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–+ servings
Lemon squares stacked on a glass cake stand.
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5 from 3 votes

The BEST Lemon Bars

These Easy Lemon Bars have a buttery shortbread crust with a deliciously sweet and tart layer of silky lemon curd baked on top! Dust them with a generous sprinkle of powdered sugar for a beautiful finish and you've got a dessert bar that is party ready in no time!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Cooling Time1 hour
Total Time2 hours
Course: Brownies and bars
Cuisine: American
Servings: 18 -24 bars
Author: Amy Nash

Ingredients

Crust

  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (219g)
  • 1 cup salted butter (227g)
  • 2/3 cup powdered sugar (83g)
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Filling

  • 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar (500g)
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (63g)
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon zest
  • 1 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 8 large egg yolks
  • Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13" pan with a parchment paper sling.
  • In a food processor, add the flour, powdered sugar, cornstarch, salt, and butter. Pulse until the butter is cut in really well, then press the mixture into the prepared pan.
    1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup salted butter, 2/3 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 cup cornstarch, 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Bake the crust for 15-20 minutes until just barely starting to brown around the edges.
  • While crust bakes, prepare the lemon filling by whisking together the sugar, flour, and lemon zest in a large bowl. Add the lemon juice and eggs, whisking well until combined.
    2 1/2 cups granulated sugar, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 2 Tablespoons lemon zest, 1 cup fresh lemon juice, 8 large egg yolks
  • Pour the filling over the crust, then decrease oven heat by 25° to 325°F and bake for another 22-26 minutes until the lemon bars are set and no longer jiggling in the center. Remove from oven and cool completely.
  • Dust with powdered sugar, then cut into squares. Store in fridge until ready to serve.
    Powdered sugar

Notes

  • Smaller Batch: You can halve the recipe and bake in an 8- or 9-inch square pan if you only want 9-12 lemon bars. You can decrease the baking time for the filling to about 20 minutes if you decide to take this approach.

Nutrition

Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 127mg | Potassium: 44mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 425IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

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