Bright and tangy lemon bars with a buttery shortbread crust, perfect for spring or any picnic.
Author:Sarah Peterson
Prep Time:20 min
Cook Time:40 min
Total Time:60 min
Yield:16 bars 1x
Category:Dessert
Method:Baking
Cuisine:American
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8×8 inch baking pan.
For the crust: In a medium bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1/2 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the flour and salt until a crumbly dough forms.
Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
Bake the crust for 15-20 minutes, or until lightly golden.
For the lemon filling: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1/4 cup flour, lemon juice, and lemon zest until well combined.
Pour the lemon filling evenly over the hot crust.
Bake for another 20-25 minutes, or until the filling is set and the edges are lightly golden.
Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Once cooled, dust generously with powdered sugar.
Cut into squares. For clean slices, use a sharp knife and wipe it clean between cuts.
Notes
Store lemon bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
You can also freeze lemon bars for up to 3 months. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then in foil.