Classic lemon bars with a buttery shortbread crust and bright, tangy lemon filling. Easy to make, slice beautifully, and perfect for potlucks, bake sales, and summer gatherings.
1 9x13 inch metal baking pan (Glass works but may require longer baking)
1 Parchment paper (For easy removal)
1 Pastry cutter or fork (To mix crust)
1 Whisk (For smooth filling)
1 Zester or microplane (For lemon zest)
1 Sharp chef's knife (Clean slicing)
Ingredients
Shortbread Crust
2cupsall-purpose flour
½cuppowdered sugar
1cupcold unsalted butter- cut into cubes
¼teaspoonsalt
Lemon Filling
4largeeggs
1.5cupsgranulated sugar
⅓cupfresh lemon juice
2tablespoonlemon zest
¼cupall-purpose flour
½teaspoonbaking powder
Finishing
Powdered sugar- For dusting
optionalextra lemon zest- For garnish
Instructions
You mix flour, powdered sugar, and salt, then cut cold butter into the mixture until it looks like coarse crumbs. This is pressed into the baking pan and baked until lightly golden at the edges.
You whisk eggs until foamy, mix in sugar until pale, then add lemon juice and zest. Flour and baking powder are folded in gently at the end.
The lemon mixture is poured onto the hot crust immediately after it comes out of the oven, then baked again until the filling is set around the edges but slightly jiggly in the center.
The baked lemon bars cool at room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator for several hours.
You lift the chilled slab out of the pan, slice it into squares, and dust with powdered sugar just before serving.
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes