Classic Tangy-Sweet Lemon Bars (Printable Version)
Buttery shortbread crust with vibrant lemon filling creates these classic tangy-sweet bars, perfect for any occasion.
# What You Need:
→ Shortbread Crust
01 - 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
03 - 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Lemon Filling
05 - 1 and 1/2 cups (300 g) granulated sugar
06 - 1/4 cup (30 g) all-purpose flour
07 - 4 large eggs
08 - 2/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 3–4 lemons)
09 - 1 tablespoon lemon zest
→ Topping
10 - Powdered sugar, for dusting
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, cream softened butter and 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add 2 cups flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt, mixing just until dough forms.
03 - Press dough evenly into bottom of prepared pan. Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until lightly golden.
04 - In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 and 1/2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup flour. Add eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest, whisking until well combined.
05 - Pour lemon mixture over hot crust immediately after removing from oven.
06 - Bake for another 18–20 minutes, or until filling is just set in center.
07 - Remove from oven and let cool completely in pan. Once cool, lift out using parchment handles and slice into 16 bars.
08 - Dust generously with powdered sugar before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The contrast between that buttery, melt-in-your-mouth crust and the bright, tangy filling hits every single craving button
- They somehow taste fancy and impressive while being ridiculously simple to throw together
- These bars keep beautifully for days, assuming you can stop yourself from eating them all first
02 -
- Hot filling on hot crust is the secret to a crisp, non-soggy bottom layer that holds up beautifully when you bite into it
- Overbaking even by two minutes will turn your silky filling into something rubbery and sad, so trust that gentle jiggle test
- Room temperature ingredients incorporate so much better that it is worth the extra twenty minutes of planning ahead
03 -
- Meyer lemons make these bars taste completely different, with a floral sweetness that has converted many self-proclaimed lemon haters
- Add a tiny pinch of salt to the filling itself if you want to really make the lemon flavor pop forward