Bright Fresh Lemon Bars (Printable Version)
Zesty lemon bars with buttery shortbread crust and tangy citrus filling, perfect for any gathering.
# What You Need:
→ Shortbread Crust
01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Lemon Filling
05 - 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
06 - 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
07 - 4 large eggs
08 - 2/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 3–4 lemons)
09 - Zest of 2 lemons
→ Topping
10 - Powdered sugar, for dusting
# How-To:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine melted butter, granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, and salt. Stir until a soft dough forms. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
03 - Bake the crust for 18 to 20 minutes, or until lightly golden around the edges. Remove from the oven but keep the crust in the pan.
04 - While the crust bakes, whisk together granulated sugar and flour in a large bowl. Add the eggs, fresh lemon juice, and lemon zest. Whisk until smooth and fully combined with no lumps remaining.
05 - Pour the lemon filling evenly over the warm pre-baked crust. Return to the oven and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the center is set and only slightly jiggles when gently shaken.
06 - Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once fully cooled, lift the slab out using the parchment overhang, slice into 12 even bars, and dust generously with powdered sugar before serving.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The contrast between that melt in your mouth shortbread and the sharp, sunny filling is the kind of thing that disappears from a plate within minutes at any gathering.
- They look like they took all day but the whole thing comes together with one bowl for the crust and one for the filling, no mixer required.
02 -
- If you cut into these while they are still warm the filling will smear and you will lose those clean, pretty edges, so patience is genuinely part of the recipe.
- Leaving the parchment overhang is not optional unless you enjoy chiseling bars out of a pan with a spatula and serving them in crumbles.
03 -
- Baking the filling on a still warm crust helps it start setting immediately and creates a cleaner layer between the two textures.
- For an extra punch of tang, add the zest of a third lemon to the filling and you will notice the difference immediately.