Description
Bright, tangy, and irresistibly buttery — these Classic Lemon Bars are the epitome of summer desserts. With a crisp shortbread crust and a luscious lemon curd filling, they strike the perfect balance between tart and sweet in every golden bite.
Ingredients
**For the crust:**
1 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
**For the filling:**
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
2/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
Zest of 1 lemon
**For topping:**
Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, mix melted butter, sugar, flour, and salt until a soft dough forms.
3. Press the dough evenly into the pan to form the crust.
4. Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until lightly golden.
5. Meanwhile, whisk together sugar and flour in a large bowl.
6. Add eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest; whisk until smooth.
7. Pour the lemon mixture over the warm crust.
8. Bake for an additional 20–25 minutes, until the filling is set and slightly golden at the edges.
9. Cool completely, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
10. Dust with powdered sugar before slicing into squares.
Notes
Use fresh lemon juice — bottled just doesn’t compare.
Add an extra lemon’s zest for a bolder citrus punch.
For a twist, swirl in raspberry purée before baking.
Store refrigerated for up to 4 days or freeze for later enjoyment.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: lemon bars, classic lemon dessert, summer dessert, citrus bar, buttery shortbread, easy lemon recipe