Description
Lemon pie bars bring sunshine right to your dessert plate with a zesty, tangy twist that makes your taste buds dance. Buttery graham cracker crust and silky smooth lemon filling create a perfect balance of sweet and tart that disappears faster than you can slice them.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 eggs
- 1 ½ cups white sugar
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 1 cup butter (softened)
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
Garnish/Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Prepare your workspace by preheating the oven to 350°F and positioning the rack in the center. Coat a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray or parchment paper.
- Combine 2 ½ cups flour and ½ cup confectioners’ sugar in a mixing bowl. Cut 1 cup softened butter into the dry ingredients until the texture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
- Transfer the crumbly mixture into the prepared pan. Press firmly and evenly across the bottom to create a compact crust layer.
- Slide the crust into the 350°F oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the edges turn a light golden brown. Remove and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
- Whisk 4 eggs in a separate large bowl until they become slightly frothy. Add 1 ½ cups white sugar, 4 tablespoons flour, ½ cup lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon lemon zest.
- Blend the lemon filling ingredients thoroughly until the mixture looks smooth and uniform in color.
- Carefully pour the lemon filling over the pre-baked crust, ensuring an even distribution across the surface.
- Return the pan to the 350°F oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes until the filling sets and appears slightly firm.
- Remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely at room temperature for approximately 1 hour.
- Dust the cooled bars generously with confectioners’ sugar using a fine mesh strainer. Cut into squares or rectangles before serving.
Notes
- Cold butter works best for creating a crumbly, flaky crust that holds together perfectly.
- Zest the lemons before juicing to capture maximum citrus flavor and brightness.
- Ensure the crust is completely cooled before adding the lemon filling to prevent sogginess and maintain a crisp texture.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, and the flavors will continue to develop deliciously.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 283 kcal
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 44 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg