The Best Lemon Bars
User Reviews
4.6
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
30 mins
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Total Time
45 mins
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Servings
9
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Calories
324 kcal
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Course
Baked Goods
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Cuisine
American
The Best Lemon Bars
Description
This recipe starts with a crust made from butter, all-purpose flour, confectioners' sugar, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt, pressed into an 8-by-8-inch pan and prebaked until just set and still pale. The filling combines eggs, granulated sugar, fresh lemon juice and zest, half-and-half, and a small amount of all-purpose flour, optionally enhanced with vanilla and lemon extracts. After mixing, the custard filling is poured over the warm crust and baked until it just sets, resulting in a tender, smooth lemon layer that is not browned.
The bars are cooled completely before sprinkling with confectioners' sugar and slicing into squares. The lemon filling provides a bright, tangy contrast to the soft, slightly crumbly crust below. This dessert works well chilled or at room temperature and offers a refreshing citrus flavor in every bite.
Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days to maintain freshness. Adjust the lemon juice and zest quantities to your preferred level of tartness. These bars are a classic take on lemon bars, combining texture and citrus clarity.
Ingredients
For the Crust
- ½ cup butter 1 stick, very soft, unsalted
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ confectioners' sugar heaping cup
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- pinch salt optional and to taste
For the Filling
- 2 egg large
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup lemon juice or to taste (about 2 juicy medium lemons; see note below)
- 2 tablespoons half-and-half whole milk or cream are okay
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract optional and to taste
- ½ teaspoon lemon extract optional and to taste
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest or to taste (see note below, loosely packed
- confectioners' sugar for dusting
Instructions
For the Crust:
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine all crust ingredients and cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a pasty cutter or just stir and mash with a spoon until a sandy, crumbly mixture forms. I do it by hand because it's easy, fast, and I don't have to wash out my food processor; but use one if you prefer.
- Transfer crumbly mixture to prepared pan and using your fingertips, press crumbs down to form an even flat layer of crust.
- Prick crust with a fork haphazardly in a dozen places so air and steam can escape while it bakes. If air bubbles form while baking, prick them down and return pan to oven.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until crust has just barely set. It should not be golden or browned at all, it should still be white. You just want it to stick together and it doesn't need to be cooked through fully since pan is going back in the oven to bake filling.
- While crust bakes, make the filling.
For the Filling:
- In a large bowl, combine eggs, sugar, lemon juice (start with ¼ cup and increase to taste; I find that using less than ½ cup isn't intense enough, but add to taste), half-and-half, optional vanilla (I used it even though it's not traditional), optional lemon extract (I don't find it necessary and omitted it), and whisk until smooth.
- Add the flour and whisk until lumps are gone.
- Add lemon zest (add to taste, starting with 1 teaspoon but I prefer 2 teaspoons) and whisk to combine.
- Pour mixture over crust. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes (I baked for 18), or until the top has just set and isn't jiggly in center. Some movement and looseness is normal and desired, you just don't want it liquid-like or runny; slicing into some looseness is fine, liquid is not. Top will be yellow and lemon-colored, but not browned.
- Allow bars to cool at room temperature for at least 1 hour.
- Cover pan and refrigerate for at least three hours, or overnight, before slicing and serving.
- Optionally, dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.
Notes
- Store leftover lemon bars in an airtight container refrigerated for up to five days to keep them fresh.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 9Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 324 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 | |
| Calories | 324kcal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 52g | 17% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 12g | 18% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4g | 24% |
| Cholesterol | 70mg | 23% |
| Sodium | 38mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 39g | 78% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.6
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