Lemon~Ginger Chip Bars

This week, it's just Maddie & Me.  We both miss Ari, although when I said I was going to bake this morning, Maddie announced, "I don't have to share, right, Mimi?"  They both love to bake and that makes me happy because it's my passion.  I have such great memories of baking with my Mom and her letting me discover how much fun it is...never a chore, and they're discovering that too. 

I couldn't quite decide what I was going to bake until I remember a new product I had bought from King Arthur Flour a while back--Lemon Juice Powder.  It provides a really nice boost of lemon flavor to cookies, cakes, icings, sauces and glazes--perfect for this bar.  Maddie seemed open to my experimenting with it as well as adding Lemon Chips and Ginger Chips.

Lemon ~Ginger Chip Bars
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. Lemon Juice Powder
2 3/4 cup King Arthur all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
1/3 cup Mini Ginger Chips
3/4 cup Lemon Chips

Preheat oven to 350F-degrees.  Spray a 9" x 13" baking pan (I used my spring-form pan) with a non-stick baking spray.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugars thoroughly.  

Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Add the eggs, one at a time and beat well after each addition.  Add the vanilla and lemon and mix on medium for 1 minute.  Scrape down the sides once again.  
Add the dry ingredients and mix on low to combine, then on medium for 1 minute.  Stir in the lemon and ginger chips.  Spoon cookie batter into the prepared pan.  Spread to smooth.

Always let your assistant lick the utensils to test the batter--YUM!

Bake in the preheated oven about 18 minutes or until golden brown and firm to touch.

Let cool 10 minutes.  If you have a spring-form pan, remove the sides to cool thoroughly.  Mix up glaze.

Glaze:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 T Light Karo Syrup
1/4 tsp. Lemon Juice Powder
2 T hot water

Blend all ingredients together and do your best "Jackson Pollack" to drizzle the glaze on top!

I asked Maddie if she wanted to try a bar and she said, "Mimi, can I have the center one?"

"Yes, you may!  Enjoy!!