These are seriously the best lemon bars, featuring a shortbread-like crunchy bottom layer, topped with lemony goodness. It’s not too tart, making it a perfect choice for those who prefer a more balanced, less tangy, and sweet lemon flavor.
The trick to getting the tastiest lemon bars is the balance of flavor and baking temperature. By following my recipe, you’ll end up with the best lemon bars that are baked perfectly and have just the right amount of tartness.
Looking for other homemade treats? These homemade candy bars and magic cookie bars are a family favorite here. You can also try my cherry bars or chocolate cherry oats bars for some other fruity flavors.
This recipe was found in my collection of vintage recipes found shopping in antique stores. It’s on a thicker paper so maybe was originally an insert in an old magazine at some point. I selected it because my husband likes all things tart and it looked like a simple recipe to make.
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: Despite their impressive appearance, these lemon bars are surprisingly easy to make. With simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, they’re perfect for both beginner and experienced bakers.
- Made from Scratch: By using only a few pantry staples, you’ll be able to make the best lemon bars from scratch! It’s one of my favorite recipes!
- Tart Flavor: Lemon bars should be tart, and these bars have that perfect tart flavor that you’ll fall in love with from the first bite.
- Crowd Pleaser: The buttery shortbread crust and the sweet-tart lemon topping make it a favorite at any gathering, especially at picnics and potlucks.
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Key Ingredients
- All-purpose flour: This is the base of our recipe, providing structure and stability to our lemon bars.
- Butter: The key to a rich buttery crust, this ingredient adds a delicious flavor and a satisfying crunch.
- Powdered sugar: Sweetens the crust and gives it a melt-in-your-mouth texture. We’ll also use it to dust on top.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the lemon bar topping and helps to give it a golden color when baked.
- Eggs: These bind all the ingredients together and also help to add a light and fluffy texture.
- Lemon juice: Provides the tangy, zesty flavor that gives these bars their signature lemon twist.
- Lemon extract: Enhances the lemon flavor, making it more pronounced and aromatic.
- Baking powder: This leavening agent helps the bars rise slightly, giving them a light and airy texture.
- Salt: Enhances the sweetness of the sugar and the tartness of the lemon, making the flavors more vibrant.
Equipment
- 8-inch Square Baking Pan – You’ll need this to give your lemon bars their characteristic shape and size.
- Hand Mixer – This is essential for mixing the sugar, eggs, flour, lemon extract, baking powder, and salt for the topping. It ensures a smooth and well-combined mixture.
- Medium Size Bowl – This is where you’ll combine your crust ingredients and later mix your topping ingredients. It keeps everything organized and makes the process easier.
How to Make the Best Lemon Bars
Preparation
To start, preheat your oven to 375˚ F and butter an 8-inch square baking dish. This will make sure that your lemon bars don’t stick to the pan and bake evenly.
Step 1 – Make the Crust
Combine the crust ingredients by cutting the softened butter into the flour and powdered sugar. This will give your crust a shortbread-like texture. Then, spread and pat the mixture onto the bottom of the square baking dish. Bake it at 375˚ F for 15 minutes to give it a crunchy base.
Step 2 – Prepare the Lemon Layer
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the sugar, eggs, flour, lemon juice, lemon extract, baking powder, and salt. Mix these ingredients on medium speed using your hand mixer for up to 2 minutes or until the mixture is frothy. Once it’s ready, pour this lemon mixture over the pre-baked crust.
Step 3 – Bake and Serve
Place the baking dish back in the oven at 375˚ F and bake for 13-15 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the top is lightly golden brown. Once your lemon bars are cool, dust them with powdered sugar for a sweet finish. Enjoy your delicious, homemade lemon bars!
Expert Tip
To make the best lemon bars, keep an eye on the baking time. Ovens vary, so setting it a little before the suggested time allows you to check the baking process to avoid over-browning.
Recipe Variations
- Lime Twist: Try it with lime juice and lime extract for a refreshing twist on this classic recipe.
- More Tart: Make it more tart by adding more lemon or lemon extract to the topping mixture.
- Nutty Base: Add a handful of crushed nuts to the crust for an extra crunch in every bite.
What to Serve With
- For a deliciously indulgent treat, serve these best lemon bars with a dollop of whipped cream. The creamy texture of the whipped cream perfectly compliments the tangy lemon flavor of the bars.
- Looking for a morning pick-me-up? Pair these lemon bars with a cup of coffee. The bitterness of the coffee balances out the sweetness of the bars, making for a perfect breakfast treat.
- These bars are such crowd-pleasers! Definitely take a batch along with you to the next picnic, potluck, or bake sale you go to.
Recipe FAQs
These lemon bars are the best because they strike the perfect balance between sweet and tart. The crust is buttery and rich, while the lemon topping is refreshing and zesty. Plus, the addition of lemon extract gives an extra boost of citrus flavor that sets this recipe apart.
Yes, you can use bottled lemon juice if fresh lemons are not available. However, fresh lemon juice tends to have a brighter and more vibrant flavor, which can enhance the overall quality of the lemon bars.
If you don’t have an 8-inch square baking dish, you can use a 9-inch round cake pan as a substitute. Just keep an eye on the baking time, as a different pan size may affect how quickly the lemon bars cook.
Storing and Reheating
- Refrigerate: You can easily store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.
- Freeze: I don’t recommend freezing these bars since the texture and consistency change substantially after freezing and thawing.
More Lemon Dessert Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Serving Size
- What to Expect: This lemon bar recipe yields 9 deliciously tangy and sweet lemon bars.
- How to Scale: If you want to make more than 9 lemon bars, you can double the recipe and use a larger baking dish. Follow the instructions as directed, but keep an eye on the baking time as it may be different with a larger quantity.
The Best Lemon Bars
Ingredients
Shortbread Crust:
- 1 Cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ Cup butter softened
- ¼ Cup powdered sugar
Lemon Topping:
- 1 Cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon lemon extract
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Powdered Sugar to dust the top after cooling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375˚ F. Butter a 8-inch square baking dish.
- Combine the crust ingredients by cutting in the softened butter into the flour and powdered sugar. Spread and pat onto the bottom of the square baking dish. Bake at 375˚ F for 15 minutes.
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine the sugar, eggs, flour, lemon juice, lemon extract, baking powder, and salt. Mix on medium speed on your hand mixer for up to 2 minutes or until frothy. Pour over the crust.
- Bake at 375˚ F for 13-15 minutes or until the top is lightly golden brown. Once cool dust with powdered sugar.
Comments & Reviews
Lynette Rice says
I can’t wait for you all to try these. I love a good tangy lemon bar but what I really enjoyed about this recipe is the sweetness paired with the tartness. They’re not overly tart in my opinion. The crunchy shortbread base and the creamy lemon layer are just the perfect combination. Enjoy!