The Best Lemon Bar Recipe (Perfectly Tangy & Sweet!)
The best dessert recipes are those that yield shareable desserts. There are a couple of reasons why, but they don’t matter much if the recipe isn’t good. This is the best lemon bar recipe, so it is important to share it with others.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy-to-Make Dessert – Any recipe that gets us to the sweet treats faster is a good one in our book.
- Uses Real Lemon – This recipe offers options to skip the fresh fruit, but it takes it to such great heights.
- Easy to Share – This recipe results in easy-to-cut sheets of deliciousness.
The Best Lemon Bar Recipe (Perfectly Tangy & Sweet)
Our lemon bar recipe is easy to make, easy to share, and a perfect dessert for snacking with fresh fruit in the recipe. Those of us who love lemon desserts really love lemon desserts.
There is just something about the combination of sweetness and tanginess in one dessert. Of course, we have our preferences, like lemon cakes vs. lemon cookies or lemon pastries vs. lemon candy.
These lemon bars are like a cake, but also like a cookie, a pastry, and candy; it is everything in one. That is what makes lemon bars the go-to dessert for lemon people.
Of course, loving lemon desserts doesn’t mean we want to eat a lemon; we would if we wanted to. Making an easy lemon dessert at home lets you control the amount of lemon. Make it tangier or sweeter, the choice is yours.
Difference Between Lemon Bars and Lemon Tarts
Lemon bars are similar to lemon tarts; they share the same idea. However, the cooking method is the biggest difference between a lemon bar and a lemon tart.
A lemon tart is a shortbread crust that needs to be baked, cooled, filled with lemon curd, baked, and then cooled again. This is the classic method of making a lemon tart. The problem with tarts is how long they take to make.
A lemon bar uses a similar crust, but you don’t need to let it cool twice. Instead, pour the lemon curd onto the crust as soon as it’s ready. This reduces the cooking time, and you still get a delicious lemon treat.
This crust will shrink if you let it cool thoroughly first. All of this to say this recipe is technically two recipes in one. We need to make the bar, then the lemon filling.
Homemade Lemon Bar Ingredients
- Flour – We will be using flour in both the bar and the lemon filling. This is the only ingredient that is used in both stages.
- Baker’s Sugar – Here is a sugar lesson for those who may not know. Baker’s sugar has finer crystals than granulated sugar. We use it here so it aerates more, leading to a smoother dessert.
- Butter – Butter helps add richness and structure to the bar. Making the bar itself is very simple as it is only flour, butter, and baker’s sugar.
- Granulated Sugar – This sugar is safe to use in the lemon bar filling. It will melt more easily into the mixture.
- Lemons – We will use lemons twice, so it is best to prepare them in advance. We need the zest from one lemon and the juice from about 2-4 lemons. Make it easier on your wallet by juicing the same lemons you use for zest.
- Eggs – Eggs serve as the base for the lemon bar filling. They add richness and consistency to the filling.
- Salt – To taste, as usual, you already know we season our food, even this lemon bar recipe.
How to Make Lemon Bar Crust
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Line a 9″x13″ baking pan with tin foil, leaving the edges high to function as handles to pull the dessert out of the pan when cooled.
- Evenly coat the foil with cooking spray.
- Mix flour, baker’s sugar, and melted butter in a large bowl until blended. Press in the pan.
- Bake until lightly browned for about 20-25 minutes.
How to Make Lemon Bar Filling
- Mix sugar, baking powder, flour, and salt in a large bowl until well blended. Add the lemon juice, lemon peel zest, and eggs. Mix thoroughly.
- Pour filling over baked crust and bake for about 20 minutes until the topping sets and the edges are lightly browned.
- Remove from oven, allow to cool completely, and dust with powdered sugar. Cut into squares or bars and enjoy!
The Best Lemon Bar Recipe (Perfectly Tangy & Sweet!)
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 2 Cups Flour
- 1/2 Cup Baker's Sugar
- 1 Stick Butter
- Cooking Spary
Lemon Bar Filling
- 2 Cups Granulated Sugar
- 1/4 Cup Flour
- 2 tsp Lemon Zest
- 1/2 Cup Lemon Juice
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 4 Eggs Lightly Beaten
- 1 Pinch Salt
Instructions
Lemon Bar Crust
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Line a 9″x13″ baking pan with tin foil, leaving the edges high to function as handles to pull the dessert out of the pan when cooled.
- Evenly coat the foil with cooking spray.
- Mix flour, baker’s sugar, and melted butter in a large bowl until blended. Press in the pan.
- Bake until lightly browned for about 20-25 minutes.
Lemon Bar Filling
- Mix sugar, baking powder, flour, and salt in a large bowl until well blended. Add the lemon juice, lemon peel zest, and eggs. Mix thoroughly.
- Pour filling over baked crust and bake for about 20 minutes until the topping sets and the edges are lightly browned.
- Remove from oven, allow to cool completely, and dust with powdered sugar. Cut into squares or bars and enjoy!
More Dessert Ideas
Easy Chocolate Dairy Free Cupcakes Everyone Loves | Who said chocolate cupcakes had to have lactose in them?
Crockpot Apple Crisp with Cake Mix Recipe | Just wait until you try a crockpot dessert recipe.
Fruit Crisp Recipe in the Air Fryer | Fruit makes for amazing desserts.
Egg Free Sugar Cookie Recipe | We removed lactose from cupcakes, and now eggs from cookies!
Thumbprint Cookies with Icing Recipe | These classic holiday cookies are good any time of year.
