The Best Lemon Bars

4.5
(3,696)

These lemon bars are simple to make and will wow your friends. Tart, rich, and delicious all rolled into one!

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The Best Lemon Bars garnished with powdered sugar on top of parchment paper
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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
35 mins
Total Time:
50 mins
Servings:
24
Yield:
1 9x13-inch pan

This top-rated lemon bar recipe features a rich and flavorful filling and a sweet, crumbly cookie crust.

How to Make Lemon Bars

You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics:

Lemon Bar Ingredients

These are the ingredients you'll need to make this top-rated lemon bar recipe:

· Flour: The cookie crust starts with all-purpose flour, which also gives the filling structure.
· Butter: Two sticks of softened butter lends richness and flavor to the lemon bar crust.
· Sugar: You'll need two cups of white sugar (½ cup for the crust and 1 ½ cups for the filling). For a stunning finishing touch, dust the bars with powdered sugar before serving.
· Eggs: Four whole eggs ensure a rich and velvety lemon filling.
· Lemons: You'll need the juice of two fresh lemons for this sweet treat.

How to Make Homemade Lemon Bars

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make homemade lemon bars:

1. Make the crust, press it into a prepared pan, and bake until firm and golden.
2. Make the filling, then pour it over the baked crust.
3. Bake in the preheated oven, let cool, and slice the lemon bars when set.

Tip from recipe creator Patty Schenck: For a festive tray, make another pan using limes instead of lemons and add a drop of green food coloring to create a very pale green. After the bars have cooled, arrange them in a checkerboard fashion.

looking into a stack of lemon bars, with creamy lemon custard filing and powdered sugar on top.
Medha

Do Lemon Bars Need to Be Refrigerated?

Since the filling is egg-rich, these lemon bars should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. They should last for up to seven days.

Learn more: Do Lemon Bars Need to Be Refrigerated?

Can You Freeze Lemon Bars?

If you'd like to keep your lemon bars for more than one week, you should consider freezing them. Wrap them in one layer of storage wrap, then follow it up with a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze the lemon bars for up to four months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"My family always requests my famous lemon bars," says one Allrecipes community member. "This is my go-to recipe. My secret ingredient is I zest the lemons and add the zest to the lemon mixture. It really adds a kick."

"The name of these bars is definitely accurate," according to another Allrecipes community member. "The lemon juice gives the right amount of tartness. Everyone I served agreed — they are the best."

"These were so easy and delicious," raves yet another Allrecipes community member. "I dusted mine with powdered sugar and served them chilled with whipped cream. Amazing!"

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 24 servings

Crust:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup butter, softened

  • ½ cup white sugar

Filling:

  • 1 ½ cups white sugar

  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour

  • 4 eggs

  • 2 lemons, juiced

Directions

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    The Best Lemon Bars ingredients on a marble counter

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

  3. To make the crust: Blend 2 cups flour, softened butter, and 1/2 cup sugar in a medium bowl until well combined.

    Flour, butter and sugar mixture in a glass bowl with a hand mixer

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Press crust into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13-inch pan.

    Baking dish with an uncooked crust on the bottom

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Bake crust in the preheated oven until firm and golden, about 15 minutes.

    Baking dish with a cooked crust on the bottom, on a cooling rack

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Meanwhile, make the filling: Whisk remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup flour in a medium bowl. Whisk in eggs, then lemon juice until smooth.

    Hand pouring lemon juice into a glass bowl while the other hand whisks

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. Pour filling over the baked crust.

    Uncooked Lemon Bars in a baking dish on top of a cooling rack

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  8. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Set the pan aside to cool completely; the bars will firm up as they cool.

    The Best Lemon Bars in a baking dish on top of a cooling rack

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  9. When cooled, cut bars into uniform squares.

    The Best Lemon Bars garnished with powdered sugar on top of parchment paper

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Editor's Note:

Please note the difference in ingredient amounts and serving size when using the magazine version of this recipe.

7,348 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

175 Calories
8g Fat
26g Carbs
1g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 24
Calories 175
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 8g 10%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 20mg 7%
Sodium 55mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 26g 9%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Protein 1g 3%
Calcium 4mg 0%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 15mg 0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.