Name: Lemon Bars
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 8 oz unsalted butter (softened); ½ cup granulated sugar; 2 cups all-purpose flour; pinch of kosher salt; 6 large eggs (room temperature); 2 cups granulated sugar; 2 tbsp lemon zest; 1 cup lemon juice (fresh squeezed); 1 cup all-purpose flour; powdered sugar (for dusting)

These old-fashioned lemon bars recipe pair a buttery shortbread crust with a sweet-and-tangy lemon filling and a dusting of powdered sugar. You can’t go wrong with this classic lemon dessert!

stack of five lemon bar squares served on a plate

There’s nothing like the taste of a homemade lemon bar. If you have a weakness for lemon, I bet these bars are among your favorite desserts—and if you haven’t tried making them yourself, now’s the time to start! Just like my No-Bake Lemon Cream Cheese Pie, and Lemon Bars with Cake Mix these bars are perfect for parties and picnics, and they’re a cinch to make!

lemon bars cut into squares and served in a glass baking pan

Classic Lemon Bar Recipe

There’s something about lemon bars that just makes them irresistible. Maybe it’s the tartness of the lemon combined with the sweetness of the sugar, or maybe it’s the way they manage to be both buttery and rich, but somehow also light and refreshing. Whenever I see lemon bars at the bakery or farmer’s market, I always have to get myself one!

–> Check out these 23+ Irresistible Lemon Desserts

Of course, there’s no need to buy them when you see how simple they are to make. If you’ve made lemon curd before, making the best lemon bars is almost the same—you just need to add the step of making the crust!

Ingredients

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

For the Crust:

Unsalted butter – Let this soften to room temperature.
Granulated sugar
All-purpose flour
Kosher salt

For the Lemon Curd Filling:

Eggs – These should also be room temperature.
Granulated sugar
Lemon zest – Zest your lemons before you juice them.
Lemon juice
All-purpose flour
Powdered sugar

How to Make Lemon Bars From Scratch

1. Prepare

Preheat your oven to 350ºF.

2. Make the Crust

Cream the butter and sugar with an electric stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. In another bowl, combine the flour and salt, then reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly add the dry ingredients until just mixed.

3. Bake the Crust

Press the crust mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9×13 baking dish, going 1/2 inch up the sides. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool to room temperature.

4. Make the Filling

Whisk together all of the filling ingredients until well combined. Pour this over the crust and smooth it with a spatula, making sure it’s evenly distributed.

5. Bake the Lemon Bars

Place the pan in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the filling is set. Cool the lemon bars to room temperature on a wire rack, then chill for at least 2 hours before serving.

6. Finish and Serve

Dust the bars with powdered sugar and cut them into squares.

square lemon bar cross section dusted with powdered sugar

How to Store Lemon Bars

Store lemon bars wrapped in the pan or transfer them to an airtight container. They can be stored for up to a week in the refrigerator, or in the freezer frozen for up to 3 months.

square lemon bar with a bite taken out of it sitting on parchment baking paper

FAQ

How many lemons make 1 cup of lemon juice?

Approximately 5 lemons make 1 cup of freshly squeezed juice. Here’s my favorite lemon juicer to help!

Why are my lemon bars so gooey?

If your lemon bars are gooey, they might need more time to set in the fridge. I recommend refrigerating them for at least 2 hours before you cut them.

Do lemon bars have to be refrigerated?

Yes, lemon bars need to be stored in the refrigerator. This isn’t just for food safety reasons, either—left outside of the fridge, the filling will get soft and messy!

Should lemon bars jiggle?

When lemon bars are finished baking, they should jiggle about as much as firm Jello would. If they’re looser than this, they need more time in the oven.