Classic Lemon Bars

Classic Lemon Bars

We constantly fight chocolate dessert versus lemon dessert wars at home. Three members of the family against one, where I represent the minority camp. But I am hanging in there, little by little converting the chocolate addicts to fancy lemon-laden sweets now. I think it’s working. Last time I made these luscious lemon bars, they happily devoured most of them, leaving only a sample-size piece for me.

If you are in my camp, you will love these bars. If you are a chocolate addict, you too will love them, maybe not immediately, but gradually for sure. They are super easy to make. They melt in your mouth and—warning—are dangerously addictive. Viva lemon!

Lemon Zest for Classic Lemon Bars

Classic Lemon Bars
Adapted from “Luscious Lemon Desserts,”  by Lori Longbortham

Makes 16 lemon squares

Ingredients

You will need approximately 2 lemons for this recipe
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 + 3/4 cup confectioner’s (powdered) sugar, plus additional for dusting
2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted  butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Butter an 8-inch (20-cm) square  baking pan.

Whisk together 1 cup of the flour, 1/4 cup of the confectioner’s sugar, the zest, and salt in a medium bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or 2 knifes used scissor-fashion, or rub with your fingertips, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Knead the dough in the bowl until it begins to come together.

Transfer the dough to the baking pan and press it evenly into the bottom. Bake for 25 minutes, or until light golden brown. Let cool on a wire rack while making the filling.

Making Classic Lemon Bars

Whisk together the remaining 1+1/2 cups of confectioner’s sugar the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour, and the baking powder in a small bowl.

Beat the eggs with an electric mixed on high speed in a medium bowl for about 2 minutes, or until tripled in volume. Reduce the speed to low, add the sugar mixture and beat just until blended, scraping down the side of the bowl. Add the lemon juice and beat just until blended.

Pour the lemon mixture over the still warm crust and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the filling is just set in the center. (It may or may not brown on top depending on your oven. My big oven doesn’t brown it, my small one does as in the picture below.) What’s important is that the filling is just set.) Let cool in the pan on a wire rack.

Just before serving, lightly sift confectioner’s sugar over the cookies and cut into 2-inch squares. Store in an airtight container.

Making Classic Lemon Bars

15 Comments

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  1. I love those! Yours look delicious.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  2. Fari, why convert chocolate connoisseurs to lemon?

    As you know, I’m an active member of both clubs.
    And at this very moment, I’d love to be your lemon-aide.

  3. These lemon bars look great!!YUM.

  4. We are sure to love them even though we are chocolholics. I love them! They look delicious!

  5. I’ve never had lemon bars before and given that I am not a chocolate lover, I think that I would opt for your lemon bars.

  6. Simply Lemonny! Delicious! Who liked it more?

  7. I could remember having these when I was a kid growing up. Absolutely delicious! A bookmarked post! 🙂

  8. Limon delisi o?lum için mutlaka yapmal?y?m, ellerinize sa?l?k.
    Sevgilerimle…

  9. I just made a batch yesterday…what a coincidence! Yours look perfect!

  10. Thank you for your comments, friends. Aysegul, we all liked it:)

  11. So delicious. I baked it today, this is the best lemon pie recipe. Thank you for sharing

  12. Simply Amazing 😀
    i cooked it as you said and went out to be just great and tasty 😀

    thanks A Bunch

  13. A wonderful web-site. Discovered it today, because I am on a, umm, diet… 😀 And sooo happy. As soon as this week is over, forst thing, is to open this web-site and overcome my cravings by ,making such delicious food ..Yumm!

  14. I actually have never tried lemon bars before but your recipe looks really delicious and easy. I’m going to try this. Thanks for the recipe.

  15. Looked so good I had to try, amazing result! Thank you for sharing this!

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