Sunshine in a Pan: Simple Lemon Bars Recipe Everyone Loves

Tangy, sweet, and irresistibly creamy, these lemon bars burst with vibrant citrus flavor that dances on your palate.

A super easy lemon bars recipe promises delightful simplicity for bakers of all skill levels.

The buttery shortbread crust provides a perfect golden foundation for the bright, zesty filling.

Each bite delivers a harmonious balance of tartness and sweetness that melts in your mouth.

No complicated techniques or exotic ingredients stand between you and dessert perfection.

Sunshine-yellow and beautifully cut, these bars will steal the show at any gathering.

Let’s find out this foolproof recipe and experience the magic of homemade citrus delight.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Calories: 218 kcal

Servings: 10

Ingredients Checklist for Super Easy Lemon Bars

• Unsalted Butter: Brings rich, creamy texture and helps bind the crust ingredients together, ensuring a tender base. Choose high-quality butter with a smooth, clean flavor.
• All-Purpose Flour: Creates the structural foundation for a crisp, sturdy shortbread crust. Select unbleached flour for better texture and natural taste.
• Powdered Sugar: Adds delicate sweetness and helps create a crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Sift to remove any lumps for smooth incorporation.

• Lemon Juice, Lemon Zest: Provides bright, zesty citrus flavor and tangy freshness. Choose ripe, firm lemons with vibrant yellow skin for maximum juice and aromatic zest.
• Eggs: Acts as a binding agent and creates silky, smooth filling texture. Use fresh, room-temperature eggs for even mixing and optimal volume.
• Granulated Sugar: Balances the tartness of lemon and creates a glossy, sweet filling. Select fine-grain sugar for smooth dissolution.
• All-Purpose Flour: Helps thicken and stabilize the lemon curd, preventing a runny consistency. Sifting ensures a lump-free, velvety filling.

• Powdered Sugar: Provides a delicate, snow-like dusting that adds visual appeal and subtle sweetness. Sift gently for an elegant, even coverage.

Tools to Create Zesty Lemon Squares with Ease

• 8×8 inch baking pan: Essential for creating the perfect lemon bar base.
• Parchment paper: Helps easily remove bars from the pan without sticking.
• Electric mixer or whisk: Crucial for blending ingredients smoothly.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Ensures precise ingredient quantities.
• Zester or grater: Needed to extract fresh lemon zest.
• Mixing bowls: For combining crust and filling ingredients.
• Sifter or fine mesh strainer: Perfect for dusting powdered sugar on top.
• Cooling rack: Helps bars cool evenly after baking.

How to Prepare Tangy Lemon Bars from Scratch

• Crust Foundation

Create a buttery base by combining soft butter, flour, and powdered sugar into delicate crumbs. Press this mixture firmly into a lined baking pan, creating a smooth, even surface that will become the delicious foundation of your lemon bars.

• Oven Preparation

Warm up the oven to a perfect golden temperature. Chill the prepared crust briefly to help it set and maintain its shape during initial baking. This quick cooling step ensures a crisp, sturdy base for the zesty topping.

• Lemon Filling Magic

Whisk together fresh lemon juice, bright citrus zest, eggs, sugar, and a touch of flour to create a silky smooth filling. The combination transforms into a luxurious, tangy mixture that will crown your crisp crust with sunshine-like flavor.

• Baking Transformation

Pour the vibrant lemon mixture over the golden crust, allowing it to settle into every corner. Bake until the filling sets with a gentle wobble in the center, signaling the perfect texture waiting to emerge.

• Finishing Touch

Let the bars cool completely, allowing the flavors to meld and the texture to become perfectly smooth. Refrigerate to firm up the bars, then dust with a light snow of powdered sugar just before serving, creating a sweet and elegant finale.

Tips to Get That Signature Lemon Layer Right

• Add fresh orange or lime zest alongside lemon zest for a complex citrus profile that tingles taste buds.
• Freeze the crust for 15 minutes before baking to create an extra crisp and sturdy base that won't crumble when sliced.
• Swap half the lemon juice with cream cheese for a richer, smoother filling that melts in your mouth.
• These lemon bars can be prepared up to three days in advance and stored in an airtight container, making them perfect for meal planning or surprise guests.
• Replace all-purpose flour with almond flour or gluten-free flour blend to accommodate dietary needs without sacrificing delicious flavor.

Lemon Bar Plating Ideas That Pop

• Party Platter Perfection: Slice these tangy lemon bars into bite-sized squares for elegant gatherings, creating a stunning dessert display that guests will adore.
• Afternoon Tea Companion: Pair these zesty bars with a hot cup of Earl Grey tea, allowing the citrusy flavor to complement the delicate tea notes perfectly.
• Picnic Sweet Treat: Pack these portable bars in a cute container for outdoor adventures, making them an ideal dessert for summer picnics or beach days.
• Brunch Showstopper: Serve these lemon bars alongside fresh berries and whipped cream for a delightful brunch dessert that adds a bright, refreshing touch to the meal.

Save Your Lemon Bars for Later Enjoyment

• Smart Refrigeration Strategy: Store lemon bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, keeping them fresh and preventing flavor absorption from other foods.
• Freezing Magic: Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. These delightful treats can stay frozen for 2-3 months, perfect for make-ahead dessert lovers.
• Room Temperature Tip: Remove bars from the refrigerator 15-20 minutes before serving to soften slightly and enhance their creamy texture and lemony flavor.
• Moisture Management: Place a paper towel between layers when stacking in storage containers to absorb excess moisture and maintain the crust's delicate crispness.

Zesty Lemon Bars Recipe

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4.9 from 35 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 10 1x

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Description

Classic lemon bars delight dessert enthusiasts with their perfect balance of tangy citrus and sweet shortbread crust. Simple ingredients and straightforward preparation make this recipe a crowd-pleasing treat you’ll want to share with friends and family.

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Ingredients

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• 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs (room temperature)
• 1 ½ cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter (room temperature)
• ½ cup (120 ml) lemon juice (2–3 lemons)
• 1 tbsp lemon zest (finely grated)
• ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar (for dusting)

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Instructions

1. Crust Preparation: Grease an 8×8 inch pan with non-stick spray and line with parchment paper, covering bottom and sides completely.
2. Crust Mixing: Blend softened unsalted butter, all-purpose flour, and powdered sugar until achieving a sandy, crumbly consistency.
3. Crust Formation: Press the crumb mixture evenly into the prepared pan, creating a compact base layer, then chill in refrigerator for 10 minutes.
4. Initial Baking: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake the chilled crust for 15-18 minutes until edges turn light golden brown.
5. Filling Creation: Whisk together fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, large eggs, granulated sugar, and all-purpose flour until smooth and fully integrated.
6. Filling Application: Remove crust from oven, pour lemon mixture evenly over hot surface, then return to oven for 25-30 minutes until center shows slight wobble.
7. Cooling and Setting: Allow bars to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour to ensure firm consistency.
8. Serving Presentation: Dust chilled bars generously with powdered sugar, creating an elegant, frost-like surface before slicing and serving.

Notes

• Prep Pan Perfectly: Line with parchment paper completely to ensure easy removal and clean cutting of lemon bars without sticking.
• Crust Consistency Matters: Mix butter and flour until it resembles coarse crumbs for a tender, crumbly base that holds together beautifully.
• Temperature Technique: Chill crust before baking to prevent shrinking and create a stable, crisp foundation for the lemon filling.
• Doneness Detection: Watch for a slight jiggle in the center when baking filling, which indicates perfect texture without overbaking and drying out the bars.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 10
• Calories: 218
• Sugar: 24 g
• Sodium: 45 mg
• Fat: 9 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg