Easy Lemon Bars Recipe

Name: Easy Lemon Bars Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1⅓ cups flour; ⅓ cup powdered sugar; 1 tbsp cornstarch; ¼ tsp salt; ½ tsp lemon zest; ½ cup butter; 5 large eggs; 1½ cups sugar; 3 tbsp flour; 1 tsp lemon zest; ⅔ cups lemon juice ((freshly squeezed)); ⅓ cup half and half; ⅛ tsp salt; 1 tbsp powdered sugar ((for dusting))

Published: Mar 27, 2019 Updated: Apr 25, 2023 by Hilda Sterner | This post may contain affiliate links 3 Comments

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This Easy Lemon Bars Recipe will guarantee lemon bars that are tart, sweet, and simply delicious! So if you're looking for the perfect lemon bars recipe, congratulations, you've found it! And if you have leftover lemons, use them to make my delicious Italian Limoncello recipe.

If you love tart and sweet lemon bars with a crumbly crust, this recipe is for you! These lemon bars are among my friend's favorite recipes and I'm constantly being asked for the recipe. Now I'm sharing it with the rest of you!

Making lemon bars couldn't be any easier. Especially with this Easy Lemon Bars Recipe. Just make sure you get your hands on some fresh, organic lemons if possible.

🍋How to Make Lemon Bars

Prepare Crust

Step 1: Mix flour, sugar, cornstarch, and salt until combined.

cubed butter and flour in a food processor

Step 2: Pour flour mixture into a food processor, then add lemon zest and cubed butter. Pulse until the mixture becomes crumbly.

Step 3: Add to a greased 9x13 baking dish. Compress the mixture to create the crust. Bake for 20 minutes.

Lemon Layer

Step 1: Beat eggs with an electric mixture. Add the sugar and mix until combined.

Step 2: Add flour, lemon zest, lemon juice, half and half, and salt. Mix until all the ingredients are incorporated.

Step 3: Remove crust when 20 minutes have elapsed. Pour the lemon topping mixture over the hot crust.

Step 4: Bake for 25 minutes longer, or until the lemon-custard is set. Cool off completely before storing it in the fridge for at least an hour.

Step 5: Sift powdered sugar over the lemon bars before serving.

Recipe FAQs

Do lemon bars have to be refrigerated?

Lemon bars should not be left out for more than a few hours and need refrigeration. This is especially true in hot conditions.

Lemon bars contain cream and eggs, just like any custard. Therefore, they should not be left out for an extended period of time.

But in all honesty, they probably won't last more than a couple of hours. Trust me, they'll be gobbled up way sooner than that!

How Long Do Lemon Bars Last in the Fridge?

There are many factors that can affect how long lemon bars last in the fridge. For example, how many family members of your family have a sweet tooth?

Seriously, in my house, lemon bars would never last longer than three or four days. Scott can polish off five pieces at one sitting, and call it a "Scott-sized" serving (he's 6' 4").

Another factor is how they are packed. Like most food, you don't want to leave the lemon bars uncovered. This not only dries them out but allows them to absorb other flavors in the fridge.

Make sure you pack them in a sealed container, with wax paper between the layers.

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This post was originally published on 3/27/19 and edited on 11/14/19 by adding a few photos and changing the formatting.