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The best lemon bars from scratch, lemon bar recipe easy.
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5 from 3 votes

Lemon Bars Recipe

This Shortbread Lemon Bars Recipe has a thick and creamy lemon curd filling baked over a buttery shortbread crust.  They’re easy, delicious and always a favorite.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 9 people
Calories: 360kcal
Author: The Carefree Kitchen

Ingredients

Lemon Custard for Lemon Bars

  • ½ cup Lemon Juice fresh
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons Lemon Zest from 3-4 large lemons
  • 1 ½ cups Sugar
  • ¼ cup All-Purpose Flour
  • 4 large Eggs

Shortbread Crust for Lemon Bars

  • 1 cup All-Purpose Flour
  • ½ cup Sugar
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • ½ cup Butter room temperature

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Spray a 9" x 9" baking dish with nonstick cooking spray, then line the inside with parchment paper. Make sure the parchment paper overlaps the edges so they can be easily lifted. Set aside.
  • To make the lemon filling, combine the lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, flour and eggs in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside while you make the crust.
  • In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt and whisk together. Add the room temperature butter and mix with a pastry cutter (or your fingers) until the mixture is combined and slightly crumbly. Pat the shortbread dough into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  • Bake in a preheated oven for about 12 minutes until set, then remove from oven.
  • Whisk the lemon custard filling gently, making sure there aren't any lumps, then pour on top of the warm shortbread crust.
  • Place the baking dish back into the oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until the lemon custard is set and the edges of the lemon bars are slightly golden brown.
  • Remove the lemon bars from the oven and let them cool completely. Once cooled, lift them out of the pan using the edges of the parchment paper and dust with powdered sugar. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 360kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 243mg | Potassium: 71mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 45g | Vitamin A: 437IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg