberry lemon blondies is soft and moist, with juicy berries scattered throughout. The strawberries add a pop of fresh sweetness, juicy and slightly tart, tucked into a soft, golden blondie base.
Even better, they’re simple to make with pantry basics and fresh fruit. You don’t need any fancy equipment, just a bowl, a whisk, and about an hour. As a result, they’re perfect for a weekend bake or whenever you need a cozy pick-me-up.
Ingredients & Key Tips
The key to these blondies is balancing flavor and texture. Soft, rich, and moist — but never soggy. The glaze adds a sweet, citrusy finish that’s irresistible.
Best Strawberries to Use
Always choose fresh strawberries. Frozen berries tend to release too much moisture and can make your blondies mushy. Dice them small so they distribute evenly and gently blot them dry. If your berries are extra juicy, tossing them lightly in flour can help absorb excess moisture.
Choosing the Right Lemons
You’ll want to use fresh lemons for the best flavor. Plan on about two medium lemons for both the batter and the glaze. Look for lemons that feel heavy and firm with smooth skin. Fresh juice gives these blondies that bright, tangy lift that bottled juice just can’t match.
Pro Tips for Baking Perfect Blondies
Even Berry Distribution
After dicing, scatter the strawberries evenly into the batter. Fold them in gently so you don’t crush them. This keeps every bite balanced with fruit and blondie goodness.
Avoiding Over-baking
Bake until the top is golden and the center is just set. A toothpick inserted should come out moist with a few crumbs, but not wet. Over-baking can lead to dry blondies, so check them around 30 minutes.
Cooling & Glazing Advice
Let them cool completely in the pan before glazing. This helps the glaze set beautifully on top rather than soaking into warm blondies. The glaze should be thick enough to drizzle smoothly but not runny — add lemon juice slowly to adjust.
How to Store and Freeze
Once cooled and glazed, store your blondies loosely covered at room temperature for up to 3 days. Avoid wrapping them tightly in plastic as that can make them sticky.
To freeze, cool them completely, then wrap in plastic and a layer of foil. They’ll keep well for up to 1 month. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Simple Variations & Substitutions
You can swap the strawberries for raspberries or blueberries for a fun twist. For a gluten-free option, use a trusted brand like Bob’s Red Mill or King Arthur’s gluten-free flour blend.
If you’d like to reduce sugar, you can slightly cut back on the sugar in the batter. A simple lemon glaze without strawberry puree also works beautifully for a less sweet finish.
Related Recipes to Try
If you enjoy these, you might also love my decadent cheesecake brownies recipe for another fruity treat.
Or cozy up with an easy pumpkin pie for fall baking. And if you’re in a pumpkin mood, try my pumpkin cheesecake bars with cream cheese swirl or this moist pumpkin bread recipe — both reader favorites!
Strawberry Lemon Blondies Recipe
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Strawberry Lemon Blondies
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 16 blondies 1x
Description
Buttery, tender blondies brightened with fresh strawberries and lemon, finished with a sweet-tart glaze.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup diced fresh strawberries
1 cup powdered sugar sifted
1 Tbsp strawberry puree (from about 2 large strawberries)
About 1 Tbsp lemon juice for glaze
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350F and line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
3. Beat in the egg until well combined.
4. Beat in lemon juice (may not fully incorporate, that’s okay).
5. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
6. Mix dry ingredients into wet until no dry flour remains.
7. Fold in diced strawberries gently.
8. Spread mixture evenly in pan.
9. Bake 30–35 minutes until golden and center set (toothpick moist but not wet).
10. Cool completely in pan.
11. Puree and strain strawberries for 1 Tbsp puree.
12. Whisk powdered sugar, puree, and lemon juice until smooth glaze forms.
13. Adjust glaze consistency as needed.
14. Spread glaze on cooled blondies.
15. Let glaze set before slicing.
Notes
Use fresh strawberries, not frozen, for best texture.
Dice strawberries small for even distribution.
Do not over-bake; check at 30 minutes.
Cool completely before glazing to prevent glaze from melting.
Store loosely covered at room temperature.
Freeze: wrap cooled blondies tightly and freeze up to 1 month.
Variation ideas: use raspberries or blueberries.
Simple lemon glaze option: skip puree and use extra lemon juice.
For gluten-free: use Bob’s Red Mill or King Arthur gluten-free flour.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 blondie
- Calories: 319
- Sugar: 23g
- Sodium: 105mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 54mg
FAQ
How do you know when blondies are done?
Check around 30–35 minutes. The top should look golden and a toothpick should come out with moist crumbs but not wet batter.
How long will blondies stay fresh?
Stored loosely covered at room temp, they’ll stay fresh for about 3 days.
How long do blondies need to cool?
Cool completely before glazing, usually about 1 hour. This ensures the glaze sets nicely.
Are blondies meant to be soft?
Yes! A proper blondie is soft and tender with a slight chew around the edges.
Final Thoughts
These strawberry lemon blondies are a lovely way to celebrate fresh berries and bright flavors. I hope you give them a try — and if you do, please leave a comment and let me know how they turn out!
You can also pin this recipe on Pinterest to save it for later.
