Lemon Bars Recipe Extra Lemon Wellplated Com

Lemon dessert fervor runs strong in my family, and I love sharing that tradition here too. A few seasons ago, I posted the recipe for these Lemon Cream Cheese Bars. These Lemon Thumbprint Cookies are another favorite. Recently, I found myself craving lemon dessert (as one does). As much as I adore this Lemon Cake (it’s perfection!), my lemon cravings were of the immediate nature. Translation: I needed something lemony and sweet, and I needed N-O-W. I was also feeling like an old-fashioned favorite. Classic lemon bars were a natural choice! After tinkering with a few lemon bar recipe ideas, I realized that, if I wanted to bake the best lemon bars, I needed to go directly to the source: my sister Elaine. According to my grammy, Elaine’s were the best lemon bars she’d ever eaten, including her own. This is no small statement. My grammy is a lifetime baker with skills that rival Martha Stewart and Ina Garten. She can make a perfect Lemon Cream Pie in her sleep. Basically, if Grammy calls something the best, then you know it is THE BEST.

How to Make the Best Lemon Bars

What’s my sister’s secret to perfect, best-ever, Grammy-sanctioned lemon bars? They are the Betty Crocker Lemon Bars with two critical recipe changes.

The Ingredients

Melted Butter. Not only does melting the butter make these the easiest bars you’ll ever bake, it gives the shortbread crust an extra indulgent, melt-in-your mouth texture.

All-Purpose and Whole Wheat Pastry Flour. Use a blend of these two flours and we can all pretend these are “healthy” lemon squares. Powdered Sugar. Key for sweetening the shortbread base and dusting over the finished bars.Granulated Sugar. Adds sweetness to the tart lemon layer and also adds moisture so the bars don’t crack.Lemon Juice. Gives these bars their bright lemon flavor.

Lemon Zest. Takes the lemon punch of these sunny bars to the next level.Eggs. Gives the lemon layer its rich, luscious texture and consistency.Baking Powder and Salt. Helps the bars puff a little while baking and balances their sweetness.

The Directions

Storage Tips

To Store. Lemon bars may be stored for up to 1 day at room temperature. Beyond that, lemon bars should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.To Freeze. Once cooled, cut the lemon bars into squares and then wrap individually in foil or plastic and store in an airtight container for up to 3 months. To Thaw. Transfer frozen bars to the refrigerator and let thaw overnight.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Parchment paper. I always keep several rolls stocked for all my baking and cooking needs. Microwave-safe stacking mixing bowls. I love how compact this set is to store.

Whether you’re looking for a last-minute, crowd-pleasing dessert, want a fun, easy recipe to bake with your kids or grandkids, or simply have a love for lemon dessert recipes, these bars will not disappoint.

Secret One: Double the lemon juice. If you like your bars extra bright and citrusy, you are going to be head-over-heels for these luscious lemon squares.Secret Two: Melt the butter. The original Betty Crocker lemon squares with shortbread base call for softened butter that is painstakingly cut into the dry ingredients. Elaine’s easy lemon bars call for melting it, then stirring all the shortbread ingredients together at once. It’s a total time saver and yields a fantastic, tender crust!

Key LimesNavel OrangesTangerinesPink Grapefruit (use a bit less, as grapefruit is more bitter than lemon)

No indentation remains when you touch the center with your finger. PLUS your kitchen smells incredible.

You didn’t bake the shortbread base long enough. This can cause the filling to loose moisture and absorb istead into the crust.You overbaked the bars during their final round of baking. You skimped on the sugar. I’m usually all for trying to reduce sugar in recipes. Unfortunately this is one recipe where the sugar needs to stay.

Goat Cheese Quiche

1 hr 15 mins

Blueberry Buckle

30 mins

Strawberry Champagne

5 mins Leave a rating below in the comments and let me know how you liked the recipe. Thanks, Elaine, for sharing your best lemon bars with us!

Lemon Bars Video

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