Classic Lemon Bars

stack of three lemon bars on a small green cake stand.

Published by Kate

This classic lemon bar recipe has a sweet and tart lemon custard on top of a shortbread crust. They are lemon bar perfection!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 45

Total Time 55

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings servings

Calories 261 kcal

Ingredients

For the crust:

½ cup unsalted butter softened
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup powdered sugar
¼ teaspoon salt

For the filling:

2 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons lemon juice
Zest of one lemon
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray.

For the crust:

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, flour, powdered sugar, and salt with a hand mixer.
Pour into the prepared pan and flatten into an even, compact layer with your hands (press firmly but don’t pack it super tightly).
Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until lightly brown around the edges.

For the filling:

While the crust is baking, whisk together all of the filling ingredients in a large bowl.
Remove the crust from the oven and immediately pour the filling over the top. Return to the oven for 23–27 minutes, or until the center no longer jiggles when you shake the pan gently.
Let cool and sprinkle with additional powdered sugar. Slice and serve.

Video

Notes

Need to soften butter in a hurry? Cut the butter into tablespoon-sized slices, and place on a plate. Microwave for 10–15 seconds on defrost. Flip and microwave for another 10–15 seconds on defrost. Voila! Softened butter in a hurry.

Store the lemon bars in a covered container either at room temperature or in the refrigerator. They'll last up to a week. You can also freeze lemon bars for up to 3 months.

Double the recipe to make a 13x9-inch dish. You may need to increase the baking time for the filling by a few minutes.

Make sure the bars are fully cool before cutting. This ensures that the filling isn't runny.

Nutrition

Calories: 261kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 3gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 104mgPotassium: 39mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 368IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 24mgIron: 1mg

Keyword classic lemon bars, lemon bars

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