Description
These classic lemon bars feature a buttery, crumbly crust topped with a rich, tangy lemon custard filling. Perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, these bars are easy to prepare and ideal for holidays, potlucks, or anytime you crave a bright, refreshing dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Crust:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup butter, softened (2 sticks)
- ½ cup white sugar
Filling:
- 1 ½ cups white sugar
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs
- Juice of 2 lemons (about ¼ cup)
For serving:
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) to prepare for baking the crust.
- Make the crust: In a medium bowl, mix 2 cups flour, 1 cup softened butter, and ½ cup sugar until the dough is well combined and crumbly.
- Press and bake the crust: Press the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9×13-inch baking pan. Bake for about 15 minutes until the crust is firm and golden.
- Prepare the filling: While the crust bakes, whisk together 1 ½ cups sugar and ¼ cup flour in a medium bowl. Add the eggs, whisking until smooth, then stir in the fresh lemon juice until fully combined.
- Pour filling over crust: Carefully pour the lemon filling over the hot, baked crust, spreading it evenly.
- Bake the lemon bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes until the filling is set but still slightly jiggly in the center.
- Cool completely: Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely at room temperature; the filling will firm up as they cool.
- Slice and serve: Once cooled, dust the lemon bars generously with powdered sugar and cut into 24 uniform squares for serving.
Notes
- For extra lemon flavor, zest the lemons and add the zest to the filling mixture.
- To store, place lemon bars in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 7 days.
- You can freeze lemon bars for up to 4 months; wrap tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
- For a festive twist, substitute lime juice for lemon juice and add a drop of green food coloring for light green bars.
- Serve chilled for a refreshing taste, optionally with whipped cream on the side.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: lemon bars, lemon dessert, lemon custard bars, easy lemon bars, classic lemon bars, tangy lemon bars, buttery crust dessert