Classic Lemon Bars Recipe: Bright, Tangy Sweetness in Every Bite

Zesty and bright, these classic lemon bars dance with tangy sunshine on your taste buds.

Soft, buttery shortbread creates a delicate foundation for the vibrant citrus filling.

Sweet meets tart in a dessert that whispers memories of summer afternoons.

Crisp edges and silky centers promise a delightful contrast with every single bite.

Simple ingredients come together to craft a treat that feels both nostalgic and refreshing.

Home bakers adore how effortlessly these bars transform ordinary moments into something special.

You’ll want to slice these and savor each sunny, lemony square with pure joy.

Why Classic Lemon Bars Are Tart, Bright, And Sweet

• Zesty Flavor Explosion: Bright, tangy lemon filling bursts with citrusy goodness, creating a perfect balance of sweet and tart that dances on your taste buds.
• Foolproof Baking Technique: Simple two-layer process makes these bars accessible for bakers of all skill levels, with a buttery shortbread crust and silky smooth lemon custard top.
• Quick Crowd-Pleaser: Ready in under an hour, these bars are ideal for last-minute desserts, potlucks, or unexpected guests, delivering maximum flavor with minimal effort.
• Versatile Dessert Delight: Equally impressive as a casual family treat or an elegant party dessert, these lemon bars work for everything from picnics to fancy afternoon teas.

What You’ll Need For Classic Lemon Bars

• All-Purpose Flour: A soft, versatile flour that creates a tender and crumbly foundation for the lemon bars.
• Powdered Sugar: Adds subtle sweetness and helps create a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture for the crust.
• Unsalted Butter: Provides rich flavor and helps bind the crust ingredients together, creating a smooth, cohesive base.

• Large Eggs: Act as a natural thickener and binder, giving the filling its smooth and creamy consistency.
• Granulated Sugar: Balances the tartness of the lemons and helps create a sweet, glossy filling.
• Fresh Lemons: The star ingredient that provides bright, zesty flavor and natural tanginess to the bars.
• All-Purpose Flour: Helps stabilize and thicken the lemon filling, ensuring a perfect set.

• Powdered Sugar: A classic dusting that adds a beautiful, elegant finish and extra touch of sweetness to the lemon bars.

How To Bake Classic Lemon Bars In No Time

Step 1: Prepare Baking Dish

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grab a 9×13-inch baking dish and coat it with a light layer of butter or cooking spray. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the bottom of the pan, allowing some overhang on the sides for easy bar removal later.

Step 2: Create Buttery Shortbread Crust

• All-purpose flour
• Powdered sugar
• Unsalted butter
• Salt

Mix the flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Cut cold butter into small cubes and work it into the dry ingredients using your fingertips or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, creating a smooth, compact layer.

Step 3: Bake Initial Crust

Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake until the edges turn a light golden color, which typically takes about 15-18 minutes. The crust should look slightly dry and set.

Step 4: Whip Up Zesty Lemon Filling

• Fresh lemons
• Granulated sugar
• Eggs
• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder

In a separate mixing bowl, crack the eggs and whisk them until smooth. Add sugar and continue whisking until the mixture becomes pale and slightly fluffy. Zest and juice the lemons, then incorporate the lemon juice and zest into the egg mixture. Sift in flour and baking powder, stirring until completely combined.

Step 5: Combine and Finish Baking

Pour the vibrant lemon filling over the warm shortbread crust, ensuring an even distribution. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes. The filling should be set but still have a slight jiggle in the center.

Step 6: Cool and Dust

Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool completely at room temperature. Once cooled, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan. Place on a cutting board and dust generously with powdered sugar using a fine-mesh sifter.

Step 7: Slice and Serve

Using a sharp knife, cut the bars into square or rectangular pieces. For clean cuts, wipe the knife between each slice. Serve and enjoy these tangy, sweet treats that perfectly balance buttery crust with bright lemon flavor.

Tips To Make Perfect Classic Lemon Bars

• Perfectly Line Your Pan: Use parchment paper with overhang on two sides to create easy lifting and clean cutting of lemon bars without sticking.
• Zest Before Juicing: Collect fresh lemon zest first, which adds intense citrus flavor and ensures you don't waste the fragrant outer layer before squeezing juice.
• Powdered Sugar Trick: Dust bars with powdered sugar just before serving to prevent moisture from dissolving the delicate sugar coating and maintain a pristine appearance.
• Chill for Cleaner Cuts: Let the lemon bars cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least an hour to help them set firmly and slice more precisely with sharp, clean edges.
• Storage Wisdom: Store lemon bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking and maintain their delightful texture.

How To Store And Reheat Classic Lemon Bars Properly

• Refrigerate: Store leftover lemon bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Cover with plastic wrap or wax paper to prevent them from drying out.
• Freeze: Carefully wrap individual bars in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container. They'll keep well for 2-3 months without losing their delightful texture.
• Room Temperature: If serving within 24 hours, keep lemon bars on the counter in a sealed container. Avoid direct sunlight or warm areas to maintain their crisp crust.
• Reheat: Gently warm chilled bars in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or let them sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving to restore their soft, tangy flavor.

What Goes Well With Classic Lemon Bars

• Zest with Citrus Tea: Pair these tangy lemon bars with a light, fragrant Earl Grey tea. The bergamot notes complement the bright lemon flavor, creating a refreshing harmony that dances on your palate.
• Creamy Counterpoint: Serve alongside a dollop of lavender-infused whipped cream. The subtle floral undertones soften the lemon's sharp edge, adding a luxurious touch to each bite.
• Wine Wonderland: Choose a crisp Moscato d'Asti or a chilled Riesling. These sweet, slightly sparkling wines echo the dessert's citrusy profile while providing a delightful effervescence that cuts through the richness.
• Nutty Accompaniment: Sprinkle some toasted almond slivers on top or serve with a side of pistachio biscotti. The nuttiness adds a delightful textural contrast and earthy depth to the bright, zesty lemon bars.

New Ideas For Classic Lemon Bars

• Zesty Orange Bars: Swap lemon juice and zest with fresh orange, creating a vibrant citrus dessert with bright, sweet undertones that dance on your palate.
• Lavender Lemon Bars: Infuse the shortbread crust with dried lavender and add a subtle lavender extract to the lemon filling, transforming the classic recipe into an elegant, aromatic treat.
• Coconut Lemon Bars: Mix shredded coconut into the shortbread base and sprinkle toasted coconut flakes on top, introducing a tropical texture and rich, nutty flavor to the traditional recipe.
• Honey Lemon Bars: Replace some granulated sugar with local honey in the filling, delivering a deeper, more complex sweetness and silky smooth consistency that complements the tangy lemon perfectly.

Classic Lemon Bars FAQs

• What makes these lemon bars so special?

These classic lemon bars feature a buttery shortbread crust and a tangy, silky smooth lemon filling that perfectly balances sweet and tart flavors.

• Can I use bottled lemon juice instead of fresh lemons?

Fresh lemon juice is recommended for the best flavor and brightness. Bottled juice can work in a pinch, but it may lack the vibrant, zesty taste of freshly squeezed lemons.

• How do I get that perfect, smooth lemon filling?

The key is whisking the eggs, sugar, flour, and lemon juice thoroughly until completely smooth, then baking until just set – the filling should have a slight wobble when gently shaken.

• Are these lemon bars difficult to make for beginners?

Not at all! These bars are surprisingly simple to prepare. Even novice bakers can create a delicious dessert with just a few basic ingredients and some careful mixing and baking.

Classic Lemon Bars Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 16 1x

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Description

Zesty “Classic Lemon Bars” bring sunshine to dessert tables with buttery shortbread crust and tangy citrus filling. Sweet-tart flavors invite you to savor each delightful bite of this timeless bakery treat.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 4 large eggs
• 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
• 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened

Liquid Ingredients:

• ⅔ cup (160 ml) fresh lemon juice (about 3–4 lemons)

Finishing Ingredients:

• ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
• ¼ teaspoons salt
• Zest of 1 lemon (optional, for added flavor)
• Powdered sugar, for dusting

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Instructions

1. Prepare the baking vessel by generously coating a 9×13-inch pan with butter and layering parchment paper for effortless extraction of the finished dessert.
2. Craft the buttery shortbread foundation by blending flour, powdered sugar, and cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, creating a delicate base for the zesty topping.
3. Press the crumbly shortbread mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared pan, ensuring a compact and smooth surface that will serve as the perfect platform for the lemon layer.
4. Bake the golden crust in the preheated oven until the edges turn a delicate light brown, developing a crisp and slightly toasted character that will complement the tangy lemon filling.
5. While the crust cools slightly, whisk together fresh eggs, granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, and vibrant lemon zest to create a silky, bright custard-like mixture bursting with citrusy essence.
6. Incorporate freshly squeezed lemon juice into the egg mixture, whisking thoroughly to ensure a smooth, luminous filling that will provide a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness.
7. Gently pour the lemon custard over the partially cooled shortbread crust, allowing it to spread evenly and create a seamless layer of bright, sunshine-colored topping.
8. Return the pan to the oven and bake until the lemon filling sets completely, developing a slight wobble in the center but maintaining a smooth, glossy surface.
9. Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature, which helps the filling to firm up and makes cutting easier.
10. Once thoroughly cooled, lift the bars from the pan using the parchment paper edges and dust generously with powdered sugar for a classic, elegant finish.
11. Slice into precise squares, revealing the beautiful layers of golden crust and vibrant lemon filling, ready to be enjoyed.

Notes

• Swap regular flour with gluten-free flour blend for those with gluten sensitivities, ensuring the same delightful texture and taste.
• Adjust the sugar quantity slightly based on the tartness of your lemons, tasting the filling before pouring to achieve the perfect sweet-tangy balance.
• Use room temperature eggs for smoother, more evenly incorporated lemon filling that sets beautifully without curdling.
• Dust powdered sugar just before serving to prevent moisture from making the topping look soggy, keeping the bars looking fresh and appetizing.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 16
• Calories: 220
• Sugar: 18 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg