This perfect Lemon Bars Recipe has two important things; the perfect amount of lemon and a big, rich buttery crust. I add a bit more lemon juice than most, and those things set my lemon bar recipe apart! If you love these you might also enjoy my Blueberry Lemon Bars!

One Lemon Bar Dusted with confectioners sugar
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Tips for Perfect Lemon Bars

  • Opt for fresh lemon juice here, bottled just won’t taste the same.
  • Use parchment paper to line your pan. This helps with easy removal.
  • Allow them to cool for the full time allotted.
Lemon Squares Stacked 5 high

How to Store Lemon Bars

While these bars can be kept out at room temperature for several hours, they should be refrigerated if you can’t finish off the pan the same day you make it. If you know that you are going to be storing them, try to only cut off the pieces you need, not cutting up the entire pan into bars. (Hint: This also means nice crisp cuts when you serve them cold!) I usually place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the bars and then cover it with foil. Lemon bars can be stored for 2-3 days in the refrigerator.

One Lemon Bar straight on view

How to Freeze Lemon Bars

If you are freezing the lemon bars I like to cut them into individual size portions and then wrap each bar with plastic wrap. Date and stack neatly in your freezer. To thaw, either place bars in the refrigerator the night before using or leave them on the counter to come to room temperature.

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4.95 from 40 votes

The Best Lemon Bars

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Chill 2 hours
Total Time 50 minutes
This perfect Lemon Bars Recipe has two important things; the perfect amount of lemon and a rich buttery crust. I add a bit more lemon juice than most, but itโ€™s what sets my lemon bar recipe apart!

Ingredients

CRUST

  • 1 cup (2 sticks or 226 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • ยฝ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 cups (256 g) all-purpose flour

FILLING

  • 4 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 ยฝ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
  • ยผ cup (32 g) all-purpose flour
  • โ…” cup (160 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

CRUST

  • Preheat oven to 350ยฐF (175ยฐC).
  • In a medium bowl, blend together softened butter, 2 cups flour, and ยฝ cup sugar with a pastry cutter, a fork, or your hands. Press into the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan lined with parchment paper.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and golden.

FILLING

  • Whisk together 1 ยฝ cups sugar and ยผ cup flour. Crack eggs into a separate bowl, then whisk them into the sugar and flour mixture. Add โ…” cup lemon juice. Pour over the baked crust.
  • Bake for an additional 20 minutes in the oven. (Do not cover)
  • Allow bars to cool in the fridge for at least 2 hours then dust with confectioners sugar.
  • Cut into squares and serve.

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Meet Amanda Rettke

Amanda Rettke is the creator of I Am Baker, and the bestselling author of Surprise Inside Cakes: Amazing Cakes for Every Occasion โ€“ With a Little Something Extra Inside.Over the course of her 15+ year blogging adventure, she has been featured in and collaborated with the Food Network, New York Times, LA Times, Country Living Magazine, People Magazine, Epicurious, Brides, Romantic Homes, life:beautiful, Publishers Weekly, The Daily Mail, Star Tribune, The Globe and Mail, DailyCandy, YumSugar, The Knot, The Kitchn, and Parade, to name a few.

Reader Comments

  1. This is the only lemon bar recipe u need. Itโ€™s the original. Itโ€™s the best. The shortbread crust is buttery heaven. I always prick it with a fork bf I bake it to prevent puffing. I like to add an extra egg to the filling and a couple packets of lemon powder for extra tart flavor. This is the lemon bars of our childhood. With very few ingredients. Pure perfection โ™ฅ๏ธ๐Ÿ‹

    1. I am making this for my husband. He loves lemon bars. But instead of flour we are trying it with lemon pound cake flour. We think it will give it also more lemon flavor. I will let you know how It turns out.

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