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  • Writer's pictureBarth Bakery

The Best Lemon Bars

Updated: Oct 2, 2021

Calling all lemon lovers! These luscious lemon bars are the perfect balance of sweet and tart with the ideal crust-to-filling ratio. With a crisp, buttery shortbread crust and a silky, bright lemon curd filling, these easy lemon bars are simply the best. The extra thick and creamy filling is nestled on top of an irresistibly rich crust and dusted with confectioners’ sugar for a mouthwatering and utterly delicious treat that's sure to be your new favorite.


Originally published 6/23/2017; Updated 8/20/2020


The Best Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust

The Best Lemon Bars with Lemon Curd Filling

The Best Luscious Lemon Bars

The Best Thick and Creamy Lemon Bars

The Best Lemon Bars with Buttery Crust and Silky Filling

Ingredients

Shortbread Crust

  • 1¼ cup all-purpose flour

  • ⅓ cup confectioners' sugar

  • ⅔ cup salted butter, room temperature, cubed

Lemon Curd Filling

  • 1 cup + 2 Tbsp granulated sugar

  • 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

  • 2 tsp cream of tartar

  • 3 large eggs + 3 large egg yolks

  • 2 tsp lemon zest

  • ⅔ cup fresh lemon juice (about 4 lemons)

  • 4 Tbsp salted butter, cubed

  • Confectioners’ sugar (for dusting)


Directions

Shortbread Crust

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper leaving an overhang on the sides.

  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and sugar. Using a pastry blender or the back of a fork, cut in the butter until it is evenly distributed and the mixture is crumbly.

  3. Evenly press the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until lightly golden brown, rotating the pan halfway through baking.

Lemon Curd Filling

  1. In a saucepan, whisk together the sugar, flour, and cream of tartar.

  2. Whisk in the eggs and yolks until well combined. Then whisk in the lemon zest and lemon juice until incorporated.

  3. Cook over medium-low heat until the mixture thickens, stirring constantly. After 5-8 minutes, once the mixture reaches 160°F, remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the butter until melted.

  4. Pour the hot lemon filling over the hot crust and spread evenly with a spatula.

  5. Bake for 10-14 minutes, or until the filling is set, but still jiggly. Allow the bars to cool completely. Once cooled, lift the tart out of the pan using the foil and cut into bars. Before serving, dust with confectioners’ sugar.


Barth Bakery has a wide variety of summer treats and desserts…some that are light and bright, others that are cool and refreshing, and many that feature fresh seasonal fruit. If you’re looking for an easy treat to pack up and bring to a pool party, barbecue, or picnic, or just on the hunt for the perfect pick-me-up on a hot summer day, this list has something for everyone.

No-bake Orange Creamsicle Pie

Mango Coconut Cheesecake Bars

Ambrosia Fruit Salad

Blueberry Lemon Coconut Cake Bars

Easy S’mores Pizza

Easy No-bake Red, White, & Blue Jell-O Cake

No-bake Raspberry Peach Icebox Cake

Creamy Homemade Mango Ice Cream

Mango Coconut Lime Tart

Strawberry Lemon Crumb Bars

Piña Colada Macadamia Cookie Bars

Piña Colada Zucchini Breads

Strawberry Lemonade Cookies

Strawberry Pretzel Salad Bars

Mini Lime Tartlets with Macaroon Crust

No-bake Frozen Butterfinger Pie

Fruit Pizza

Coffee Crunch Ice Cream Cake

Skillet S’mores

Frozen Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie

Almond Peach Tart

Blood Orange Curd Bars

Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

Margarita Cake with Tequila Cream Cheese Frosting

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