The Best Lemon Bars Recipe
This is the BEST Lemon Bars Recipe with a buttery shortbread crust and a thick, luscious layer of citrus custard. These Lemon Squares make a sublime treat!
Lemon bars are a popular dessert that is easy to make, but these are the best, bar none. These Easy Lemon Bars are always a hit! These have the perfect ratio of creamy, flavorful lemon filling and tender crust.
Why You Must Make
- These are classic lemon bars with a shortbread crust and sweet-tart lemon custard topping.
- Not everyone is a chocoholic, so having a few recipes with lemon is great for your dessert repertoire.
- These lemon squares are easy to make and absolutely delicious!
Ingredient Notes:
- Kitchen Staples: flour, sugar, salt, eggs
- Butter – Do not use margarine. I used salted butter.
- Fresh lemons for lemon juice and zest – Never use bottled lemon juice as the flavor is inferior
- Powdered Sugar – Sift before using to remove lumps
- Strawberries – optional garnish if making for company.
Expert Tips:
- First, buy fresh lemons. You will need 1/2 cup of fresh juice. Each average lemon will provide approximately 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, so you will need at least 4 lemons. I’d buy one extra to be safe as there is a wide variation in sizes and juice production!
- PRO-Tip: There are a couple of ways to get the maximum juice out of a lemon. First, you can roll the lemon back and forth on the counter with the palm of your hand to help break up the fibers. Also, microwaving the whole lemon for about 20 seconds may help get additional juice as well!
- Use the food processor to make the shortbread crust. It is quicker than cutting the butter in by hand, plus makes a tender crust.
- Par baking the crust first provides a barrier to the lemon filling plus ensures the crust will finish baking at the same time as the topping.
- Making a lemon filling instead of a lemon curd provides a moister more flavorful burst of lemon.
- Lining the baking dish with parchment or non-stick foil makes for easy removal and pan cleanup!
- Let the bars cool completely before cutting to get the cleanest-looking squares.
- Dust with powdered sugar before serving for a nice finished appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Starting from the bottom up, these bars begin with a simple, buttery shortbread crust. Nothing funky, just 3 ingredients pulsed in the food processor to make a perfect base.
Next,the combination of both lemon juice and lemon zest gives a bold citrus flavor. Note that fresh juice and zest are a must. None of the jarred lemon juice or off-the-rack dried lemon zest.
Adding flour to the lemon mixture thickens the filling perfectly without compromising the texture.
Having the perfect ratio of crust to filling is key, too. You need just enough crust so you can pick up these bars with your fingers as needed and a thicker layer of lemon custard to give you that zesty lemon flavor you love!
For the cleanest slices, chill your bars first. Then use a warm knife (run under hot water, then dry it) to help the knife glide through the bars easily.
Lining the baking pan with non-stick foil or parchment allows you to easily remove a whole batch to a cutting board for easier slicing.
If you want all the bars to be the same size, use a ruler to make marks at 2-inch intervals along each side to guide you.
They can be stored on the countertop at room temperature for 2-3 days, but to extend their lifespan, it’s best to refrigerate them. They will be good for 4-5 days kept in the fridge
You May Also Like:
There is no doubt that chocolate is the gold standard for decadent desserts at our house. Fruit pies rate near the top, too. Though he snubs lime sweets, the hubby always raves when I whip up a lemon dessert. Lemon bars are the easiest way to experience the sweet-tart nirvana of a lemon dessert! And just to feel virtuous, top each with half a ripe strawberry! Double the fruit for a nice dose of vitamin C. This Best Lemon Squares Recipe is a must make!!!
- Lemon Zucchini Cake from Mom on Timeout
- Lemon Meringue Pie is another family favorite with its mile-high, billowy meringue topping
- Meyer Lemon Streusel Bars
- Luscious Lemon Curd Tart
- Lemon Pound Cake is dense and delicious!
- Strawberry Lemon Tart
- Lemon Blueberry Muffin Bread
- More Dessert Recipes you’ll love
The Best Lemon Bars Recipe
Luscious lemon bars with a shortbread crust.
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1 cup flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup butter cold butter, diced
Lemon topping:
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoons lemon zest
- 1/2 cup flour, sifted
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Garnish:
- Powdered Sugar
- Fresh strawberries, cut in half, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º. Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with non-stick foil or line with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a food processor, pulse the crust ingredients until the butter is in very small pieces . Press into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake about 15 minutes or until the crust just starts to brown.
- To make the filling, whisk together eggs, sugar, lemon juice, zest, flour, and salt. Immediately pour over hot crust when it comes out of the oven.
- Bake for 30-35 more minutes or until topping is firm and lightly browned.
- Cool, then cut a sliver off all sides before sprinkling with powdered sugar and cutting into bars. Garnish with berries if desired.
Notes
You may double the recipe and bake in a 9 x 13-inch pan or triple and bake in a jelly roll pan.
Recipe adapted from Ina Garten
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1 barAmount Per Serving: Calories: 229Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 81mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 0gSugar: 29gProtein: 3g
45 Comments on “The Best Lemon Bars Recipe”
These were so easy to make. Everyone loved them and wanted the recipe. I’d say that was a big hit for sure! Thanks for the recipe!
This is exactly what I’m looking for in a lemon bar! A little sweet and a little tangy! Just perfect!
I love lemon bars, and this recipe is a classic! Definitely a keeper.