March 22, 2024
Review RecipeThe Best Lemon Bars
This old-fashioned lemon bars recipe is a classic family favorite with plenty of sweet citrusy goodness and bright lemon color.
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Table of Contents
These bright and citrusy lemon bars are old-fashioned desserts made with simple ingredients. Our made-from-scratch buttery shortbread crust is layered with a luscious lemon filling and finished with a light dusting of powdered sugar that will delight your taste buds.
What Are Lemon Bars?
Part crust, part curd, 100% delicious!
What Do Lemon Bars Taste Like?
Lemon bars have a perfect tangy citrus flavor that is balanced by the sweetness from the shortbread crust.
The Best Lemon Bar Recipe Ingredients
You’ll need:
For The Crust:
- 1 cup of butter, melted
- ½ cup of sugar
- 1½ teaspoons of vanilla extract
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
For The Filling:
- 3 cups of sugar
- 1 cup of all-purpose flour
- 6 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup of lemon juice (about 4 lemons)
- 2 tablespoons of lemon zest
- confectioner’s sugar for dusting
PRO TIP:
Use fresh lemon juice to really enhance the flavor of this recipe, bottled lemon juice will not have the same flavor or texture.
Lemon Bars Substitutions & Additions
MEYER LEMONS: Meyer lemons have a slightly sweeter taste than regular lemons but can easily be used as a substitute in the lemon filling for this classic recipe.
CITRUS: You could change up the flavor of these yummy bars with a different citrus flavor. Try grapefruit, blood orange, lime, or regular orange.
How To Make Lemon Bars
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. For the shortbread base, mix the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla together in a medium bowl.
Add the flour and stir to combine.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
This is one recipe that I really recommend using a glass baking dish for. I just use a standard 9×13 glass casserole dish that you can pick up just about anywhere.
STEP TWO: Press the crust mixture firmly into a 9×13 glass baking pan lined with parchment paper.
Bake crust for 15 to 20 minutes or until the edges are light golden brown. Set warm crust aside.
PRO TIP:
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your crust at the lower end of the recommended baking time.
STEP THREE: To make the lemon layer, add the sugar and flour to a large bowl and use a whisk to get out any lumps.
Add the eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest and whisk until combined.
STEP FOUR: Pour the filling over the top of the crust. The lemon mixture will be a little runny. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the center is set and no longer jiggles.
It’s normal to see air bubbles on the top of your lemon bars after baking. You can’t even tell they’re there once you dust them with powdered sugar.
STEP FIVE: Remove from the oven and cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate.
These actually taste amazing after chilling for several hours or overnight. Dust cooled bars with powdered sugar before serving.
PRO TIP:
Once your homemade lemon bars are well chilled, take an oiled and very sharp knife and cut. I recommend wiping it off in between cuts just to get those beautiful, clean lines.
How Do You Cut The Perfect Lemon Bars?
To make perfect cuts in your lemon bars, have a bowl of warm water nearby.
Wet the knife in the warm water, wipe it clean with a dry dish towel and make one cut from one edge to the other.
Serving This Recipe For Lemon Bars
Serve these perfect lemon bars with a warm cup of tea or a refreshing cold drink, such as our raspberry iced tea or homemade raspberry lemonade, which would blend beautifully with the flavor of the lemon.
You’ll want to try our easy blueberry dump cake and our lemon poke cake as well for more quick and simple desserts.
MORE BAR RECIPES
Lemon Bars Recipe Storage
How long do lemon bars last in the fridge? Lemon bars will keep in the fridge for up to four days.
Can you store lemon bars at room temperature? If you are planning to enjoy the lemon bars within a day or two, they can be kept at room temperature.
Any longer and it is best to store them in the fridge.
Can you freeze lemon bars successfully? Wrap each lemon bar individually in wax paper and store it in an airtight container.
Stored this way, they will keep in the freezer for up to four months.
Sweet, tart, and delicious, these classic lemon bars are the perfect easy dessert. You’ll love the simple shortbread crust and fresh lemon filling. Whip up a batch for sharing, or keeping all to yourself (we won’t judge!).
Lemon Bars Recipe FAQs
Should lemon bars be refrigerated?
It is best to store this easy lemon bars recipe in a covered container in the fridge for up to four days or in the freezer for up to four months.
Could I use a different citrus flavor in this classic lemon bar recipe?
This easy recipe is flexible enough that you could replace the lemon juice with grapefruit, orange, blood orange, or lime juice.
Can I use bottled lemon juice for these traditional lemon bars?
If at all possible, you should use fresh lemon juice in this easy lemon bar recipe. Bottled lemon juice will not give you the same rich lemony flavor.
Why are my lemon bars so gooey?
Your lemon bars will still be gooey once they come out of the oven warm. Let them cool and set, and they should firm up.
Why do my lemon bars taste like eggs?
If you overcooked your lemon bars, they may have an eggy taste to them. Make sure to follow the baking times accurately.
Did I overcook my lemon bars?
If your lemon bars have an eggy taste or a grainy texture, they may be overcooked.
More Classic Dessert Recipes You’ll Love
- Lemon Sugar Cookies
- Blueberry Hand Pies
- Key Lime Pie
- Banana Pudding
- Lemon Curd
- Lemon Cheesecake Bars
- Lemon Brownies
- Lemon Raspberry Cookies
- Five Star Bars
- Coconut Cream Bars
- Christmas Shortbread Cookies
- Salted Nut Roll Bars
- Lemon Chiffon Cake
- 7 Layer Bars
- Lemon Drizzle Cake
- Caramel Cheesecake Bars
- Lemon Shortbread
- Lemon Lasagna
- Recipes with Snickers Candy Bars
- Cherry Pie Bars
Easy Lemon Bars
This old-fashioned lemon bars recipe is a classic family favorite with plenty of sweet citrusy goodness and bright lemon color.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 24
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup butter, melted
- ½ cup sugar
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups flour
Filling
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 cup flour
- 6 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup lemon juice, fresh is best (about 4 lemons)
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- Confectioner's sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper.
- For the crust, mix the butter, sugar, and vanilla together in a medium bowl.
- Add the flour and stir to combine.
- Press firmly into your prepared pan and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the edges are light brown.
- Add the sugar and flour into a large bowl. Use a whisk to get out any lumps.
- Add the eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice and whisk until combined.
- Pour the filling over the warm crust. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the center is set and doesn’t jiggle.
- Remove from oven and cool completely at room temperature. Then refrigerate.
- Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice to really enhance the flavor of this recipe, bottled lemon juice will not have the same flavor or texture.
- This is one recipe that I really recommend using a glass baking dish for. I just use a standard 9×13 glass casserole dish that you can pick up just about anywhere.
- Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your crust at the lower end of the recommended baking time.
- Once your lemon bars are well chilled, take an oiled and very sharp knife and cut. I recommend wiping it off in between cuts just to get those beautiful, clean lines.
Nutrition
Calories: 256kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 77mg | Potassium: 46mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 297IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg
Have You Tried This Recipe?Follow me on Pinterest @spaceshipslb
Comments
Layne Kangas says
We LOVE these… truly a classic dessert! They’re also very easy to make, my boys love to help!
Virine says
T. This is zooooooooo good! Great recipe! I made these lemonbars voor a friend, as a gift. But when we tasted it I had to fight my husband and 14jr old daughter out of the kitchen 😂 Thx!
Virine from Holland
Leanna says
Lemon is one of my favorite flavours this time of year. Its fresh and bright tasting and always makes me think of Spring and sunshine.
Thank you for joining Sam at I at the Waste not Wednesday link party Stephanie. We appreciate you dropping by.
Dana says
Very good recipe, however 4 lemons only made about a tbsp of zest and 1/2 cup of lemon juice. I add 2 drops of lemon extract and 1/2 cup water to the 1/2 cup juice to make the full cup of lemon juice. That worked out well.
Caroline says
Thanks for the recipe! I tried it today and it turned out a little more cake-y than I thought they would. Maybe I used too much flour? It also took a whole bag of lemons- maybe 7 or 8 to get the full amount of lemon juice. They are currently cooling and I can’t wait to try them out and maybe make some modifications next time!
Regina says
Came out wonderful the first time. I used traditional measuring cups, second time I weigh the dry ingredients. We’ll see how they turn out. Is there a big difference in the technique I used ?
Gloria says
Absolutely the best, so easy to make and full of great flavor!
Scott A Wheeler says
The are literally the best lemon bars I have tasted since my grandmothers.
Angie says
I want to make these today? Is it still okay if I don’t have a glass baking dish?
Layne Kangas says
Yes, enjoy!
Lisa says
Amazing! So easy and unfortunately I have a hard time putting them down.
Kristen says
Has anyone halved these? My hubby will probably only have one or two and it’s just us in the house. But I’ve gotta make these! I was thinking of just halving all the ingredients and using an 8×8 glass dish. Anyone else tried that?
Layne Kangas says
I’ve never tried halving because my guys inhale them! haha But I would assume you could do an 8×8 dish and halve. Let me know how it works if you try it! Enjoy 🙂
Gloria says
One of the best treats in the world!
Lora Swisher says
Easy to make. Doubled the recipe for an event. Perfect!!!
Elena says
So delicious, buttery, tangy!!! I made it for my family and some coworkers and they were a hit!!!
Chelsa says
My husband loves lemon anything. He asked that I find a recipe for lemon squares. Let’s just say I have made these 3 times recently and he has brought them up to work at the mine, and everyone loved them! Thank you for this recipe. I wouldn’t change a thing about it. YUM!
Pamela K says
Great recipe that turned out great.
Lisa M says
Came out perfect!
Melinda Miller says
Made this recipe today and it was so so easy. I just took them out of the oven, let them cool some and temptation got the best of me and I had to taste. Delicious!!! The crust gives a slight crunch and then the lemon filling is soft and so tastee!!’ I will be making this again in the very near future. If you like lemons— make this !