Many a copy of JOY has been sold on the strength of this recipe. One fan says her family is sure these are the cakes St. Peter gives little children at the Gates of Heaven, to get them over the first pangs of homesickness.

　　The lemon glaze should be spread on warm cakes or Christmas cookies. It has a fine consistency for embedding decorative nuts and fruits.

　　

Ingredients

Twelve 2 3/4 x 2 1/3-inch bars

　　1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened

　　2 tablespoons granulated sugar

　　3 large eggs, divided

　　1 3/4 teaspoons vanilla, divided

　　3/4 cup all-purpose flour, plus additional 1 1/2 tablespoons

　　1 cup packed light brown sugar

　　1/4 teaspoon baking powder

　　1/8 teaspoon salt

　　1 1/2 cups chopped toasted, pecans or walnuts

　　1 cup flaked or shredded sweetened coconut, lightly toasted

　　

Lemon glaze:

1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

　　1/4 cup fresh lemon, orange, or lime juice

　　1 teaspoon vanilla

　　

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 9-inch baking pan lined with foil.

　　

Step 2

Beat the butter, granulated sugar, 1 egg yolk, and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla in a medium bowl until well blended.

　　

Step 3

Stir in 3/4 cup of flour until well blended and smooth.

　　

Step 4

Press the dough evenly into the baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, beat 2 eggs, light brown sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons flour, baking powder, salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla in a medium bowl until well combined.

　　

Step 5

Stir in nuts and coconut.

　　

Step 6

Spread the mixture evenly over the hot baked crust. Bake until the top is firm and golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out slightly wet, 20 to 25 minutes. Set the pan on a rack. If desired, while the bars are still warm, spread evenly with Lemon Glaze (recipe below).

　　

Step 7

Let stand until the bars are cool and the glaze is set.

　　

For lemon glaze:

Step 8

Beat confectioners' sugar, juice, and vanilla together until smooth.

　　Recipes reprinted with permission from The Joy of Cooking, 75th Anniversary Edition by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker, and Ethan Becker. (c) 2006 Simon & Schuster Inc., The Joy of Cooking Trust, and the MRB Revocable Trust. Buy the full book at Amazon or Bookshop.