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Easy Lemon Squares

Easy Lemon Squares, these tangy squares are quick, easy and so delicious, made with a buttery shortbread base and a fresh lemon filling. Easy and tasty bars. They are a definite must bake this Holiday Season!

Lemon bars cut on a wire rack.


 

This recipe for Lemon Squares was given to me by my amazing cousin, who I can’t wait to see again (soon!!) and I think they would be great to make for all the lemon-loving dessert people out there.

My mother loved baking with lemons, from Lemon Bread to Lemon Cake it seems we can never get enough. In Italy there is a never-ending abundance of lemons, everyone has a lemon tree or two or three.

Funny thing is, my husband and I plant and plant lemon trees and the trees look beautiful, but no lemons. Very strange. But that doesn’t keep us from trying.

When we first arrived in Italy, one week after our wedding, we lived in a beautiful house that belonged to my brother-in-law. And we planted, yup you guessed it, our first lemon tree, and of course we never saw not even one lemon.

Eight  years later we moved into our own home, and that lovely lemon tree started to produce and I mean produce tons of lemons! Lucky for them!

So here we are, 9 years later with a few nice green trees and unfortunately still no lemons. Maybe it is time to think about moving again… Thank goodness everyone we know has lemon producing trees.

Lemon squares on a wire rack with one on top.

Ingredients for the Recipe

  • Butter – softened butter
  • Sugar – powdered/icing sugar
  • Flour – all purpose flour
  • Salt – if you use unsalted butter then add a bit more salt

For the Filling

  • Eggs
  • Sugar – granulated sugar
  • Baking Powder
  • Lemon Juice – be sure to use fresh lemons and not bottled
  • Salt
  • Lemon Zest

How to make Lemon Squares

In a medium bowl, beat on medium speed the butter and powdered sugar until combined. Add the flour and beat again until a soft dough forms.

Pat evenly onto the bottom of the prepared baking pan.

lemon squares how to make ingredients in a bowl for base, mixed, and in a pan to be baked

Bake for about 20 minutes, remove from the oven.

lemon squares how to make the baked base, the ingredients for the lemon filling and the lemon filling made

In a medium bowl, beat together, the eggs, granulated sugar, baking powder, fresh lemon juice and pinch of salt. Pour over the baked crust and return to the oven and bake until the centre is set. Cool in the pan.

lemon squares how to make ready to bake and baked

Cut when the bars are completely cooled.

Bars cut on a wire rack.

How to know when Lemon Bars are done

You know when Lemon Bars are done when you gently shake the pan and the filling is set and no longer jiggles. Be sure to let the squares completely cool before cutting. They need to set up, so don’t rush this step.

I like to let them cool at room temperature for about an hour then refrigerate for about 1-2 hours before cutting.

Tips for making the Best Lemon Bars

  • Be sure to use fresh lemons, you want the best tasting bars since it’s all about the lemons!
  • For easier removal line your baking pan with parchment paper.
  • Be sure to bake the crust before adding the filling.
  • You may want to refrigerate them before cutting, it makes it easier to cut into clean even squares.
  • Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Lemon bar on top of another.

FAQs

How to store Lemon Bars

They should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge, although they can be left out for a few hours while they are being served. They will last up to 4 days in the fridge.

How to freeze them.

Lemon Squares can also be frozen, place the completely cooled cookies, on a cookie sheet, freeze for 1 hour then transfer to a freezer safe container, place parchment paper between the layers, they will keep for up to 3-4 months in the freezer. Be sure to thaw the frozen cookies in the fridge before serving. If you do freeze them, don’t dust with powdered sugar, that can be added before serving.

Why are my bars runny?

If they are too runny or jiggle too much, it’s because they have not been baked for enough time. Be sure to bake the bottom crust for the time stated that will help too.

These Lemon Bars are perfect as a dessert or even an afternoon snack, amazing with a cup of tea or serve to family or guests. Enjoy!

Up close lemon bar.

More delicious Lemon Recipes

Lemon bar on top of another.

Easy Lemon Squares

Rosemary Molloy
Easy Lemon Squares, these tangy squares are quick, easy and so delicious, made with a buttery shortbread base and a fresh lemon filling.  
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Desserts
Cuisine American
Servings 16 squares
Calories 144 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

SHORTBREAD BASE

  • ½ cup butter* (softened)
  • ¼ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 pinch salt

* I always use salted butter, if you use unsalted then increase the salt to 1/4 teaspoon.

    LEMON FILLING

    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 1 pinch salt
    • zest of 1/2-1 lemon (1/2 – 1 tablespoon)

    Instructions
     

    • Pre-heat oven to 350F (180C). Lightly grease and flour an 8×8 inch (20x20cm) square cake pan or line with parchment paper.

    SHORTBREAD BASE

    • In a medium bowl, beat on medium speed the butter and powdered sugar until combined then add the flour and beat again until a soft dough forms (approximately 1 1/2 minutes). Pat evenly onto the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Bake 18-20 minutes. Remove from oven, but leave oven on.

    LEMON FILLING

    • Meanwhile in a medium bowl, beat together, the eggs, granulated sugar, baking powder, fresh lemon juice, pinch of salt and zest. Pour over warm v (not hot) baked base and return to the oven for 20-25 minutes (until the centre is set, I baked mine for 25 minutes, may need to go a bit longer), Cool in the pan, I recommend that you also chill in the fridge for 1 hour for easier cutting, cut into squares, remove from pan, dust with powdered sugar and serve. Enjoy!

    Notes

    You may want to refrigerate the Lemon Bars before cutting as it makes cutting the squares easier.
    You know when Lemon Bars are done when you gently shake the pan and the filling is set and no longer jiggles. 
    Store the cooled baked bars in an airtight container in the fridge, although they can be left out for a few hours while they are being served. They will last up to 4 days in the fridge.
    Lemon Squares can also be frozen, place the completely cooled cookies, on a cookie sheet, freeze for 1 hour then transfer to a freezer safe container, place parchment paper between the layers, they will keep for up to 3-4 months in the freezer.
    Be sure to thaw the frozen cookies in the fridge before serving. If you do freeze them, don’t dust with powdered sugar first, that can be added before serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 64mg | Potassium: 31mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 205IU | Vitamin C: 1.1mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.5mg
    Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a comment below or pin it to your Pinterest account!

    Updated from May 9, 2014.

    167 Comments

    1. I am assuming the pan size used depends on if you double or triple the recipe? All of them mentioned 8×8 pan which would make the crust too thick? Or am I crazy?

      1. Hi Pam, yes you will have increase the pan size, you will probably have to increase the baking time also, I have never doubled or tripled the recipe myself so I can’t really say, I also can’t add the pan size if you double or tripe because that is mentioned in the instructions. Hope that helps.

    2. 5 stars
      I’m getting ready now to make my holiday batch of squares. Favorite request from chocolate obsessed family. Quite a testament for this recipe. Thank you.

    3. I’d like to try making these lemon bars one day! I wonder, would I be able to make them in a bar shape? That’s usually rectangular. Is the filling like what you’d find in Poptarts? Maybe it’s like what you’d find in Newtons?

    4. Help! My grandma use to make these and I want to make them for Christmas this year. This recipe is exactly like hers but when she made them they came out thick with an obvious crust and lemon section separate. When I did it it all became one and is super thin and not nice and thick like she use to so it. I also can’t get the parchment paper off of the crust. What did I do wrong?!

      1. Hi Catherine, I think it did that because you the base was too hot, let it cool to warmish. And if you want thicker either double the recipe or use a smaller pan. Hope that helps. Take care!

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