With only a few ingredients and a blender the Best Lemon Bars come together in minutes. A sweet cookie crust adds the perfect touch to the tart and creamy lemon curd filling. These easy lemon bars are perfect for spring parties, showers, picnics, or bake sales.
Bonus: If you like lemon desserts then you will love this lemon cream cheese pie and this strawberry lemon cream pie.
Why This Works
These shortbread lemon bars are responsible for changing my mind about sweet and sour desserts. I used to avoid all sour things because they would make me pucker.
Even thinking about lemon desserts would make me shiver, but then I am happy to report that I decided to give lemon another chance. Adding a sweet cookie layer balances out that sour flavor for me.
These sweet and sour bars and these lemon cookie bars made me realize that I DO like lemon...with lots of sugar. LOL!
When life gives you lemons, you should definitely make desserts like lemon blueberry cheesecakes or lemon bars.
A few years ago I had a friend who runs a local bakery, and she needed a lemon bars recipe because her resident baker had left. She said the current recipe in their folder was not working at all because the former baker had been tweaking it.
After much research and baking quite a few versions, I came up with what I like to call the best lemon bars.
Since I'm a fan of sweet lemon desserts, I made a sweet cookie crust for the base by tweaking the shortbread crust on this caramel squares recipe.
Ingredients Needed
These easy lemon bars only use 7 simple ingredients. Most of them are probably ones you have in your pantry or fridge already.
- Flour - Used in both layers to provide structure.
- Sugar - Powdered sugar and granulated sugar add sweetness to the crust and filling.
- Butter - Softened butter makes a soft dough for the buttery cookie crust.
- Salt - Balances out the sweetness. If you are using salted butter, reduce this amount.
- Lemon Juice & Lemon Zest - Gives this dessert a great lemon flavor.
- Eggs - Add structure to the custard filling.
How to Make the Best Lemon Bars
These easy lemon bars come together in just a few minutes. While the crust is baking, add the filling ingredients to a blender.
Step One: Make the Crust
- Mix together flour, powdered sugar, and butter with a fork or pastry blender until soft crumbs forms. If you use a stand mixer it may form a soft dough if you mix too long.
- Press it into the bottom of a greased 8x8 pan going up the sides of the pan slightly to keep the filling from going under it.
- Bake the cookie crust for 20 minutes.
Step Two: Make the Lemon Filling
- Add all the filling ingredients into a blender and pulse until light and foamy.
- When the crust is done baking, pulse one more time, then pour the filling on top of the hot crust.
- Bake it for another 25 minutes.
Step Three: Cool and Chill
- Let the bars cool to room temperature.
- Refrigerate for a few hours to set completely.
Step Four: Cut and Serve
- Lift the cooled bars out of the pan and cut into squares.
- Sprinkle with a hefty dose of powdered sugar right before serving.
BRUCREW TIP: Substitute other citrus juices to make different variations. See my blood orange bars and key lime bars!
Tips and Tricks
- If you are a lemon lover, add more zest to the lemon curd filling! You could also add some lemon zest to the shortbread crust if you wanted to give it a lemon flair.
- Line your pan with parchment paper or foil, so you can lift the dessert out easily after it cools.
- Use a blender to mix all your lemon curd filling ingredients together. It's so quick and easy doing it this way. You may see some white bubbles rising to the top as it bakes. To avoid this, do not over mix the lemon mixture.
- One of my favorite kitchen tools is this little dusting wand. It makes it so easy to dust these easy lemon bars with of powdered sugar.
- Make sure to add the powdered sugar right before serving because it will soak into the bars the longer it sits out.
Recipe FAQs
You sure can. In fact, I have found that bottled lemon juice gives the best ever lemon bars a little more tart flavor which actually pairs really well with the sweet cookie crust in these lemon bars. Freshly squeezed lemon juice also works well, but seems to be a little sweeter in my opinion.
Yes these bars need to be refrigerated because the lemon filling is a custard. If you are not serving the lemon bars the same day you bake them, they need to be stored in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container where they will keep for 5-7 days. If you are serving them at a party, they will be fine at room temperature for a few hours.
Yes, after the bars cool completely, wrap them tightly in foil or plastic wrap and freeze for up to one month. Thaw completely before serving. Dust with powdered sugar right before setting them out.
Line your pan with foil or parchment paper, so you can lift the bars out easily once they are cooled. Cool the bars to room temperature, then refrigerate until firm. Use a sharp knife that has been dampened in warm water and dried off to make clean cuts. Wipe the knife after each cut.
More Lemon Desserts
- Fresh Fruit Danish
- Lemon Meringue Cupcakes
- Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake
- Lemon Coconut Cupcakes
- Strawberry Snacking Cake
Other No Bake Lemon Desserts
- Strawberry Cheesecake Salad
- Fruit Parfait
- Lemon and Strawberry Cake
- No Bake Strawberry Cream Pie
- Whipped Cream Fruit Dip
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Recipe
Best Lemon Bars
With only a few ingredients the Best Lemon bars come together in minutes. A sweet cookie crust adds the perfect touch to the tart and creamy lemon curd filling. These easy lemon bars are the perfect dessert to share at spring parties, showers, picnics, or bake sales.
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
For the Filling
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons lemon zest
- 2 large eggs
- powdered sugar, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8x8 pan with foil and spray with nonstick spray.
- Mix the flour, powdered sugar, and butter together until crumbs form. (Using a stand mixer may produce a soft dough.)
- Press the crumbs/dough firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan going up the sides slightly, so the filling doesn't go under it. Bake 25 minutes.
- While the crust is baking, pour the filling ingredients into the blender and pulse until light and foamy.
- Pour onto the hot crust and bake for another 25-30 minutes. Remove and let cool completely. They will set up as they cool.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar right before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 224Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 46mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 0gSugar: 23gProtein: 2g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for Best Lemon Bars was first published February 18, 2016. The photos and post were updated and republished April 7, 2021.
**This post contains affiliate links. Inside BruCrew Life may receive a small percentage from sales made through these links. As always, these free referral links do not cost you any extra. Thank you for letting us share products we use and love this way.
Kelli Kane
I'm so glad you posted these lemon bars! My mom used to make lemon bars when I was a kid but when she died the recipe died with her 🙁 These are EXACTLY like she used to make! I'm making some in her memory tonight!
Jocelyn
That's so cool that this recipe is like the one your mom used to make. Did you have a chance to make them? I hope they tasted just as good as you remember!
KELLI KANE
I did and they were AWESOME!! Took me back Summer Sundays after church 🙂
Jocelyn
That makes me so happy to hear you loved them!!!
shawnna
hey girl- these bars look amazing!
Amy
These look so nice and creamy. I can't wait to make them for my family.
Thank you Joyelyn.
Anissa
Hi, just made these!! Great recipe, but one question, if I am making them today and not serving until tomorrow, do I store out or in the refrigerator until we eat them tomorrow?
Thanks for sharing????
Jocelyn
I always keep them in the refrigerator until I serve them. I hope you enjoy them!!!
Sandi
If I double the recipe, what size pan do I need and what is the cooking time?
Jocelyn
I've actually never doubled it, but I would say use a 9x13 pan, and the bake times should still be about the same.
Rohan Singh
Hi Jocelyn,
These bars are looking amazing. Citrus taste is one of my favorite flavors that I want to taste. Thank you for the recipe.
susan badalamenti
I am thinking of adding a shot of Limoncello in place of a shot glass of lemon juice. What do you think?
Jocelyn
I think that would be fine if you substituted the limoncello for some of the lemon juice. Keep me posted on how they turn out!
Marissa
Truth be told, I'm all about the pucker...love sour patch kids. ? So these beauties captured my attention immediately...I love sour, but I love buttery shortbread style cookies too - this looks like their perfect marriage / ratio of each! Also love how simple the recipe is...thank you!
rosie
how many lemons dose it take to make the 2 tablespoons of zest, i used 4 large and one small and it didnt seem to come to almost 1 tablespoon, and one more qustion i beat my filling for 15 min and it frothed but not like meringue, hope to hear from you soon
Jocelyn
I usually can get about 1 Tablespoon zest from one large lemon. The filling will get bubbly and frothy and that's it. It isn't supposed to get like a meringue. It thickens when it bakes. I hope you enjoy the bars!
Patricia
Hi Jocelyn-First of all, I enjoy looking at your website & trying the recipes. I have a very good lemon bar recipe too for a 9x13 pan but I am planning on trying yours....but I am going to use real lemons. Just a note for those that want to use real lemons, 1 medium lemon = 3 TBS of juice. 1/2 cup = 8 TBS...and the juice should be strained before using it. Oh, a room temp lemon will give you more juice too.
Anyway, I have a question...I'm assuming that I just dump all the filling ingredients together & beat until light & frothy. After pouring on the hot crust and bake some more 20-25 min....what should it look like after 20 min? Am I looking for a little jiggle in the middle? And if there isn't...bake 5 min more? I know you said the bars will set up as they cool. Please reply. Thanks so much.
Jocelyn
Thank you so much for the lemon tips. And the bars won't have much of a jiggle after 20-25 minutes, they just won't be able to be cut into bars until cooled.
Angie
Hi Jocelyn -
I Just put the filling in the crust and set the timer in my oven. Your pictures look wonderful! Should be a perfect Easter dessert 🙂
One question, the filling didn't ever get very "frothy," so it was very liquid-y when I poured it into the crust. Is that normal? Just a little concerned that the liquid won't cook down enough. Thanks!
Jocelyn
Hi, Angie. Yes, the lemon mixture is very liquidy when you pour it on the crust, but after baking it will set up. Just make sure you left enough time for it to chill. I hope you like them!
Abby
Hi! These look delicious, I just have one question, may be silly, but is it best to use freshly squeezed juice or would I be able to use bottled lemon juice?
Jocelyn
You can use either. I had bottled lemon juice in my fridge, so that's what I used for these. I think fresh squeezed might give it a little more sour flavor...but I haven't tried it that way, so I'm not sure.
Chelsea Hallock
In the Filliing how much Powdered Sugar do I use when making these??
Jocelyn
The powdered sugar goes on after the lemon bars are baked and cooled. Use as much or as little as you like. I hope you enjoy them!
Rahul @samosastreet.com
Citrus remains one of my most favorite things to create desserts. These look great! I’ll be making them soon
Charlotte @ whatcharlottebaked
These are so pretty! I would definitely add more lemon zest like you suggested, as I am definitely a tangy lemon person. Pinned 🙂
Aimee @ ShugarySweets
Lemon is pretty much my favorite flavor of ALL time. I get weak around lemon 🙂 These bars are stunning!!
Jocelyn
I knew you would go gaga for these bars 😉
Jent. Riley
Yes i made these.not first time they turned out just like thr picture.i made them before. Only thing , these called for lemon zest .the ones i made before did not. Waiting too cool and sprinkle in the best part .THE POWDERED SUGAR YEAH!!! J
Lauren Gaskill | Making Life Sweet
These look amazing Jocelyn! I love lemon bars and these are perfect for this time of year when the world feels like it's starting to come back to life!
Jocelyn
Yes, lemon does kind of make me look forward to spring and newness of life around us!!!
Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats
I'm just in total love with these lemon bars! They look so thick and delicious!
Jocelyn
Girl, they were so good! It surprised me how much I liked them!
Mir
I'm also PB and chocolate all the way, but then sometimes I'll have a lemon dessert and be freshly surprised by how amazing it is! And these are so vibrant. Gotta try them, especially with that thick shortbread crust!
Jocelyn
I'm usually chocolate all the way, but you are right...changing it up once in a while is nice!!!
kentuckylady717@hotmail.com
These are picture perfect and I am sure the taste is also.....I love these and look forward to making them.....
Jocelyn
Thank you...and I hope you enjoy them!!!
Tim Baker
For the lemon bars filling you did not give the amo7nt of powedered sugar
Jocelyn
There isn't an amount...you just sprinkle as much or as little as you like on the finished bars!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout
Lemon bars are one of the first things I baked and photographed- never made it to my blog, but kind of gave me the idea to start blogging 🙂 These lemon bars look unreal! That filling is stunning.
Jocelyn
What a fun way to start blogging! You should make them again!!!!