Description
Indulge in the perfect balance of sweet and tart with this traditional lemon bars recipe. Featuring a buttery shortbread crust and a tangy lemon filling, these bars are a delightful treat for any occasion. Easy to make and irresistibly delicious!
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Crust:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- For the Filling:
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 3–4 lemons)
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare the Crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, powdered sugar, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Press and Bake the Crust: Press the crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking pan. You can line the pan with parchment paper for easier removal. Bake the crust for 18-20 minutes, or until it is lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly.
- Make the Lemon Filling: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar and flour. Add the eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Bake the Lemon Bars: Pour the lemon filling over the pre-baked crust. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the filling is set but still slightly jiggly in the center. Let the lemon bars cool completely in the pan before cutting.
Notes
- Use Fresh Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice makes a huge difference in the flavor. Avoid using bottled juice for the best homemade lemon bars.
- Don’t Overbake: Overbaking can result in a tough or cracked filling. The filling should be set but still slightly jiggly in the center.
- Cool Completely: Allow the lemon bars to cool completely before cutting. This will help the filling set properly and make for cleaner cuts.
- Dust with Powdered Sugar: A dusting of powdered sugar adds a touch of sweetness and makes the bars look even more appealing.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 220 Kcal
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: lemon bars, traditional lemon bars, lemon bar recipe, easy lemon bars, homemade lemon bars, dessert, baking, lemon dessert, shortbread crust