The Perfect Lemon Bars Recipe: Sweet, Tangy & Irresistibly Easy

Lemon bars dance with vibrant citrus energy, refineing ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary dessert experience.

Soft and bright, these delectable treats capture the essence of sunny flavor in every delicate bite.

Sweet and tangy notes intertwine, creating a harmonious balance that delights the palate.

The creamy filling nestles atop a crumbly foundation, promising a textural journey with each mouthful.

Home bakers adore these simple yet elegant confections for their impressive taste and straightforward preparation.

Friends and family will marvel at your culinary skills when you present these irresistible bars.

Prepare to fall in love with a dessert that celebrates zesty simplicity.

Why You’ll Love Super Easy Lemon Bars

• Whip Up Citrusy Bliss: These lemon bars burst with bright, tangy flavor that dances on your taste buds, delivering a perfect balance of sweet and zesty goodness in every bite.
• Effortless Baking Delight: The recipe requires minimal prep work and basic ingredients, making it accessible for bakers of all skill levels, from novice to experienced home cooks.
• Texture Perfection: Experience a dreamy combination of buttery, crumbly shortbread crust and silky-smooth lemon filling that melts in your mouth, creating a luxurious dessert experience.
• Quick Crowd-Pleaser: Ready in under an hour and perfect for spontaneous gatherings, potlucks, or weekend treats, these lemon bars will become your go-to dessert for any occasion.

Super Easy Lemon Bars Ingredients

• Butter: Provides rich, tender base for the crust with a smooth, creamy texture.
• All-Purpose Flour: Creates the structural foundation for the crumbly, crisp crust.
• Powdered Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

• Eggs: Bind the filling and create a smooth, custard-like consistency.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the filling and helps create a glossy, balanced lemon flavor.
• All-Purpose Flour: Helps thicken and stabilize the lemon filling.
• Lemon Juice, Lemon Zest: Provides bright, tangy citrus flavor with fresh, aromatic notes.

• Powdered Sugar: Adds a delicate, sweet dusting and beautiful presentation to the lemon bars.

Super Easy Lemon Bars Instructions

Step 1: Prep the Oven and Pan

Warm up your oven to 350°F. Grab an 8×8 inch baking pan and give it a quick spray with baking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper, letting the edges hang over for easy removal.

Step 2: Create the Crumbly Crust

• Softened butter
• Flour
• Powdered sugar

Mix until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Press this delightful mixture firmly into the prepared pan. Pop it in the refrigerator for 10 minutes to firm up.

Step 3: Bake the Crust

Slide the pan into the preheated oven. Bake the crust for 15-18 minutes until it turns a light golden color.

Step 4: Whip Up the Tangy Filling

• Fresh lemon juice
• Lemon zest
• Eggs
• Sugar
• Flour

Blend until smooth and well combined.

Step 5: Assemble and Bake

Pour the vibrant lemon filling over the warm crust. Return to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. The center should have a slight jiggle when you gently shake the pan.

Step 6: Cool and Chill

Let the lemon bars cool completely at room temperature. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to help them set perfectly.

Step 7: Serve with Flair

Just before serving, dust the top with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar. Cut into squares and enjoy your zesty, sunshine-packed treat!

Super Easy Lemon Bars Tips

• Zest Like a Pro: Use a microplane grater to easily remove only the bright yellow part of the lemon, avoiding the bitter white pith underneath.
• Chill for Perfection: Refrigerating the crust before baking helps prevent spreading and creates a more stable, crisp base for your lemon bars.
• Room Temperature Magic: Bring eggs and lemons to room temperature before mixing to ensure smoother, more evenly combined filling.
• Press Firmly: When creating the crust, use the back of a measuring cup to press the crumbs evenly and create a compact, uniform layer.
• Cut Clean Slices: Wipe your knife with a warm, damp cloth between cuts to get picture-perfect, clean-edged lemon bars every time.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers of Super Easy Lemon Bars

• Refrigeration: Store leftover lemon bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking and maintain their delicate texture.
• Freezing: Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor preservation.
• Reheating: Thaw frozen lemon bars in the refrigerator overnight. Allow them to sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving to restore their perfect soft consistency and vibrant citrusy taste.

Super Easy Lemon Bars Pairing Tips

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: A chilled sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio complements the tangy lemon bars, cutting through the sweetness and enhancing the citrus flavors.
• Serve with Lavender Earl Grey Tea: The floral notes of the tea beautifully balance the bright, zesty lemon, creating a sophisticated and refreshing dessert experience.
• Accompany with Fresh Berries: A side of raspberries or strawberries adds a burst of color and natural sweetness that perfectly contrasts the lemon bars' tartness.
• Combine with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: A scoop of creamy, rich vanilla ice cream provides a cool, smooth counterpoint to the intense lemon flavor and buttery crust.

Super Easy Lemon Bars Variations

• Tropical Citrus Escape: Replace lemon juice with a blend of orange and lime juices for a vibrant, tropical flavor profile that brings sunshine to your dessert.
• Lavender Lemon Dream: Infuse the crust with dried lavender and add a touch of lavender extract to the filling for an elegant, aromatic twist on the classic recipe.
• Berry Burst Lemon Bars: Swirl fresh raspberry or blueberry puree into the lemon filling before baking, creating a beautiful marbled effect with a burst of fruity freshness.
• Coconut Lemon Fusion: Incorporate shredded coconut into the crust and sprinkle toasted coconut flakes on top for a tropical, textural enhancement that complements the zesty lemon flavor.

Super Easy Lemon Bars Recipe

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4.6 from 20 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 9 1x

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Description

Zesty lemon bars bring sunshine to your dessert plate with a buttery shortbread crust and tangy lemon filling. Creamy, bright, and perfectly balanced, these bars offer a delightful sweet-tart treat you’ll want to savor until the last crumb.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs (room temperature)
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup unsalted butter (room temperature)

Citrus Ingredients:

• ½ cup lemon juice (2–3 lemons)
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest (finely grated)

Finishing Ingredient:

• ¼ cup powdered sugar (for dusting)

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Instructions

1. Prepare the baking vessel by coating an 8×8 inch (20×20 centimeters) pan with non-stick spray and carefully line with parchment paper, ensuring complete coverage of the bottom and sides.
2. Combine softened unsalted butter, all-purpose flour, and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl, blending until the mixture resembles coarse, crumbly texture.
3. Transfer the crumb mixture into the prepared pan, pressing firmly and evenly to create a compact base layer.
4. Chill the crust in the refrigerator for 10 minutes to help set the texture and enhance stability.
5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) and place the chilled crust inside.
6. Bake the crust for 15-18 minutes until the edges turn a light golden brown, indicating a perfectly crisp foundation.
7. While the crust bakes, whisk together fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, large eggs, granulated sugar, and all-purpose flour in a separate mixing bowl until smooth and well-incorporated.
8. Remove the baked crust from the oven and carefully pour the vibrant lemon filling over the hot surface, ensuring even distribution.
9. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes, watching for a slight jiggle in the center that signals perfect doneness.
10. Allow the lemon bars to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour to help the filling set firmly.
11. Before serving, dust the chilled bars generously with additional powdered sugar, creating an elegant, snow-like finish.

Notes

• Chilling the crust helps create a crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth texture that sets this lemon bar recipe apart from others.
• Using fresh lemon juice and zest guarantees a bright, tangy flavor that will make your taste buds dance with excitement.
• Parchment paper makes removing the bars from the pan super easy, ensuring clean, picture-perfect slices every time.
• Powdered sugar not only adds a sweet finishing touch but also covers any small imperfections, making your dessert look professionally prepared.
• Refrigerating the bars allows the filling to set completely, intensifying the lemon flavor and creating a delightful, firm texture.
• Room temperature eggs blend more smoothly into the filling, preventing lumps and creating a silky-smooth consistency.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 290 kcal
• Sugar: 22g
• Sodium: 130mg
• Fat: 12g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Carbohydrates: 40g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 4g
• Cholesterol: 55mg