Go Back

The Best Lemon Bars

These lemon bars are simple to make and will wow your friends. Tart, rich, and delicious all rolled into one!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 24 people
Calories 5626.4 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 9x13 inch Baking Pan Glass or metal, ungreased
  • 2 Medium Mixing Bowls One for crust, one for filling
  • 1 Whisk
  • 1 Rubber spatula or spoon For pressing crust
  • 1 Citrus Juicer For efficient lemon juicing

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup butter softened
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 1 ½ cups white sugar
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 lemons juiced

Instructions
 

  • Gather the ingredients. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • To make the crust: Blend 2 cups flour, softened butter, and 1/2 cup sugar in a medium bowl until well combined. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Press crust into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13-inch pan. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Bake crust in the preheated oven until firm and golden, about 15 minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Meanwhile, make the filling: Whisk remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup flour in a medium bowl. Whisk in eggs, then lemon juice until smooth. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Pour filling over the baked crust. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Set the pan aside to cool completely; the bars will firm up as they cool. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • When cooled, cut bars into uniform squares. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Notes

1. For a richer lemon flavor and enhanced aroma, consider adding the zest of one or two lemons to the filling mixture. Be sure to zest only the yellow part of the rind to avoid bitterness. 2. Do not overmix the crust; blend just until combined to prevent a tough texture. Press it firmly and evenly into the pan to ensure a solid foundation. 3. The bars must cool completely, preferably chilling for at least an hour in the refrigerator, to allow the filling to set properly for clean, uniform cuts. Cutting warm bars will result in a messy presentation. 4. A light dusting of powdered sugar just before serving adds a beautiful finish and a touch of extra sweetness to balance the tartness.