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    Home » Dessert » Bar

    How to Make Lemon Bars

    Published: Jul 23, 2018 · by Elizabeth Waterson · This post may contain affiliate links, which may pay me a small commission for my referral at no extra cost to you! Thank you for supporting Confessions of a Baking Queen!

    532 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    lemon bars on a wire rack

    This easy recipe for how to make lemon bars is fail-proof. An easy shortbread crust topped with a pre-cooked lemon filling makes this recipe your next favorite dessert bar!

    lemon bar with a bite missing on a wire rack with more lemon bars behind

    Sorry for being MIA last week. I was lucky enough to spend the week at Disney Aulani in Hawaii with my sister and her family. We had the best time, ate my weight in Shave Ice and devoured some delicious fish recipes. And went down the water slide 35 times!

    On to today's post, how to make lemon bars!

    Lemon bars go one way or the other, great or blah. I've made numerous recipes throughout the years. Some delicious, some not. I often find that the crust is soggy, not thick enough. The filling is overly sweet, not lemony enough or worst, doesn't set properly.

    What is a lemon bar

    Usually some sort of crust, often shortbread, topped with a sweet tangy lemon filling, similar to lemon curd. And the best non-chocolate dessert bar around. The contrasting textures make me so happy. Another lemon recipe I love is my lemon crumb bars. But if you're craving chocolate try my brownies.

    I recently came across the new Cooks Illustrated Lemon Bars recipe. It was delicious, the only thing I really changed was I added more lemon zest. I love to have the tang, a real lemon flavor. These bars are perfect. A nice thick, crunchy shortbread crust and a gorgeous thick, lemony filling. You will love these.

    lemon bars dusted with powdered sugar cooling on a wire rack

    First, you need to make your crust. This recipe is easy as the shortbread recipe uses melted butter so its super fast.

    In a large bowl add your flour, salt, and granulated sugar. Whisk to combine. Then pour in your melted butter, use a spatula to mix together. Then in a greased foil-lined 8X8 or 9X9 square baking pan press it down evenly. Then bake at 350F for 18-23 minutes, or until nice and golden brown.

    shortbread crust baked to golden brown for a how to make lemon bars recipe

    How do you make

    One of my all-time favorite kitchen tools is this microplane zester. It seriously makes zesting anything so easy, it feels like you're zesting butter, it's that smooth!

    To make the filling in a large bowl start with granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, cream of tartar and salt. Whisk together then add your eggs and egg yolks. Finally your freshly zested lemon and lemon juice.

    dry ingredients for
    eggs added to sugar for a how to make lemon bars recipe
    a wire whisk inside a bowl of lemon filling for a how to make lemon bars recipe
    lemon bar filling in a metal pot for a how to make lemon bars recipe

    Pour mixture into a saucepan and cook over low-medium heat, whisking constantly, mix until the mixture has thickened and your instant-read thermometer registers at a degree of 160F.

    (I highly suggest investing in an instant-read thermometer. I get SOOO much use out of my Thermapen Mk4. From cooking filet mignon, tempering chocolate, roast turkey, making caramel and more! )

    This should around 5 minutes or a little longer, do not rush the process. Once the temperature is reached turn the heat off and add the slices of butter.

    Then pour the mixture through a strainer into a clean bowl. This helps ensure that you have no cooked eggs and that any thick pieces of lemon zest are taken out.

    lemon filling strained through a mesh strainer for a how to make lemon bars recipe
    spatula taking thick bites out of lemon bar filling for a how to make lemon bars recipe
    a clear bowl full of creamy lemon filling for a how to make lemon bars recipe
    lemon bars ready to bake in a foil lined square pan for a how to make lemon bars recipe

    Then pour the warm filling on top of the pre-baked crust. Then place the pan bake in the oven and bake for an additional 9-12 minutes or until when you shake the pan only the very middle barely wiggles.

    How long does it take to cool lemon bars

    Place the pan on a wire rack to cool for at least 45 minutes. Then wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge. Before serving using a paper towel gently place the towel on top of bars to remove any condensation. Then sift powdered sugar on top of bars for finishing touch. I slice in half lengthwise then both of those halves in half and then do the same the opposite way to have 16 equal bars, you could cut one side into 5 lengths instead of 4 to get 20 pieces or make 9 larger pieces by cutting the pan in thirds.

    ★★★★★ Please let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a star rating and comment below!

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    lemon bar with a bite missing on a wire rack with more lemon bars behind

    How to Make Lemon Bars

    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    This easy recipe for how to make lemon bars is fail-proof. An easy shortbread crust topped with a pre-cooked lemon filling makes this recipe your next dessert bar!

    • Total Time: 2 Hours 35 Minutes
    • Yield: 16 Bars 1x

    Ingredients

    Units Scale

    Shortbread Crust

    • 125 grams (1 Cup) All-Purpose Flour
    • 50 grams (¼ Cup) Granulated Sugar
    • ½ Teaspoon Salt
    • 4oz (1 Stick) Unsalted Butter

    Lemon Bar Filling

    • 200 grams (1 cup) Granulated Sugar
    • 2 Tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
    • 2 Teaspoons Cream of Tartar
    • ¼ Teaspoon Salt
    • 3 Large Egg + 3 Large Egg yolks
    • 1 Tablespoon Lemon Zest
    • 5.5oz Fresh Lemon Juice
    • 2oz Unsalted Butter, cut into 8 pieces
    • Powdered Sugar for decorating

    Instructions

    Crust

    1.  Preheat oven to 350F and line an 8X8 or 9X9 square baking pan with foil so that the foil overhangs on the side and you can easily remove the bars from the pan later. Then grease every corner of foil.
    2. In a large bowl add your flour, salt, and granulated sugar. Whisk to combine. Then pour in your melted butter, use a spatula to mix together. Place shortbread crust into the prepared pan and press down evenly making sure the crust fills the whole bottom of the pan. Bake for 18-23 minutes, or until nice and golden brown.

    Lemon Filling

    1. In a large bowl add the granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, cream of tartar and salt. Whisk together then add your eggs and egg yolks. Finally, add your freshly zested lemon and lemon juice. Transfer the mixture to a saucepan over low- medium heat.  Cook over low-medium heat, whisking constantly, mix until the mixture has thickened and your instant-read thermometer registers at a degree of 160F. This should around 5 minutes or a little longer, do not rush the process. Once the temperature is reached turn the heat off and add the slices of butter.
    2. Pour the mixture through a strainer into a clean bowl. Then pour on top of the hot crust, moving pan to ensure an even filling. Bake for an additional 9-12 minutes or until when you shake the pan only the very middle barely wiggles.
    3. Place pan on a wire rack to cool for at least 45 minutes. Then wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour up to 24. Before serving using a paper towel gently place the towel on top of bars to remove any condensation. Then sift powdered sugar on top of bars for finishing touch. Cut into four rows on each side to create 16 bars. Keep in fridge, best served within 2 days.

    Equipment

    fat daddios 8 inch square cake pan

    8 Inch Square Baking Pan

    Buy Now →
    oxo food scale

    OXO Kitchen Scale

    Buy Now →

    Notes

    *Total time includes cool and chill time

    **Recipe slightly adapted from Cooks Illustrated.

    • Author: Elizabeth Waterson I Confessions of a Baking Queen
    • Prep Time: 15
    • Cook Time: 35
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Bake
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: easy lemon bar recipe, the best lemon bar recipe, how to make lemon bars

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @confessionsofabakingqueen on Instagram and hashtag it #cbqbakes

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    1. Crystal Faulkner says

      July 25, 2018 at 2:44 pm

      I love this, thank you so much for sharing it!

      Reply
    2. Carolyn says

      July 25, 2018 at 4:32 pm

      These lemon bars look perfect!

      Reply

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    Waterson, Elizabeth Cropped Size Photo CAke copy 2

    Hiya! I am Elizabeth Waterson, welcome to my treat-filled site. After spending 15 years in the restaurant industry and growing up baking, I wanted to share my love of baking with you all. My step-by-step tutorials will help you learn how to bake at home. Confessions of a Baking Queen (CBQ) has been featured in CBS LA, HuffPost Taste, BuzzFeed, Taste of Home, and more! Here you will find loads of sweet recipes with a few savory ones for good measure. Feel free to message me with any questions! Happy Baking! 

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    Waterson, Elizabeth Cropped Size Photo CAke copy 2

    Hiya! I am Elizabeth Waterson, welcome to my treat-filled site. After spending 15 years in the restaurant industry and growing up baking, I wanted to share my love of baking with you all. My step-by-step tutorials will help you learn how to bake at home. Confessions of a Baking Queen (CBQ) has been featured in CBS LA, HuffPost Taste, BuzzFeed, Taste of Home, and more! Here you will find loads of sweet recipes with a few savory ones for good measure. Feel free to message me with any questions! Happy Baking! 

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