Description

A delightful lemon bars recipe featuring a buttery crust and luscious lemon custard filling, balancing tangy citrus with sweet comfort. Perfect for any occasion, these bars are elegant yet simple, with customizable options to suit various dietary needs and flavor preferences.

Ingredients

Scale

Crust Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free version)
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces (or coconut oil for vegan version)

Filling Ingredients

1 cup granulated sugar
2 large fresh lemons, juiced and zested (about 3 tablespoons juice and 1 tablespoon zest)
3 large eggs (or flaxseed or aquafaba for vegan version)
Pinch of salt

Topping

Powdered sugar, for dusting

Instructions

Prepare the Crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, combine the flour, powdered sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the chilled unsalted butter using a pastry cutter or fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press evenly into a greased or lined 8×8 inch pan. Bake for 15–20 minutes or until lightly golden.
Whisk the Lemon Filling: While the crust bakes, whisk together the fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, granulated sugar, eggs, and a pinch of salt in a bowl until the mixture is smooth and slightly thickened, forming a lemon custard.
Bake with Filling: Pour the lemon filling carefully over the warm crust. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 20–25 minutes, or until the filling is set but still slightly jiggly in the center to retain a silky texture.
Cool and Dust: Allow the lemon bars to cool completely in the pan, letting the filling firm up. Before serving, dust generously with powdered sugar for a classic finish.

Notes

Use fresh lemons for the most vibrant citrus flavor.
Chill the butter before making the crust to ensure a tender, flaky base.
Do not overbake the filling to keep it silky and soft.
Cool bars fully before slicing to prevent crumbling and achieve clean cuts.
Use a sharp knife warmed under hot water and dried for smooth slicing.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar (1/16 of recipe)
Calories: 180
Sugar: 22g
Sodium: 70mg
Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 3g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 25g
Fiber: 0.5g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 55mg

Keywords: lemon bars, lemon dessert, citrus dessert, lemon custard bars, gluten free dessert, easy lemon bars, lemon bar recipe