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Easy Lemon Bar Recipe – Lemon Square Recipe In Under 30 Minutes

 

This easy lemon bar recipe is such a crowd favorite that I make it several times a year. While most consider lemon a summer flavor, you will find yourself bringing out this delicious treat all year round. Who can resist the combination of sweet and tart that a lemon square recipe provides? Not me!

lemon bar recipe

Easy Lemon Bar Recipe – Lemon Square Recipe In Under 30 Minutes

I’m always looking for recipes that don’t keep me in the kitchen for too long that use fresh lemons and melted butter – items I always have on hand and consider the perfect balance of flavor. Nothing beats simple ingredients. Am I right?

As a mom of three, you can appreciate that life gets in the way pretty easily. With just a few quick whirls of my mixer, I am on my way and you will be too! That’s the beauty of golden brown lemon squares!

Now that we are in the holiday season, I also want you to start thinking about this recipe for hostess gift ideas and special occasion gifting options. I am sure that your calendar will start to book up and fast and I know this will become a favorite recipe for you to make over and over again. Make a few batches of this lemon square recipe and wow your friends with a simple presentation that has a lot of bite in its buttery crust, even on the next day thanks to the shortbread base.

best lemon bars

How To Make Lemon Squares – The Perfect Dessert

You really only need a few ingredients to get started with these homemade lemon bars. They are all fresh and probably in your refrigerator. I’m not going to tell you how to live your life… but please use fresh lemon juice when working on this lemon square recipe. There, I said it. I feel better now as a lemon lover. Fresh ingredients will always give you the best results.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 4 eggs
  • 1-1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 2/3 cup lemon juice (about 3 medium lemons)
  • confectioners’ sugar

The Best Lemon Bars – Directions

best lemon bars

Preheat oven to 350.

In a large bowl, beat your butter until smooth. Add in sugar, flour, and salt and beat until crumbly. The mixture will look like crumbs, but when pinched together will hold its shape.

press batter into pan

Press evenly into 9×13 pan with fingers or the back of a spoon. Bake crust for 15-20 minutes or until the center is set/cooked through. Remove from the oven and set aside. I do not use parchment paper in these photos, but it would be a good idea.

pouring lemon bars batter over crust

In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs, sugar, flour and lemon juice until combined. Pour your mixture over the hot crust and bake for around 20-24 minutes.

Let the dish set to cool completely before cutting into 24 bars and topping with powdered sugar. If you do this too soon, you will have a really hard time with your knife. Please wait to cut. And enjoy!

lemon square bars

How Do You Know When The Classic Lemon Bars Are Done?

Every oven is different and – believe me – I understand this! Sometimes you need to use your EYE to figure out whether you are close to the end of your cooking time.

If your filling still looks a little loose or runny, you might want to give your bars a little more time. If your edges are nice and golden and your filling is completely set – then you are good to go!

Easy Lemon Bars

Variations

If you want to add more flavor to the original recipe, you could always add a bit of lemon zest to your mixture. This will really amp up the flavor profile of your tart lemon filling. Other flavors to consider: hibiscus, cranberry, rosemary, ginger, lavender, peach, and banana. Including a small amount of one of these profiles to your lemon mixture will completely change up the vibe of the dish.

Another variation to consider is adding vanilla bean extract to the buttery shortbread crust. Not many recipes call for this online, mine included. However, I’ve made it a few times at home using 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract and it gives it a nice twist.

If you don’t want to use a lot of butter, you could always try to swap it out with olive oil instead. I’ve never done this before, but try 1/4 cup of olive oil

Similarly, you could also consider adding ¼ cup orange juice to your luscious lemon filling to give it a sweeter tang, making the bars more of an orange-lemon combo. The best way to figure out how you like this dessert is to try each variation for yourself. Just be sure to add a dusting of confectioners on top to seal the deal. The best lemon bar recipe always has that topping because it balances the tart lemon flavor that is found in the center.

Refrigeration

Yes and No. Lemon bars are made with all fresh ingredients. So, naturally, you won’t be able to keep them out on your counter overnight. However, they will be perfectly fine to set out for a few hours during a party at room temperature. When the party is over, just be sure to place them in an airtight container and refrigerate them until you are ready to eat them.

Can You Freeze Lemon Squares?

Absolutely! Once baked, you can freeze lemon bars for up to two or three months. Just be sure they are tightly sealed with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap. When you are freezing the bars, it’s easiest to try to line them in a single layer.

When Should I Cut My Lemon Squares?

The hardest part about baking is waiting. The cake comes out of the oven and you want to frost it, right? But you can’t because it’s piping hot!

You should cut the lemon squares after they’ve had a chance to completely cool. Use a wire rack to speed up the process. Give them ample time to cool as it will just make the entire process easier. Use a sharp knife when cutting.

What Places Should I Consider Bringing This Dessert?

I have to tell you that lemon desserts are one of the most versatile on the planet. You can bring them to:

  • bridal showers
  • baby showers
  • bake sales
  • holiday gatherings
  • bunko night
  • BBQs
  • Sunday dinner
  • family game night
  • new neighbor welcoming get together
  • cocktail parties
  • high end / casual affairs – it all works!
Lemon Squares

Here are some other recipes to try out:

Easy Lemon Bars Recipe In Under 30 Minutes
lemon bars

Easy Lemon Bar Recipe

Yield: 24
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 44 minutes
Total Time: 54 minutes

This easy lemon bar recipe is such a crowd favorite that I make it several times a year. While most consider lemon a summer flavor, you will find yourself bringing out this delicious treat all year round. Who can resist the combination of sweet and tart that a lemon square recipe provides? Not me!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 4 eggs
  • 1-1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 2/3 cup lemon juice (about 3 medium lemons)
  • confectioners' sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. In a large bowl, beat your butter until smooth. Add in sugar, flour, and salt and beat until crumbly. The mixture will look like crumbs, but when pinched together will hold its shape.
  3. Press evenly into 9x13 pan with fingers or the back of a spoon. Bake crust for 15-20 minutes or until the center is set/cooked through. Remove from the oven and set aside. I do not use parchment paper in these photos, but it would be a good idea.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs, sugar, flour and lemon juice until combined. Pour your mixture over the hot crust and bake for around 20-24 minutes.
  5. Let the dish set to cool completely before cutting into 24 bars and topping with powdered sugar. If you do this too soon, you will have a really hard time with your knife. Please wait to cut. And enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 225Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 97mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 0gSugar: 26gProtein: 2g

Did you make this recipe?

Did you make this recipe? Tag me on Instagram (@VeraSweeney) so I can see your wonderful creation! I would love to see your dish.

Easy Lemon Bars Recipe In Under 30 Minutes

Jennifer

Friday 25th of October 2019

I absolutely adore anything that is made with lemon. This looks like this is a perfect recipe for a holiday party, or in my case, a late evening snack.

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