You’ll love how easy it is to make these sweet & tart lemon bars with a buttery shortbread crust! A sweet, delicious & almost “fancy” bakery style dessert.

Originally Posted: 8/4/15 – Updated: 3/19/24

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Lemon Bars With Shortbread Crust – Pretty & Delicious!

Whenever I serve lemon bars people “ohhh and ahhh” over them. They associate lemon bars with a delectable treat purchased from a fancy bakery. I get it – these Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust are certainly a pretty and delicious dessert.  

Though in reality, lemon bars are one of the easiest, least fussiest baked goods to make. This would be the first recipe I would teach in a class for “The Worst Bakers Ever”. It would certainly restore some faith in their baking abilities. A simple, foolproof yet impressively delicious dessert.

These lemon bars have MAJOR flavor. Sweet, tart, smooth, almost creamy and booming with lemon zing.

Oh, and let’s not forget about the crust. It’s not in the way, not an after thought, not some crust you have to eat because it’s there and the foundation of the bar. Nope, not at all. The crumbly, buttery shortbread crust will have you wanting more in each bite.  

You might just consider doubling that crust next time you make it.

Some more recipes for the citrus lovers! For another dessert – check out my Creamy Lemon Pie recipe! Fancy a lemon beverage? Check out this Ginger Lemon Cinnamon Tea recipe! Love these Lemon Bars & would like an orange version? Try this recipe for Orange Bars !

Ingredients & Instructions

You’ll be making the shortbread crust first and baking it until lightly browned. All this involves is creaming the butter & powdered sugar together, add in the flour and mix until it resembles a fluffy cookie dough. Press into your pan and bake.

The shortbread crust does not need to be completely cooled before pouring in the lemon filling. That being said, I usually start the filling after I remove the crust from the oven.

For the lemon filling, I use a mixing bowl and a whisk. Beat eggs, add in lemon juice & lemon zest, sugar, flour and salt until combined. Pour on top of the crust & bake until edges are lightly brown & center is set.

After it’s cooled, cut into squares and dust with powdered sugar ♥

So when life gives you lemons – make lemon bars! These Lemon Bar recipe will sweeten & brighten up any kind of day.  

Hope you enjoy!

Amanda ♥

Lemon Bars With Shortbread Crust Recipe

Amanda

You'll love how easy it is to make these sweet & tart lemon bars with a buttery shortbread crust! A sweet, delicious & almost "fancy" bakery style dessert.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course Desserts

Servings 12 servings

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 cup butter softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 4 large eggs
• 2 large lemons & zest at room temp
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 tablespoon flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• additional powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350°
• Spray or lightly grease a 13″x9″ baking dish.

For Shortbread Crust:

• In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar.
• Mix in flour. Mixture will resemble a fluffy cookie dough.
• Press evenly into baking dish.
• Bake for 20- 25 minutes or until edges and tops start lightly browning.
• Set aside, crust does not have to cool completely before filling.

For Lemon Filling:

• In a large mixing bowl, using a whisk, beat eggs.
• Beat in juice and zest of both lemons.
• Mix in sugar, flour and salt until thoroughly combined.
• Pour filling into baked crust.
• Bake at 350° for 20 – 25 minutes or until edges start to lightly brown and center is set.
• Cool on wire rack.
• To serve, cut into squares and dust with powdered sugar. Enjoy!

Keyword desserts, lemon

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