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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
  • 2 Mixing Bowls One large for crust, one medium for filling
  • 1 Whisk For the lemon filling
  • 1 Pastry blender or fork For blending crust ingredients
  • 1 Citrus Juicer For fresh lemon juice

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

For the crust, ensure your butter is genuinely softened, not melted, to achieve the perfect tender, crumbly texture. Avoid overworking the dough. Enhance the lemon filling by zesting your lemons before juicing and incorporating 1-2 teaspoons of zest for a brighter, more complex citrus note. Do not overbake the filling; it should have a slight jiggle in the center when removed, as it will firm up significantly upon cooling. Cooling completely is paramount for clean, well-defined squares. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving for an elegant finish and a hint of sweetness.