Lemon Treat Bar Dessert (Printable)

Zesty lemon bars on buttery shortbread crust with powdered sugar dusting.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Crust

01 - 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
03 - 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ For the Lemon Filling

05 - 1 1/2 cups (300 g) granulated sugar
06 - 1/4 cup (35 g) all-purpose flour
07 - 4 large eggs
08 - 2/3 cup (160 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
09 - Zest of 2 lemons

→ For Dusting

10 - Powdered sugar for sprinkling

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
02 - Cream butter and sugar in medium bowl until light and fluffy. Add flour and salt, mix until just combined.
03 - Press crust mixture evenly into prepared pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes until lightly golden.
04 - Whisk together sugar and flour in large bowl. Add eggs, lemon juice, and lemon zest; whisk until smooth.
05 - Pour lemon filling over hot crust immediately after removing from oven. Return to oven and bake 15-18 minutes until set and no longer jiggly in center.
06 - Let bars cool completely in pan. Lift out using parchment overhang, cut into squares, and dust generously with powdered sugar before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The contrast between that melt in your mouth buttery crust and the bright tangy filling is absolutely addictive
  • These bars come together faster than you can finish your morning coffee and they look like you spent forever on them
02 -
  • Never use bottled lemon juice because it lacks the bright complex flavor of fresh and gives the filling a weird artificial aftertaste
  • The filling must be poured over the hot crust immediately, otherwise the two layers will blend together and you will lose that beautiful contrast
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are not optional here, they are what creates that seamless silky filling texture
  • A microplane zester works far better than a box grater for getting just the outer yellow zest without any bitter white pith

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