Description
Delicious and zesty lemon bars with a buttery crust and a creamy filling.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup salted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled or weighed out
- 1 and 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large lemons, zested
- 6 large eggs, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup + 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 6 tbsp all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled or weighed out
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350℉. Spray a 9×13 pan with nonstick spray then line with parchment paper. Get all your filling ingredients ready to go so you can quickly make the filling while the crust bakes.
- Melt the butter in a medium bowl. Stir in remaining crust ingredients, then press into an even layer in your prepared pan. Bake at 350℉ for 18-22 minutes. The crust will look set and will have a hint of golden brown around the edges. As soon as the crust comes out of the oven, prick holes all over the surface of the crust with a fork – BUT only halfway through – not all the way to the bottom!
- Lightly beat the eggs with a pinch of salt in a large measuring cup or small bowl. Set aside. Add the lemon zest and granulated sugar to a large bowl, and rub the zest into the sugar with clean hands, until the mixture resembles wet sand. Whisk in the flour. Then, add the beaten eggs, vanilla, and lemon juice. Whisk until well combined. Pour over the still warm crust.
- Bake for 18 to 24 minutes. The filling will have the tiniest wobble in the center but will appear mostly set. An instant kitchen thermometer inserted into the center of the filling (without touching the bottom of the pan) should read 180℉.
- Let the bars cool on a cooling rack for an hour, then transfer to the fridge to chill at least 2-3 hours, but preferably overnight.
- Slice the chilled bars, then dust with powdered sugar. Enjoy! Leftovers keep in the fridge for 3-4 days, in an airtight container.
Notes
- Don’t dust the bars with powdered sugar until you’re ready to serve, as it will soak into the bars in the fridge.
- Ensure to keep something under the bars in the fridge to prevent damaging the shelves with the hot pan.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 125mg