Bright Fresh Lemon Bars (Printable)
Zesty lemon bars with buttery shortbread crust, perfect for warm-weather gatherings.
# What You'll Need:
→ Shortbread Crust
01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Lemon Filling
05 - 4 large eggs
06 - 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
07 - 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
08 - 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice (about 3 to 4 lemons)
09 - 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
10 - Powdered sugar for dusting
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the flour and salt, then mix until a crumbly dough forms.
03 - Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
04 - While the crust bakes, whisk together the eggs and sugar in a separate bowl until well blended. Add the flour and whisk until smooth, then stir in the fresh lemon juice and zest.
05 - Remove the crust from the oven and reduce the temperature to 325°F. Pour the lemon filling evenly over the hot crust. Return to the oven and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the center is set and no longer jiggles when gently shaken.
06 - Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Use the parchment overhang to lift the bars out, then cut into 12 squares. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The shortbread crust comes together in one bowl with no fancy equipment needed.
- That lemon filling sets into a silky custard that balances sweet and tart perfectly every single time.
02 -
- Pouring the filling over the hot crust is not optional because the heat helps the custard begin setting immediately and prevents a soggy bottom layer.
- Patience during cooling is critical since cutting warm lemon bars will give you a messy smear instead of clean pretty squares.
03 -
- Use the parchment overhang as handles and you will never struggle to get neat, bakery style bars out of the pan.
- Dusting with powdered sugar right before serving keeps it from melting into the surface and disappearing.