The Best Easy Lemon Bars Recipe

4.55 from 84 votes
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Easy cookie crust and lemon curd topped with powdered sugar for a classic lemon bar dessert everyone loves – this is The Best Easy Lemon Bars Recipe!

picture of lemon bars stacked on top of each other with powdered sugar sprinkled on top

If you love lemon like I love lemon, these delicious easy lemon squares are for you!

These are seriously THE BEST easy lemon squares – and are a nostalgic classic recipe with deliciously addictive and easy shortbread crust, a lemon layer, and tons of powdered sugar for a pretty, delicious treat the whole family will love!

These easy lemon bars are loaded with flavor from a buttery crust, a cup of lemon juice, softened butter, and lemon zest.

They are great slightly chilled – and perfect for anytime you want a delicious lemon flavor!

I hope these easy lemon bars become one of your favorite new lemon dessertsโ€ฆ they are one of my familyโ€™s favorites!

Be sure to check out my crazy easy Lemon Jello Poke Cake for more lemon flavor!

picture of 4 lemon bars on a table with powdered sugar

Just Take Me To The Easy Lemon Bars Recipe Already!

If you’d like to skip my helpful tips and tricks and similar recipe ideas, please scroll to the bottom of the page, above the comments, to find the easy printable recipe.

I get a lot of questions and comments on posts, so I try to provide lots of information in them!

picture of 4 lemon bars stacked on top of each other

Tips and Tricks For Perfect Lemon Bars:

These lemon bars are simple and comforting, but a couple easy steps will help you make perfect lemon bars every time!

Cut When Chilled

I find it is easiest to cut lemon bars when well-chilled. I wait 1-2 hours for these bars to cool before cutting – preferably in the refrigerator, but cooling in the pan on the counter works well too (though it is sometimes too warm to slice easily- lemon bars slice much better when cold to not get smooshy.)

Cut With Wet Knife

For the easiest way to cut lemon bars, wet a knife before slicing.

This will help from clumping!

Chill Thoroughly

I personally prefer lemon bars chilled – straight from the fridge – but some people like them still hot from the oven.

Try both to see what your favorite is!

If your powdered sugar absorbs into the top of the lemon bar, the bar might be too hot.

Often when you add sugar on top of hot lemon bars the sugar soaks in, so itโ€™s not fluffy and powdery on top of your lemon bar!

Simply let the bars cool and re-sugar.

Bake for Browning, Not Time

Watch the shortbread cookie base as it bakes – you’ll only need 15 to 20 minutes bake time.

You want the cookie to be crumbly and delicious – but not browned when adding lemon topping. 

Since ovens can vary wildly, check on your cookie base as it cooks to prevent over cooking.

picture of one lemon bar with lots of powdered sugar

Gluten Free Lemon Bars Recipe

This lemon bar recipe can easily be made gluten free with a gluten free flour.

Look for an all-purpose gluten free flour that is used in the same ratio as regular flour, such as Bobโ€™s Red Mill All Purpose Baking Mix, or another gluten free flour with a 1:1 ratio when used in place of all purpose flour.

As with all gluten-free baking, if you are replacing items due to severe allergy or intolerance to gluten, please check all ingredients you use to be sure there arenโ€™t gluten-based preservatives.

If youโ€™re looking to also serve a low sugar lemon bar recipe, you can replace the sugar with a sweetener designed for baking, such as Splenda for Baking.

Replacing the sugar and flour with substitutions can provide erratic results – so be sure to look for replacements with a 1:1 ratio when adding in sugar replacement or gluten free flour.

picture of lemon bars laying out on a table

Other Easy Desserts Youโ€™ll Love:

If you love these easy lemon bars, youโ€™ll love these other deliciously easy desserts too!

Click each link to find the easy printable recipes:

-The Best Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

-10 Minute Donut Holes

-Peppermint Brownies

-Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge

-Peppermint Cake Batter Fudge

picture of a lemon bar on a blue table
picture of lemon bars

The Best Easy Lemon Bars Recipe

If you love the best easy lemon bars recipe as much as I do, please help me share on facebook and pinterest! 

And be sure to tag @sweetcsdesigns – #sweetcsloves if sharing on Instagram so I can see! 

picture of lemon bars

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4.55 from 84 votes

The Best Easy Lemon Bars Recipe

By: Courtney O’Dell
Servings: 8 people
Prep: 8 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 28 minutes
picture of lemon bars
The Best Easy Lemon Bars Recipe – easy cookie crust and lemon curd topped with powdered sugar for a classic lemon bar dessert everyone loves!

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • In a medium size bowl, mix butter, powdered sugar, flour, and salt together with a fork or pastry cutter.ย 
  • Add mixture to an 8×8 pan that is well lined with parchment paper.ย 
  • Bake for 20 minutes at 375.ย 
  • Crust should be firm but not browned.ย 
  • In a stand mixer, or a bowl with a handheld mixer, blend eggs, lemon juice, sugar, and flour until frothy, about 30 seconds.ย 
  • Pour over cookie crust.ย 
  • Bake for 15- 20 minutes at 350 degrees.ย 
  • Let cool, top with sprinkled powdered sugar.ย 

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 591kcalCarbohydrates: 85gProtein: 7gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 154mgSodium: 378mgFiber: 1gSugar: 55g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @sweetcsdesigns or tag #sweetcsdesigns!
picture of lemon bars
picture of lemon bars

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About Courtney

Courtney loves to share great wine, good food, and loves to explore far flung places- all while masting an everyday elegant and easy style at lifestyle blog Sweet Cโ€™s Designs. Sweet C's devoted to finding the best food and drinks you'll want to make or find, around the world!

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4.55 from 84 votes (79 ratings without comment)

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14 Comments

  1. Jennifer says:

    This recipe leaves a lot to be desired. Took almost 40 minutes to bake custard. Crust way to crumbly and not enough lemon flavor in the custard in my opinion. I followed recipe to the letter. Very disappointing after all that work. Wouldn’t make again.

  2. Shana says:

    Is the lemon bars supposed to be set after 20 minutes. Seems like my lemon mixture is still not done after 20 minutes. So when I cut into it its runny.

  3. Iris says:

    LIES, 40 MINUTES!!!! NOT 20!!! My fucking lemon bar!!!!!

    1. Butthead says:

      Calm down Beavis.

  4. Quisha Kinlaw says:

    O!
    M!
    G!
    Is all I need to say! I just made these tonight… and they are INNNNNcredible! I think the crust is soooo flakey and buttery! The custard is not too sweet but just right! This is all bad… cuz Iโ€™m supposed to be on the keto diet…. oh well! Cheat night!

  5. Jan says:

    If I need to serve more people and want to make this in a 13 x 9 pan, should I just double the ingredients??

    1. Courtney ODell says:

      Jan –

      You certainly can!