Easy Lemon Bars Recipe

Simple Homemade Lemon Bars

If I had to choose a handful of recipes that my family, friends, and previous co-workers associate with me, these bright, sunshiny Lemon Bars with the perfect shortbread cookie crust would be a top contender. I’m talking Top-5 Dessert Recipe Request over the past ten years. These are the BEST lemon bars!

This kind of feedback obviously elevates this recipe to one of my favorite desserts to make. Because it makes my favorite people HAPPY!

These bars consist of two distinct layers. On the bottom is a sturdy shortbread crust with a delicate bite. It’s just the perfect thickness – not too thin, not too thick. On top of that is a perfectly baked lemon layer that’s extra bright and lemony (the most lemony lemon bar you’ll ever find!). A light sprinkle of powdered sugar tops them off. Absolute PERFECTION!

Everyone should have a go-to lemon bars recipe in their back pocket. And I mean EVERYONE!

Looking for more bars recipes? Try these super popular Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars. Or my mom’s Chocolate Mint Brownies recipe. And Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars are always a hit!

What You’ll Need

The ingredients list for this recipe is super simple, with very common pantry items. And fresh lemons, of course!

Here’s what you’ll need:

FOR THE SHORTBREAD CRUST:

• unsalted butter – Soften the butter, do not melt!
• powdered sugar – I love the lighter texture that the powdered sugar gives to the crust.
• all-purpose flour – Butter, sugar, and flour. That’s the makings of a simple shortbread crust.
• kosher salt – EVERY shortbread crust deserves a touch of salt!

FOR THE LEMON FILLING:

• eggs – You’ll need 6 eggs for this recipe, a main ingredient when making lemon curd.
• granulated sugar – This not only adds sweetness to the lemon curd mixture, but also helps to thicken it.
• lemon juice – Only freshly squeezed lemon juice will do! This will give you the brightest, freshest flavor.
• lemon zest – The secret to my extra lemony lemon bars is EXTRA lemon zest. If you adore lemon like I do, you’ll LOVE this! (Here’s the zester we use, one of my favorite kitchen tools.)
• all-purpose flour – Provides stability to the creamy lemon curd filling.

How to Make Lemon Bars

This easy lemon dessert recipe features two distinct layers: a delicious shortbread crust and a bright, creamy lemon curd filling. Grab two bowls and a baking pan, and let’s make these bars!

1. Prepare the crust: Combine butter, flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Pat evenly into your prepared pan.
2. Pre-bake crust: Bake at 350° F until set and just beginning to turn color, 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Prepare the lemon filling: Beat together the eggs, sugar, lemon juice and zest, and flour. Pour over the warm pre-baked crust.
4. Bake: Place in 350° F oven and bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until the center is set and no longer jiggly. 

Then let the lemon bars cool completely to room temperature. I usually let the pan sit on the counter for 1 to 2 hours, and then put it in the refrigerator to chill for 1 to 2 hours more.

How to Serve

Before serving, I like to give the bars a sprinkle of powdered sugar. Either sprinkle powdered sugar over the whole pan prior to cutting OR sprinkle it over individually cut bars.

I also prefer to eat the lemon bars chilled, or at least slightly chilled. This gives a firmer texture and I just truly like the chilled temperature more!

Want super clean cuts? Then bake the lemon bars in a pan lined with parchment paper. Once cooled, pull the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang and place on a cutting board. Cut into squares with a long non-serrated knife and wipe it clean between each cut.

What Makes these the BEST Lemon Bars?

I’ve eaten a fair amount of different lemon bars in my life and was left feeling disappointed by so many of them. Some simply had too much crust. But the lemon layer is where I’ve always been most critical. Some bars featured a lemon filling that was grossly “eggy” and didn’t taste like lemon at all, or were a sloppy mess when you tried to cut them. I promise you – this lemon bars recipe is NOT those kinds of bars!

Tips and Tricks

While this is an incredibly easy recipe, it never hurts to have a few extra tricks up your sleeve. Here are my tips:

• Use powdered sugar in the crust. Powdered sugar is not as dense as granulated sugar, which gives the crust a more delicate texture. This crust is the perfect thickness, with an almost a melt-in-your-mouth kind of texture!
• Pre-bake the crust. This gives the crust a head start, which guarantees a properly baked crust that can hold up the creamy lemon layer.
• Use only fresh lemon. To achieve the extra tangy lemony goodness in this recipe, use only fresh lemon juice. And add every last bit of lemon zest that the recipe calls for – I know it seems like a lot – but this is the key for that extra hit of lemon flavor.
• Do not reduce the sugar in the lemon filling. The sugar not only sweetens the fresh tart lemon filling, but also works with the eggs to thicken it. Reducing the sugar will give you a looser filling that will not set up as well.

How to Store

If you won’t be eating all the bars on the day they are baked, you should cover them tightly and refrigerate them. If any condensation forms on top of the bars, simply blot it off with a paper towel before sprinkling them with powdered sugar. I don’t recommend storing these on the counter.

Can Lemon Bars be Made Ahead of Time?

This recipe works well to make one to two days ahead of time. Just let the pan of bars cool to room temperature, cover with an airtight lid or tight-fitting plastic wrap, and refrigerate.

Before serving, remove the pan of lemon bars from the fridge. If any condensation has formed on the top of the bars, blot the bars with a paper towel. Then proceed with cutting the bars and sprinkling with powdered sugar.

Can I Freeze These Bars?

This is one of my favorite dessert recipes for freezing – I do this regularly!

This is how I freeze them:

1. Let the pan of bars cool to room temperature and then refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
2. Cut into bars.
3. Arrange a single layer of bars in a freezer-safe container.
4. Place a piece of wax paper or parchment paper over the top.
5. Repeat with more lemon bars and wax paper layers, as needed.
6. Cover with a tight fitting lid and freeze for up to 3 months.
7. To defrost, remove the amount of lemon bars you want to serve, and let them come to cool room temperature. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy!

If you make these lemon bars, do come back and let me know what you think. I especially want to hear from all you Super Serious Lemon Bar Lovers! :)