Best 7 Ultimate Lemon Bars Recipes

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Calling all lemon lovers! We're embarking on a delightful culinary journey to create the ultimate lemon bars, a symphony of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more. With their golden crust, tangy filling, and delectable dusting of powdered sugar, these extraordinary bars are a true testament to the power of citrus. So, prepare your aprons, gather your ingredients, and get ready to embark on a zesty adventure as we explore the secrets behind the perfect lemon bar.

Let's cook with our recipes!

THE BEST LEMON BARS



The Best Lemon Bars image

It's tough to top a classic lemon bar, but we've done it! We kept the tender, buttery crust and bright filling of the original, and made a few improvements. For our luscious lemon layer, we employed a unique double-cooking method. Simmering first on the stovetop like lemon curd allows us to add butter, which balances the tart and sweet elements and adds a richer, smoother texture.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     dessert

Time 3h

Yield 24 bars

Number Of Ingredients 15

Nonstick cooking spray
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (see Cook's Note)
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 sticks (1 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
4 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup fresh lemon juice (from 6 to 8 lemons)
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 stick (8 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving an overhang on 2 sides; spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
  • For the crust: Add the flour, cornstarch, confectioners' sugar and salt to the bowl of a food processor and pulse 10 times until combined. Add the cold butter and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse sand, about 30 times. (The dough will not come together in one mass.) Sprinkle the mixture evenly in the prepared pan and lightly pat it down. Bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until golden brown around the edges, 20 to 25 minutes.
  • For the filling: Combine the eggs, yolks, sugar, flour, salt and lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Whisk continuously over medium heat, occasionally scraping down the sides and edges of the pan with a rubber spatula, until simmering and thickened, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the lemon zest and butter until combined.
  • Lower the oven temperature to 300 degrees F. Pour the filling over the crust and bake until just set, 12 to 15 minutes.
  • Place on a wire rack to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours.
  • Use the foil overhang to lift the bars from the pan. Remove the foil and slice into squares. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.

LEMON BARS RECIPE



Lemon Bars Recipe image

These are not the flimsy, thin lemon bars you see all over the internet! My recipe makes the best lemon bars ever - thick shortbread crust with that creamy tart lemon filling! If you've been disappointed with other recipes you have to give my recipe a try - I know you will love it.

Provided by Dorothy Kern

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h5m

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
Zest of 1 medium lemon
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 4 medium lemons)
Powdered sugar (for topping)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x9 or an 8x8 pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Make the crust by creaming the butter with a hand or a stand mixer (fitted with the paddle attachment) until smooth. Add powdered sugar, flour, and salt and mix slowly until the mixture is crumbly but sticks together when you press it between your fingers. Press the crust into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for about 13 minutes, or until it just starts to get a light golden brown around the edges.
  • While the crust is baking, whisk the eggs until beaten. Whisk in the sugar, lemon zest, salt, and lemon juice. Pour over hot crust, then continue to bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the mixture is no longer liquid in the center and it's lightly golden brown on top.
  • Cool completely before removing from pan. Remove foil, then dust with powdered sugar. Slice and serve, dusting with more powdered sugar as desired.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving, Calories 468 kcal, Carbohydrate 62 g, Protein 6 g, Fat 23 g, SaturatedFat 14 g, Cholesterol 127 mg, Sodium 96 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 40 g

THE BEST LEMON BARS



The Best Lemon Bars image

Tart, rich and perfection, all rolled into one! Wow your friends with this simple recipe. Hint: No Substitutions!

Provided by Patty Schenck

Categories     Desserts     Fruit Dessert Recipes     Lemon Dessert Recipes

Time 55m

Yield 36

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 cup butter, softened
½ cup white sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
4 eggs
1 ½ cups white sugar
¼ cup all-purpose flour
2 lemons, juiced

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • In a medium bowl, blend together softened butter, 2 cups flour and 1/2 cup sugar. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch pan.
  • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and golden. In another bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup flour. Whisk in the eggs and lemon juice. Pour over the baked crust.
  • Bake for an additional 20 minutes in the preheated oven. The bars will firm up as they cool. For a festive tray, make another pan using limes instead of lemons and adding a drop of green food coloring to give a very pale green. After both pans have cooled, cut into uniform 2 inch squares and arrange in a checker board fashion.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 125.8 calories, Carbohydrate 17.8 g, Cholesterol 34.2 mg, Fat 5.8 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 1.6 g, SaturatedFat 3.4 g, Sodium 44.4 mg, Sugar 11.2 g

LEMON BARS



Lemon Bars image

Ina Garten's Lemon Bars are easy to bake and make for the perfect picnic dessert, from Barefoot Contessa on Food Network.

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories     dessert

Time 1h35m

Yield 20 squares or 40 triangles

Number Of Ingredients 10

1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups flour
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
6 extra-large eggs at room temperature
3 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest (4 to 6 lemons)
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup flour
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • For the crust, cream the butter and sugar until light in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer on low, add to the butter until just mixed. Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and gather into a ball. Flatten the dough with floured hands and press it into a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking sheet, building up a 1/2-inch edge on all sides. Chill.
  • Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack. Leave the oven on.
  • For the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour. Pour over the crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the filling is set. Let cool to room temperature.
  • Cut into triangles and dust with confectioners' sugar.

THE BEST HOMEMADE LEMON BARS RECIPE



The Best Homemade Lemon Bars Recipe image

These are the best homemade lemon bars! With a perfectly chewy crust, zesty lemon filling and dusted with powder sugar they are the ultimate summertime treat.

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups sugar
6 large eggs (beaten)
1 lemon (zested)
1 cup lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
1 cup flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Spray a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Cream together softened butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
  • Add flour and salt and mix until blended.
  • Press into the bottom of prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes.
  • While crust is cooking, make filling by mixing together sugar, eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour. Pour filling over hot crust and bake for about 25 -30 minutes or until set.
  • Remove from oven and dust with powdered sugar.
  • Cool completely and cut into squares.

Nutrition Facts : Servingsize 1 serving, Calories 6545 kcal, Fat 268 g, SaturatedFat 51 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Sodium 1883 mg, Carbohydrate 927 g, Sugar 566 g, Protein 186 mg

THE ULTIMATE LEMON BUTTER BAR



The Ultimate Lemon Butter Bar image

Provided by Rose Levy Beranbaum

Categories     Food Processor     Mixer     Citrus     Egg     Fruit     Dessert     Bake     Easter     Kid-Friendly     Back to School     Lemon     Kidney Friendly     Vegetarian     Pescatarian     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     Kosher     Small Plates

Yield Makes 1 1/2 dozen 2 2/3-inch by 1 1/3-inch bars

Number Of Ingredients 13

Shortbread Base
10 tablespoons unsalted butter (cold) (5 ounces = 142 grams)
2 tablespoons powdered sugar (0.5 ounce = 14 grams)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar (0.75 ounce = 25 grams)
1 1/4 cups bleached all-purpose flour (dip and sweep method) (6.25 ounces = 180 grams)
Lemon Curd Topping
4 large egg yolks (2 full fluid ounces = 2.5 ounces = 74 grams)
3/4 cup sugar (5.25 ounces = 150 grams)
3 fluid ounces (use a liquid measuring cup) lemon juice, freshly squeezed (about 2 1/2 large lemons) (3.25 ounces = 94 grams)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened) (2 ounces = 57 grams)
Pinch of salt
2 teaspoons lemon zest (finely grated) (4 grams)
2 tablespoons powdered sugar for dusting (0.5 ounce = 14 grams)

Steps:

  • EQUIPMENT:
  • 8-inch by 8-inch by 2-inch baking pan, preferably metal (if using a glass pan, lower the oven temperature 25°F.), bottom and 2 sides lined with an 8-inch by 16-inch strip of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
  • SHORTBREAD BASE
  • Food Processor Method
  • Cut the butter into 1-inch cubes, wrap it, and refrigerate.
  • In a food processor with the metal blade, process the sugars for 1 minute or so, until the sugar is very fine. Add the butter and pulse in until the sugar disappears. Add the flour and pulse in until there are a lot of little moist crumbly pieces and no dry flour particles remain.
  • Dump the mixture into a plastic bag and press it together. Remove the dough from the plastic bag and knead it lightly, until it holds together.
  • Electric Mixer Method or by Hand
  • In Scotland, it is said that the best shortbread is mixed with the fingers and that each woman's fingers lend something distinctive and special to the finished cookie. I find that the texture is more delicate when the dough is mixed with the fingers rather than in a machine. For either method, use superfine sugar for the best texture and be sure to soften the butter.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugars. In a large bowl, cream the butter with the sugars until light and fluffy. With your fingers or with the electric mixer, mix in the flour until incorporated. If using the mixer, add the flour in 2 parts.
  • For Both Methods
  • Place 1 oven rack in the middle of the oven.
  • Preheat oven to 325°F.
  • Pat the dough into the prepared pan. Use a fork to prick the dough all over.
  • Bake for about 30 to 40 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned and the top is pale golden (do not brown).
  • While the shortbread is baking, prepare the Lemon Curd Topping.
  • LEMON CURD TOPPING
  • Have a strainer, suspended over a bowl, ready near the range.
  • In a heavy noncorrodible saucepan, beat the egg yolks and sugar with a wooden spoon until well blended. Stir in the lemon juice, butter, and salt. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for about 6 minutes, until thickened and resembling hollandaise sauce, which thickly coats a wooden spoon but is still liquid enough to pour. (A candy thermometer will read 196°F.) The mixture will change from translucent to opaque and begin to take on a yellow color on the back of a wooden spoon. It must not be allowed to boil or it will curdle. (It will steam above 140°F. Whenever steaming occurs, remove the pan briefly from the heat, stirring constantly to prevent boiling.)
  • When the curd has thickened, pour it at once into the strainer. Press it with the back of a spoon until only the coarse residue remains. Discard the residue. Stir in the lemon zest.
  • When the shortbread is baked, remove it from the oven, lower the temperature to 300°F., pour the lemon curd on top of the shortbread, and return it to the oven for 10 minutes.
  • Cool the lemon curd-topped shortbread completely in the pan on a wire rack. Refrigerate the pan for 30 minutes to set the lemon curd completely before cutting into bars. Place the powdered sugar in a strainer and tap the strainer with a spoon to sprinkle a thick, even coating, entirely covering the lemon.
  • Run a small metal spatula between the sides of the pan and the pastry on the 2 sides without the aluminum foil. Use the foil to lift out the lemon curd-covered shortbread onto a cutting surface. Use a long, sharp knife to cut the shortbread first in thirds, then in half the other way, and then each half in thirds. Wipe the blade after each cut.
  • The powdered sugar will start to be absorbed into the lemon curd after several hours, but it can be reapplied before serving.
  • Store:
  • In an airtight container at room temperature, or in the refrigerator or freezer.
  • Keeps:
  • 3 days at room temperature, 3 weeks refrigerated (individually wrapped in plastic wrap to prevent drying), or 3 months frozen.
  • Smart Cookie
  • • Cooking the topping before pouring it into the shortbread ensures crispness as opposed to the usual pastiness of the pastry.
  • • Returning the curd to the oven, where it will be exposed to heat without stirring, causes the yolk to rebond, making it firm enough to cut after cooling.
  • • If each lemon is heated about 10 seconds in a microwave oven on high power and rolled around while pressing on it lightly, it will release a significantly greater quantity of juice.
  • • An aluminum pan should not be used to prepare the lemon curd because it will react with the egg yolks, turning them chartreuse.
  • • Sugar raises the coagulation point of the egg yolk. It also protects it from premature coagulation during the addition of the lemon juice. If the juice were added directly to the unprotected yolk, the yolk would partially coagulate and, when strained, a large percentage of it would be left behind in the strainer. Be sure to mix the sugar well with the egg yolks before adding the juice.

CHEF JOHN'S LEMON BARS



Chef John's Lemon Bars image

This is one of my favorite cookies of all time, although technically they're closer to a pie than a cookie. Nothing prepares you for that intense, awesome sweet-tart lemon flavor and custard, perfectly contrasted against that crisp, sweet buttery shortbread cookie.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Desserts     Fruit Dessert Recipes     Lemon Dessert Recipes

Time 1h40m

Yield 16

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
¼ cup confectioners' sugar
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
1 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar, or to taste

Steps:

  • Place an oven rack into middle position in oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly oil an 8x8-inch baking dish.
  • Place 1 cup flour and butter in a mixing bowl and mash with the back of a spatula or wooden spoon until thoroughly combined. Mix in 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract, and salt; mash mixture together until mixture looks like a slightly crumbly cookie dough.
  • Moisten your fingers with a little water and press dough into bottom of prepared baking dish. Use a fork to prick holes all over the crust.
  • Bake crust on center rack in the preheated oven until crust edges are barely golden brown, 22 minutes.
  • Beat eggs and egg yolks together in a bowl; whisk in white sugar and 2 tablespoons flour until smooth. Add lemon juice and lemon zest; whisk for 2 minutes. Pour lemon custard over crust.
  • Bake on center rack until custard is set and top has a thin white sugary crust, 25 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting into bars. Dip knife into very hot water, run around the edge, and cut into 16 squares. Dust cookies with 1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 153 calories, Carbohydrate 21.8 g, Cholesterol 51.3 mg, Fat 6.7 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 1.9 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Sodium 46.6 mg, Sugar 14.8 g

Tips:

  • Use fresh lemons. Fresh lemon juice and zest provide the best flavor for lemon bars.
  • Don't overmix the batter. Overmixing can make the bars tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
  • Chill the bars before serving. Chilling helps the bars set and makes them easier to cut.
  • Use a sharp knife to cut the bars. A sharp knife will give you clean, even cuts.
  • Serve the bars with whipped cream or ice cream. Whipped cream or ice cream adds a delicious and creamy touch to lemon bars.

Conclusion:

Lemon bars are a classic dessert that are easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. With their bright, tangy flavor and creamy texture, they're the perfect treat for any occasion. Whether you're a fan of traditional lemon bars or want to try something new, there's a recipe in this article that's sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

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