Description
Zesty homemade lemon bars showcase bright citrus flavors from Mediterranean lemons. Sweet shortbread crust complements tangy filling, offering you a perfect balance of tart and sweet in each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest (optional)
Crust Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Finishing Ingredient:
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a baking pan by lining it with parchment paper, ensuring complete coverage for easy removal.
- Combine flour, sugar, salt, softened butter, and vanilla in a mixing bowl, blending until a cohesive crumbly dough forms.
- Firmly press the crust mixture evenly into the prepared pan, creating a compact and uniform base.
- Bake the crust for 18-20 minutes, watching for golden-brown edges as an indicator of doneness. Remove from oven and gently dock the surface with a fork to prevent bubbling.
- While the crust bakes, create the filling by whisking together sugar and lemon zest until fragrant, then incorporating flour, eggs, and fresh lemon juice until smooth and well-integrated.
- Pour the lemon filling directly over the hot crust, ensuring even distribution across the surface.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, monitoring until the filling sets and appears slightly firm with a gentle jiggle in the center.
- Allow the lemon bars to cool completely at room temperature for approximately 1 hour, then transfer to the refrigerator to chill for an additional 2 hours.
- Once fully chilled, lift the bars from the pan using the parchment paper and slice into neat squares for serving.
Notes
- Use room temperature butter for the crust to ensure smooth, even mixing and prevent a crumbly texture.
- Always zest the lemon before juicing to maximize flavor extraction and avoid wasting citrus oils.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour or a gluten-free blend in both crust and filling.
- Dust powdered sugar just before serving to prevent moisture from making the sugar dissolve and look messy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg