Tart, rich Homemade Lemon Bars are sure to be a hit! The lemon filling is the perfect balance of sweetness and lemon flavor, and it is surrounded by a warm, crunchy crust. Homemade Lemon Bars are the perfect dessert for a party, or you can make and store them for a treat throughout the week! It’s a luscious bit of sunshine on a plate!
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, spoon and leveled
For the lemon filling:
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 6 large eggs
- 1 cup lemon juice
- confectioners’ sugar, optional, for dusting
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Step 2 –Line the bottom and sides of a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to lift the finished bars out. Set aside.
Step 3 –Mix the melted butter, 1/2 cup of the sugar, the vanilla extract, and the salt together in a medium bowl.
Step 4 –Add the 2 cups and 2 tablespoons of the flour and stir to completely combine. The dough will be thick.
Step 5 –Press the dough firmly into the prepared pan, making sure the layer of crust is nice and even.
Step 6 –Bake until the edges are lightly browned, about 20-22 minutes.
Step 7 –Remove the pan from the oven.
Step 8 –Using a fork, poke holes all over the top of the warm crust but not all the way through the crust. Set the crust aside.
Step 9 –Sift 2 cups of the sugar and the 6 tablespoons of the flour together in a large bowl.
Step 10 –Add the eggs and lemon juice and whisk until completely combined.
Step 11 –Pour the filling mixture over the warm crust.
Step 12 –Bake the bars until the center is relatively set and no longer jiggles, about 22-26 minutes.
Step 13 –Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool completely at room temperature.
Step 14 –Once cool, lift the parchment paper out of the pan using the overhang on the sides. Dust the top with the confectioners’ sugar and cut into squares before serving.