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Home » Lemon Bars

Lemon Bars

May 14, 2019 by Debi 9 Comments

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Easy to make, and in my opinion, these are the best Lemon Bars ever. A light buttery shortbread crust covered with tangy sweet lemon curd, and simply topped with powdered sugar.

Lemon Bars - A light buttery shortbread crust covered with tangy sweet lemon curd, and simply topped with powdered sugar.
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Please let me know if you have any questions about this recipe. I read all the comments myself and I try to help as soon as I can. I have readers from all levels of comfort and experience in the kitchen on my site, and I’ve tried to answer some of your questions already in the post. But if I’ve missed anything, please feel free to leave a comment and ask.

Easy to make, and in my opinion, these are the best Lemon Bars ever.

From scratch lemon bars

These are the classic, from scratch, homemade, Lemon Bars that you’ll love. And they’re perfect for a crowd!

I’ve been making this recipe for years. In fact, I originally post it back in April, 2010. You’ll find the post for Meyer Lemon Mascarpone Sherbet and Lemon Bars over here.

But I decided it needed it’s own home. I mean, it’s so good. And I get requests all the time for the recipe. So I’ve pulled the recipe out from that post from 2010 and placed it here. I hope you love them as much as I do. They are truly one of my favorite old-fashioned treats!

Lemon bars with a crumbly crust topped with a sweet-tangy lemony topping. Not too sweet, and not too tart. These are just right.

And if you love bar cookies, you have to check out my Ginger Bars for a delicious fun twist!

These are the classic, from scratch, homemade, Lemon Bars that you’ll love. And they’re perfect for a crowd!

Perfect party food

Recently, I decided I needed to remake these Lemon Bars and take them to the Easter celebration.

Cut them how big or small you prefer

Normally I would cut them into larger slices. The size you see in the pictures.

I cut them into small pieces and took them in one of those disposable foil trays with a lid. That was perfect. The small slices allowed everyone to take a little bite. And, well, I saw several people (myself included) go back for several small bites.

Lemon Bars – I’ve been making this recipe for years because they are delicious and easy to make

How to make

These bars start off with an easy to make shortbread crust. It’s just a simple mixture of flour, sugar, salt, and butter. It makes a great buttery crust with just the right texture for these lemon bars. Not too crunchy or too crumbly.

Bake the shortbread, and while that’s baking, mix up the quick lemon topping, or lemon curd.

The lemon topping is a quick to mix up in the same bowl that you used for the crust. Just drop in the sugar, flour, eggs, and lemon juice. Mix that up, and you don’t even need a mixer to do so, just a quick mix with a whisk or sturdy fork.

Pour the lemon filling on the freshly baked shortbread, and pop back in the oven.

Once the lemon bars are cooked and cooled, sprinkle powdered sugar over the top, and you’re good to go!

Lemon bars with a crumbly crust topped with a sweet-tangy lemony topping. Not too sweet, and not too tart. These are just right.

Recipe tips

Don’t skip the aluminum foil or parchment step. Lining the pan with the foil or paper makes it so easy to remove the lemon bars from the pan.

Just take the whole tray out of the pan, and place it on a cutting board. Then it’s easy to slice them up into large bars or small bites.

Use fresh lemon juice, not the bottled kind. The little extra step of squeezing your own lemons will pay off big time.

Sometimes I’ll add a little lemon zest to the lemon filling. Or garnish the top of the lemon bars with lemon zest, after the powdered sugar topping. This is totally optional though.

If you can find them, Meyer lemons rock this recipe. Meyer lemons are sweet-tart, and have a delicious flavor. I have a little dwarf tree in my backyard that produces these juicy jewels year-round. So I typically use them for all my lemon desserts. But again, no need to fret about Meyers, regular lemons are great in this as well.

The Best Lemon Bars ever - you'll get lots of requests for this recipe

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Lemon Bars – perfect simple easy to make delicious and great for a crowd classic old-fashioned from scratch

Lemon desserts you’ll love!

Recipes like my Lemon Sandwich Cookies and Instant Pot Lemon Cheesecake are great for when you want a family pleasing meal with minimal effort. I love the slow cooker, and this is one of my Lemon Recipes you’ll want in your recipe box!

Easy to make, and in my opinion, these are the best Lemon Bars ever.  A light buttery shortbread crust covered with tangy sweet lemon curd, and simply topped with powdered sugar.

Lemon Bars Recipe

Lemon Bars – perfect simple easy to make delicious and great for a crowd classic old-fashioned from scratch

Lemon Bars

Debi
Lemon bars with a crumbly crust topped with a sweet-tangy lemony topping. Not too sweet, and not too tart. These are just right.
4.91 from 10 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 45 minutes mins
Resting time 1 hour hr
Total Time 55 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24 bars
Calories 196 kcal

Ingredients
  

CRUST

  • 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature (2 sticks)
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • Pinch salt
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

FILLING

  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 eggs
  • 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • Line 13 x 9-inch baking pan with foil, and coat with cooking spray.
  • Preheat oven to 350° F.
  • To make crust: blend butter, sugar, and salt in large bowl until smooth. Stir in flour. Scrape into pan, pressing level. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.
  • To make filling: beat sugar, flour, eggs, and lemon juice in bowl until smooth. Pour over baked crust. Place back in 350° F oven for 25 minutes, until no imprint remains when lightly touched in center. Cool on rack.
  • Remove from pan, and cut into squares. Dust with powdered sugar.

Notes

Lemon bars may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days

Nutrition

Calories: 196kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 11mgPotassium: 27mgSugar: 19gVitamin A: 275IUVitamin C: 1.5mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 0.7mg

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

Keyword bars, lemon
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Filed Under: Bars, Bites, Dessert Nibbles, Breakfast, Budget, Desserts, Gifts Tagged With: citrus, Cooking, desserts, Food, lemon, recipe, vegetarian

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about debi

ABOUT DEBI

Hello! I’m Debi, the girl behind Life Currents where I write about mainly healthy vegetarian dishes. My husband eats meat, so occasionally I share some of his dishes as well. And, I’ll share tasty treats and projects that we do. Read more...

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Julie Menghini

    May 18, 2019 at 11:28 am

    5 stars
    I just love lemon bars and these bars look so tender and moist. I love your parchment paper/foil tip for recipes like this one!

  2. Sandra Shaffer

    May 18, 2019 at 11:40 am

    5 stars
    Great tip on using real fresh squeezed lemon juice! Totally makes a delicious difference in the flavor. I’m lucky that my daughter has a lemon tree so I get them delivered fairly often! This is a keeper for sure!

  3. Deb

    May 19, 2019 at 9:16 am

    5 stars
    Yes, I would be one of those going back in for seconds! 🙂 These look just luscious, I can’t wait to try your recipe!

  4. Angela

    May 19, 2019 at 4:48 pm

    5 stars
    What a fantastic summer dessert. I really love the brightness of lemon in a dessert.

  5. michele

    May 20, 2019 at 6:53 pm

    The Meyer lemons made these bars spectacular! We devoured them! Thanks!

  6. Jennifer A Stewart

    May 20, 2019 at 7:30 pm

    5 stars
    Even though I have made them before I still can’t get over how easy they are to make and the tartness of the lemon keeps me coming back for more. Maybe that’s why I have to keep making more batches LOL!

  7. Michaela Kenkel

    May 20, 2019 at 8:13 pm

    5 stars
    I have searched high and low for a lemon bar recipe like my Mom’s — this is IT!! I don’t have to look any further!! Thank you!

  8. Kathy

    May 21, 2019 at 2:17 pm

    5 stars
    Lemon desserts are my favorite this time of year! Wishing I had a slice of these bars right now.

  9. Amy Nash

    May 22, 2019 at 6:23 am

    5 stars
    These were so delicious! That’s awesome that you have a dwarf lemon tree. I just planted a dwarf Meyer lemon tree last year in my yard and I’m hoping to get some lemons off it this year to make these again with my own homegrown lemons!

4.91 from 10 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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Hi! I’m Debi, the girl behind Life Currents, where I write about mainly healthy vegetarian dishes with some great desserts and other goodies mixed in! Read More >>>

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