• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Free Bonus
  • About
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Boulder Locavore®

Easy Flavorful Recipes for Everyday

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Free Bonus
  • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Free Bonus
    • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Desserts (Baked) » Nana’s Lemon Bars recipe – a Family Favorite recipe

    LAST UPDATED: November 4, 2022 • FIRST PUBLISHED: April 5, 2020 By Toni Dash 28 Comments

    Nana’s Lemon Bars recipe – a Family Favorite recipe

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Lemon Bars title image

    Lemon Bars are a classic dessert recipe. Shortbread crust topped with tangy, sweet lemon custard are irresistibly good. This easy dessert recipe is straight from my Grandmother’s recipe box!

    Lemon Bars title image

    Lemon Bars are a universal favorite dessert. 

    This easy recipe is a family favorite and will become yours too.

    With some easy tips this lemon bar recipe comes out perfect every time!

    Jump to:
    • What are Lemon Bars?
    • Recipe Ingredient Notes
    • Pro Tip for juicing lemons
    • Pro Tips for Making the best Lemon Bars
    • How to Make Lemon Bars – Step-by-Step
    • How to Store
    • More Recipes You’ll Love
    • Recipe
    fork cutting into a lemon bar

    What are Lemon Bars?

    This classic dessert is made with a homemade shortbread crust topped with lemon custard.

    They are topped with a dusting of powdered sugar.

    The crust is buttery and rich. The custard is firm but still a bit gooey in the most pleasing way.

    The flavor combination is perfect any time of the year!

    Lemon Bars come in different proportions of filling and crust.

    My Grandmother’s recipe is almost equal crust and filling.

    Recipe Ingredient Notes

    emon bars ingredients

    Unsalted Butter

    Confectioner’s/Powdered Sugar

    All-Purpose Flour. Either regular All-Purpose Flour OR gluten-free measure-for-measure flour may be used. This recipe has been tested multiple times with both with great results. My recommended gluten-free flour blend is Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free 1-to-1 Baking Flour.

    Eggs

    Baking Powder

    Granulated Sugar

    Lemon Juice. Fresh lemon juice is preferred although you can also use a quality bottled lemon juice (not from concentrate).

    Lemon Zest. Lemon zest adds a big lemon flavor to this lemon bar recipe. This is my favorite lemon zester. It makes fast and easy work of zesting all citrus fruits.

    Pro Tip for juicing lemons

    Place the lemon in the microwave for 10 seconds before juicing it for more juice.

    I recommend a handheld lemon juicer.

    • Slice the lemon in half across the lemon.
    • Juice half the lemon.
    • Flip the juiced half over and juice again.
    • This squeezed out from juice.

    fork cutting into a lemon bar from top

    Pro Tips for Making the best Lemon Bars

    Lemon Bars are not difficult to make BUT there are a few key steps.

    These make the difference between a fantastic lemon bar and one that doesn’t turn out so well.

    Use a glass baking dish

    Lemon bars taste best when baked in a glass pan. Do not use a metal pan.

    There can be a chemical reaction between the acid in the lemon juice and the metal (depending on the pan) that affects the flavor.

    Don’t scoop the flour

    Spoon the flour into a measuring cup and level it off.

    Do not scoop the flour as it can lead to using too much flour.

    Do not overbake!

    Custard recipes like cheesecakes come out of the oven with a slight jiggle in the middle.

    If you have not made it before it may look under cooked. It’s not. 

    The cooling steps allow the filling to firm up to the perfect consistency. 

    Watch the color: it should be a light golden color coming out of the oven (refer to the photos).

    If there is a bit of jiggle, don’t worry!

    If lemon bars are baked until they seem firm or crack, they are overdone.

    White bubbles on the surface? No worries!

    The surface of the baked bars looks covered in tiny bubbles (see photo 19 in the recipe steps below).

    This is completely normal! It has to do with a reaction while baking. 

    If your batch has them, don’t worry! The dusting of powdered sugar will cover it.

    side view of lemon bars stacked

    The cooling steps are critical

    Don’t shortcut the time in cooling. This may be the most important step to ensure a great Lemon Bar. 

    The filling needs to firm up before cutting the bars.

    These Lemon Bars need to be cooled at room temperature for 1-2 hours.

    Then placed in the refrigerator for a minimum of 3 hours or overnight (recommended).

    Store the Lemon Bars in the refrigerator

    These are a custard bar so must be kept chilled.

    Dust with powdered sugar just before serving

    Wait until serving to dust the top of the bars with powdered sugar for the best appearance and flavor.

    lemon bars with powdered sugar

    How to Make Lemon Bars – Step-by-Step

    STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a GLASS 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan by spraying with non-stick spray or greasing with butter (photo 1).

    Making Shortbread Crust

    STEP 2: Sift the flour and powdered sugar into a medium mixing bowl (photos 2-3).

    Lemon Bars recipe steps photos 1-4

    STEP 3: Pour in the melted butter. Mix together with a pastry cutter or dining forks (photos 4-6). 

    Lemon Bars recipe steps - photos 5-8

    STEP 4: Press into the prepared pan to make a crust (photo 7). Bake for 25 minutes until lightly golden in color (photo 8).

    Making the Lemon Filling 

    Start making the filling when the crust is halfway through baking

    STEP 5: In a large mixing bowl (or the bowl if a standing mixer) beat together the eggs, granulated sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest (photos 9-14).

    Lemon Bars - recipe steps photos 9-12

    STEP 6: Sift in the flour and baking powder (photos 15-16); stir to combine.

    Lemon Bars - recipe steps photos 13-16

    STEP 7: Pour over the warm crust (photos 17-18) and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden and fairly set (there may be some jiggle which will firm up during cooling)(photo 19). Begin checking at 12 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE.

    Lemon Bars - recipe steps photos 17-20

    STEP 8: Allow the pan to cool at room temperature for 1-2 hours. Then cover the pan with foil or plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator at least 3 hours (preferably overnight).

    STEP 9: Dust with powdered sugar before serving (photo 20).

    stack of two lemon bars

    How to Store

    In the Refrigerator

    Fully cool and cut the bars. Place them in a single layer in a hard container (not a plastic bag). Layer parchment paper or wax paper between layers. 

    Seal and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

    In the Freezer

    If freezing the bars add the dusting of powdered sugar when they are thawed before serving.

    Fully cool and cut the bars. Place the bars on a baking sheet in a single layer with space in between.

    Place the baking sheet in the freezer for an hour or until the bars are frozen.

    Wrap the bars separately with plastic wrap and put them in a large freezer safe plastic bag. 

    Store up to 3 months.

    This allows them to be eaten one at a time vs. a whole batch.

    Thaw and store in the refrigerator.

    gooey lemon bars

    More Recipes You’ll Love

    • Easy Italian Baked Meatballs recipe
    • Pear Salad
    • Shrimp Alfredo Spaghetti Squash
    • Green Smoothies: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners + Pro Smoothie Lovers

    Did you make it? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

    Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER and PINTEREST!

    Recipe

    Lemon Bars title image

    Nanas Lemon Bars

    Lemon Bars are an easy classic dessert recipe. Buttery shortbread crust with tangy, sweet gooey lemon filling. Can be made regular or gluten-free.
    5 from 20 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 9 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Cooling (room temperature + chilling): 4 hours
    Total Time: 4 hours 49 minutes
    Servings: 20 squares OR 15 bars
    Calories: 247kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    Shortbread Crust

    • 2 cups All-Purpose Flour (regular or gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend)
    • 1/2 cup Confectioner's/Powdered Sugar
    • 1 cup (2 sticks) Unsalted Butter melted

    Lemon Filling

    • 4 Eggs
    • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
    • 2 cups Granulated Sugar
    • 1/3 cup Lemon Juice
    • 1/2 cup All-Purpose Flour (regular or gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend)
    • 1 tablespoon Lemon Zest

    Dusting on top

    • 1 1/2 tablespoon Confectioner's/Powdered Sugar

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch by 13-inch glass pan with non stick spray or grease with a bit of butter.

    Shortbread Crust

    • In a large bowl, sift together the flour and powdered sugar.
    • Pour in the melted butter and cut it together with a pastry cutter. NOTE: dining forks may also be used. Once the dough has formed, press it into the bottom of the prepared pan.
    • Bake for 25 minutes, until the top is golden in color.

    Lemon Filling + Baking

    • When the crust is about half way through, start to prepare the filling. In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, sugar, lemon juice and zest.
    • Sift the flour and baking powder over the egg mixture and stir together to combine.
    • Pour the filling over the warm crust and place it back in the oven for 15-20 minutes ( start checking it at 12 minutes for jiggle and brownness), just until the top starts to turn golden brown and looks set. DO NOT OVERBAKE. It will continue to firm up as it chills.
    • Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool at room temperature for 1-2 hours.
    • Once cooled, place into the fridge for a minimum of 3 hours. Chill overnight if possible.
    • Dust with powdered sugar just before serving. Store in the fridge.

    Video

    Notes

    This recipe has been tested multiple times with each regular All-Purpose flour and gluten-free measure-for-measure flour.

    PRO TIPS for best Lemon Bars

    • Use a glass baking pan.
    • Spoon the flour into a measuring cup and level it off, don’t scoop the flour as it could lead to too much flour.
    • Do not overcook! The bars will be lightly golden and may have a slight jiggle in the center. This will firm up during chilling
    • These bars need to be cooled on the counter top for 1-2 hours and then chilled for another 2-3 hours minimum, best if they can chill overnight.
    • This is a custard bar and must be chilled and stored in the fridge.
    • Dust the powdered sugar right before serving.

    Storing

    Refrigerator: after the bars are fully cooled and cut, store in a hard container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Add parchment or wax paper between layers of bars.
    Freezer: after bars are cooled and cut, place them on a baking sheet with space in between in the freezer. Freeze for an hour. Wrap the bars individually in plastic wrap and place in a larger plastic freezer bag. Store up to 3 months. Thaw and store in the refrigerator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 247kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 56mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 343IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!
    « Homemade Chicken Soup – a Comforting Family Recipe
    Carrot Cake Cookies »

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

    Free Email Course

    5 FAST & EASY 15-MINUTE RECIPES
    Spending too much time in the kitchen?
    These recipes are fast, easy, and perfect for every occasion.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Catalina says

      April 07, 2020 at 2:55 am

      5 stars
      I am drooling over these bars!These bars are so delicious and flavorful! Love them!

      Reply
    2. Lyanna Soria says

      April 06, 2020 at 11:54 pm

      5 stars
      Those lemon bars look quite delicious! I love that it is easy to make as well.

      Reply
    3. Vikki says

      April 06, 2020 at 10:29 pm

      5 stars
      These lemon bars are so yummy! The whole family ate ’em up, making another batch!

      Reply
    4. Dorothy Reinhold says

      April 06, 2020 at 7:14 pm

      Nana’s always know what is good! I love all things lemon. Can’t wait to make a batch of these!

      Reply
    5. Sherry says

      April 06, 2020 at 6:58 pm

      Lemon bars are one of my all-time favorite desserts. It’s so hard to stop eating them. I haven’t made them in a long time though. Need to remedy that.

      Reply
    6. Beth Pierce says

      April 06, 2020 at 6:08 pm

      5 stars
      I made these the other night. My family and I just loved them!!

      Reply
    7. Amy Desrosiers says

      April 06, 2020 at 5:56 pm

      These lemon bars look so delicious!! I love lemon bars because they have such a fresh taste,

      Reply
    8. Fatima Torres says

      April 06, 2020 at 2:08 pm

      I’ve always wanted to make this classic dessert with the kids. Their latest obsession are lemon treats. We’ll add these ingredients for our next trip to the store so we can make homemade lemon bars with the kids.

      Reply
    9. Lisa Joy Thompson says

      April 06, 2020 at 1:28 pm

      These look like such a fun spring treat! I’ve been looking for as many fun recipes as I can to make spring feel a little more “spring-like” since we’re stuck at home.

      Reply
    10. gourmand says

      April 06, 2020 at 2:20 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for sharing!
      This looks really good — and easy! Perfect for breakfast at home. .

      Reply
    « Older Comments
    Newer Comments »

    Primary Sidebar

    About Toni Dash

    Toni Dash BoulderLocavore.com Head Shot

    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

    Search Boulder Locavore

    AS FEATURED ON….

    BoulderLocavore.com Featured By Press

    Easy Dinners

    • Instant Pot Jambalaya Instant Pot Jambalaya Recipe: Quick & Easy Comfort Food
    • Instant Pot Smoked Paprika & Garlic Chicken Legs with lime wedges on a pewter platter Instant Pot Smoked Paprika & Garlic Chicken Legs
    • Korean BBQ Chicken title image Easy Korean BBQ Chicken recipe
    • Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket title image Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket: an Easy One Pot Meal
    • Shrimp Salad title image Shrimp Salad Recipe
    • Green Chile Stew title image Hearty New Mexican Green Chile Pork Stew

    TRENDING RIGHT NOW

    • Korean BBQ Chicken title image Easy Korean BBQ Chicken recipe
    • Instant Pot Jambalaya Instant Pot Jambalaya Recipe: Quick & Easy Comfort Food
    • How to Make Moist Homemade Shredded Chicken Breast title How to Make Moist Homemade Shredded Chicken Breast Recipe
    • cilantro lime rice title image Easy Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
    • ALL BUTTER PIE CRUST Perfect All Butter Pie Crust – An Easy Guide for Success Every Time
    • Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch Recipe

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram

    Contact | About | Privacy Policy | Disclosure Policy | Accessibility Statement | Cookie Policy


    SIGN ME UP to get FREE recipes directly to my inbox!

    Don't miss our TRAVEL SECTION!


    Copyright © 2010-2023 All Rights Reserved

    Boulder Locavore is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.