Easy Lemon Bars
Perfectly balanced with a flaky, buttery crust and sweet lemon filling, these crave worthy lemon bars are a favorite dessert recipe shared by my mother in law.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I didn’t even think I liked lemon bars until I tried this recipe. Our whole family is sold on the light, lemony flavor with the perfect amount of citrus tang!
What I Love:
- Whether you cut them into squares, bars, rectangles, or small strips, this easy lemon dessert is amazing!
- Homemade in 20 minutes or less.
- A perfect treat to share at baby showers, wedding showers, Easter dinner or any other spring or summer party.
If you enjoy this recipe you may also like our Lemon Cake Cookies or Lemonade Pie.
Easy Lemon Bars Recipe
A gooey center with the perfect lemon tang bakes on a flaky, pie crust like base layer to create quick and easy Lemon Bars that are requested repeatedly.
I love that all of the ingredients are shelf stable if you use lemon extract instead of grated lemon rind.
Start with a pie crust like mixture that includes confectioners sugar to make a perfect crust. Pat the mixture into a pretty pan, because this recipe tastes as pretty as it looks.
While the crust is baking, mix up the sweet lemon filling and have it ready to pour on the warm crust and return to the oven.
I use an OXO sifter to spread the powdered sugar evenly on top. A thicker dusting tastes great, but the more sugar there is the more can fall onto your shirt. So watch out if you’re wearing a black shirt when eating these Farmhouse Lemon Bars 🙂
Ingredients Needed
- Butter
- Granulated Sugar
- All Purpose Flour
- Salt
- Eggs
- Lemon Juice – use fresh juice from two medium to large lemons for a more natural flavor than bottled juice.
- Lemon Extract – gives a brighter lemon flavor. Grating a rind is a substitute but will be a more subtle flavor.
- Powdered Sugar
Varying The Strength of the Lemon Flavor
We tested this recipe using 1 teaspoon of lemon extract and got a sharp, distinct lemon flavor. We also experimented with grating a lemon rind and got a more mellow, mild lemon flavor.
This is a personal preference based on how much lemon flavor you expect and enjoy.
Step By Step Instructions
Allow butter and cream cheese to soften before beginning.
In a medium sized mixing bowl cut softened butter into flour and powdered sugar.
Once butter is all pea sized or smaller and the ingredient are thoroughly mixed pat evenly into the bottom of a 9 x 13″ baking pan that’s been lightly coated with non-stick spray.
Bake for 20 minutes.
In the same mixing bowl mix together lightly beaten eggs, granulated sugar, flour, lemon juice and lemon extract or grated lemon rind. Pour over crust and return to the oven for 25 to 30 minutes until the filling is set.
Let cool and sprinkle confectioners sugar over the top using a sifter or steady hand with a spoonful of sugar.
Cut into bars, squares or slices and enjoy!
More Easy Dessert Recipe Ideas:
- Gooey Oatmeal Bars
- Cheesecake Bars for a Crowd
- Boxed Brownie Cupcakes
- Old Fashioned Butterscotch Bars
Easy Lemon Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 1 pinch salt I use 1/2 teaspoon
Gooey Lemon Filling
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 6 tablespoons flour
- 6 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract can substitute 1 grated lemon rind
- powdered sugar to sprinkle on top
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13 x 9-inch pan. Cut butter, powdered sugar, flour and salt as for piecrust.
- Pat butter mixture in bottom of pan. Bake for 20 minutes.
- While baking, mix together remaining ingredients except powdered sugar. Spread filling over baked crust. Bake 25 – 30 minutes longer.
- Let cool and sprinkle powdered sugar evenly over the top.
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Rate This Recipe Pin This RecipeOriginally shared on 3/22/19 with pictures and notes updated on 4/8/26.
