Perfectly Simple Lemon Bars
by: Three Many Cooks
Serves: Makes 16 small bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup confectioner’s sugar
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter, melted but not hot
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoons juice and 2 teaspoon finely grated zest from 1 to 2 lemons
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Spray an 8- by 8-inch baking pan with vegetable cooking spray. Fit an 8-inch by 16-inch piece of heavy-duty foil across pan bottom and up the 2 sides as foil overhangs to pull bars from the pan. Spray foil with vegetable cooking spray.
- Mix flour, salt, confectioner’s sugar in a medium bowl; stir in butter to form dough. Press dough into pan bottom (the bottom of a measuring cup dipped in flour helps). Bake until pale golden, about 20 minutes.
- While pastry bakes, whisk eggs, sugar, flour, lemon juice, and zest in a medium bowl.
- Remove pan from oven. Add lemon mixture and continue to bake until just set, about 20 minutes longer; let cool in pan for a few minutes and then using foil handles, pull bars from pan and set on a wire rack. Cool until room temperature. Cut into squares and serve.
I bought a book many, many years ago from the Art Museum in my hometown and in it was a recipe for lemon bars; something I had never seen before. It has been a 30 year love affair; they remain to this day one of most favorite desserts. I’m feeling the need now; and it’s all your fault. And I think you!
I love making lemon bars because they are one of those things that I always seem to have the ingredients for at home. And they’re quick to make and always a hit.
These are in the oven now. They smell so good and easy just as you promised. The video is very sweet.
These are the BEST lemon bars!!! If I don’t have fresh lemons i just use key lime juice which we always have for key lime pies, and it works great! Now just need to make it to the gym more often to work these off, but they are worth it and SO EASY!!! Also were a hit at my son’s HS grad party.
thanks!
This is my favorite lemon bar recipe, probably of any I’ve ever had OR made. I love that they are zingy with lemon zest, buttery and not too sweet. Thanks so much for the recipe! Though I do love chocolate, lemon desserts speak to me more and more as I get older…
My favorite lemon bar recipe! Getting ready to make two batches for Easter!
Just made these after seeing the link on Pinterest and oh my goodness… So delicious. I will never use another lemon bar recipe!
hi this is more of a request than a comment..years ago in harrods in Uk I had these cookies.. called boston bay cookies.. when u bit into one warm chololate oozed out and they were simply divine.. tried looking through various recipes but nothing came close to those pieces from heaven. wondering if u could help. 😉
I JUST MADE THESE.I love the buttery crust and they are wondrfully lemony.My motheer in law is going to love them tomorrow at our Labor Day BBQ. I made then specially for her.
Love these lemon bars. The flavor is fantastic & they are so easy to make. Thank you! The video is helpful, too.
When a recipe calls for butter, such as the lemon bars recipe, do I use salted or unsalted butter? Thank you!
Hey Imelda,
For baking I usually use unsalted butter.