Name: Traditional Lemon Bars
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: For the Shortbread Crust:; 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour; ½ cup powdered sugar; ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes; ¼ teaspoon salt; For the Lemon Filling:; 1 ½ cups granulated sugar; ¼ cup all-purpose flour; 4 large eggs; ½ cup fresh lemon juice; 2 tablespoons lemon zest; Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)

Traditional Lemon Bars: A Zesty and Tangy Treat to Brighten Your Day 🍋☀️🍰

1. Introduction

Are you ready to bake a batch of sunshine? Our lemon bars recipe delivers a vibrant burst of citrusy flavor in every single bite, making them the perfect treat for practically any occasion you can imagine! These classic lemon bars are surprisingly easy to make, we promise, and will quickly become a cherished favorite in your household. Whether you affectionately call them homemade lemon bars or simply refer to it as the best lemon bars recipe, you’re undeniably in for a genuinely delightful culinary experience. The true beauty of this recipe confidently lies in its utter simplicity and the generally unbeatable combination of a delicately buttery shortbread crust and a lusciously tangy lemon filling. So, get ready to confidently create a dessert that’s both incredibly refreshing and deeply satisfying. If you’re looking for more baking inspiration, check out our baking recipes!

Delicious sliced lemon bars dusted with powdered sugar ready to serve.

2. What Makes This Lemon Bars Recipe Special?

So, what precisely sets this specific lemon bars recipe delightfully apart from the rest? Well, it’s simply the impeccable, almost magical, balance of naturally sweet and satisfyingly tart flavors, impeccably achieved through the careful selection of notably high-quality ingredients and a truly straightforward preparation process. The wonderfully delicate shortbread crust becomes perfectly crumbly and buttery, diligently providing a solid and reliably delicious foundation for the marvelously smooth, incredibly vibrant lemon filling. This classic lemon bars recipe importantly uses fresh lemon juice, and a generous amount of zest, to ensure a genuinely authentic and remarkably intense lemon flavor experience. Many readily available homemade lemon bars recipes might temptingly try to cut corners, undoubtedly but we steadfastly believe in using only the very best ingredients available to consistently achieve only the very best results. This careful approach essentially guarantees that each and every single bite of these remarkably easy lemon bars will deliver an utterly delightful burst of pure sunshine!

3. Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Shortbread Crust:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the Lemon Filling:
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)

4. Step-by-Step Instructions

Mixing the Dry Ingredients for the Crust

First things first, preheat your oven to a precise 350°F (175°C). Then, in a comfortably sized medium bowl, diligently whisk together the flour, powdered sugar, and salt. This particularly important step ensures that all the dry ingredients are absolutely evenly distributed, which is indeed essential for achieving that perfect, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread crust. Now you’re wonderfully ready to confidently move on to the next incredibly important step in creating these absolutely delicious lemon bars. If you enjoy baking, you might want to explore our dessert recipes for more sweet treats!

Ingredients prepared for making traditional lemon bars recipe.

Making the Shortbread Crust

Now, carefully add the notably cold, cubed butter to the meticulously mixed dry ingredients. Use a reliable pastry blender (or even your very own clean fingers!) to diligently cut the butter into the flour mixture until the entire mixture remarkably resembles coarse crumbs. Then, firmly press the resulting mixture evenly into the bottom of a delightfully ungreased 9×13 inch baking pan. Bake this wonderfully promising crust for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until it achieves a delicately light golden brown hue. This step is truly, utterly crucial for carefully creating the perfect base for your exceptional homemade lemon bars. For inspiration on other breakfast treats, see our breakfast and brunch recipes.

Shortbread crust ingredients being mixed for traditional lemon bars.

Preparing the Lemon Filling

While the shortbread crust is gently baking to golden perfection, it’s time to diligently prepare the luscious lemon filling. In a comfortably spacious large bowl, vigorously whisk together the granulated sugar and flour until they are thoroughly combined. Next, carefully add the eggs, fresh lemon juice, and the vibrantly fragrant lemon zest to the bowl. Continue to whisk attentively until the entire mixture appears velvety smooth and beautifully well combined. This is the magical stage where simple ingredients beautifully transform into a lusciously tangy, utterly irresistible filling that will perfectly complement your stunning lemon bars. You can find more information about lemon bars here.

Baking the Lemon Bars

Carefully pour the delightfully prepared lemon filling evenly over the wonderfully hot, freshly baked shortbread crust. Return the filled pan gracefully to the oven and continue baking for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the filling appears beautifully set and no longer noticeably jiggles when gently shaken. Allow the baked lemon bars to cool completely in the pan before attempting to cut them into perfectly even squares. Just before serving, diligently dust the squares generously with powdered sugar for that extra touch of irresistible sweetness. Now, you have magnificently crafted easy lemon bars that are absolutely ready to delightfully impress everyone! Want to learn more about us?

Lemon filling being poured over shortbread crust for lemon bars.

5. Tips for Perfect Lemon Bars

Always use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the absolute best, most vibrant flavor. Bottled lemon juice may sometimes leave an undesirable metallic aftertaste.
Avoid overbaking either the crust or the filling. Overbaking can sadly result in a dry, unpalatable crust or a disappointingly rubbery filling.
Allow the finished lemon bars to cool completely and thoroughly before attempting to cut them. This crucial step will help the lemon filling set properly, making them considerably easier to slice cleanly and beautifully.
For exceptionally cleaner and more precise cuts, try using a warm, slightly damp knife. This trick magically helps to glide through the bars.
Properly store any leftover homemade lemon bars in a reliably airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a maximum of 3 days to maintain their delightful freshness.

6. Variations to Try

Lime Bars: Simply substitute fresh lime juice and lime zest for the lemon juice and zest in the original recipe for a uniquely tangy and wonderfully refreshing twist.
Raspberry Lemon Bars: Gently swirl a generous amount of your favorite raspberry jam into the prepared lemon filling before baking to impart delicious fruity notes.
Coconut Lemon Bars: Add a layer of shredded coconut to the shortbread crust mixture or sprinkle it generously on top of the filling before baking for a delightful tropical flavor.
Lavender Lemon Bars: Infuse the sugar used in the recipe with dried lavender buds for a subtly floral aroma and a uniquely sophisticated flavor profile; this imparts an elegant touch that’s simply unforgettable.

7. Serving Suggestions

These classic lemon bars are absolutely perfect to enjoy all on their own as a simply delightful treat, but they also pair exceptionally well with a generous scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream or a light, fluffy dollop of freshly whipped cream. They make a wonderful and welcome addition to brunch spreads, elegant afternoon tea sessions, or as a satisfyingly simple dessert after a satisfying dinner. The bright, undeniably citrusy lemon flavor is practically guaranteed to be a genuine crowd-pleaser for everyone!. If you are thinking about dinner, see our dinner recipes.

8. Health Benefits of Lemon Bars

While delicious lemon bars are definitely primarily an indulgent treat, they do quietly offer a few nutritional benefits. Lemons are naturally a good source of Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that effectively supports a healthy immune system. However, always remember that moderation is the key to balanced eating, especially when it comes to sugary treats. Enjoying these remarkably easy lemon bars occasionally and in moderation can definitely be a very delightful part of a well-rounded overall diet. If you are looking for something healthier, see our salad recipes and our soup recipes. We also have chicken recipes and beef recipes.

9. Conclusion

Prepare to genuinely indulge in the delightfully vibrant zest of simply homemade goodness with this wonderfully easy lemon bars recipe. Perfectly balancing the ideal amounts of sweet and tangy lemon notes, these exquisite bars undeniably make an ideal treat for celebrating any and all kinds of occasions. So, enthusiastically gather all of your necessary ingredients, mindfully preheat your oven, and get vibrantly ready to confidently bake your very own batch of sunshine. Enjoy each truly delightful bite of these remarkable homemade lemon bars! You can find all of our delicious recipes on the homepage!