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    Home » Desserts » Cookies

    Tart Lemon Bars

    Published: Mar 25, 2021 · Modified: Jan 14, 2022 by Keri Hix

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    pinterest image of lemon bars on a plate

    What is so remarkable about these Tart Lemon Bars? The secret is the cookie crust. Fresh lemon zest is added to the buttery crust and then topped with a tart, tangy lemon filling.

    3 lemon bar cookies sitting on a plate

    This easy lemon bars recipe is one of our favorite lemon desserts, and it uses simple ingredients.

    This post was updated in March 2021 with new information and photographs.

    Table of contents
    • Other recipes you might enjoy
    • Ingredients needed
    • How to prepare this recipe
    • Step by step with photos
    • Recipe

    Lemons, lemons, lemons

    We have a Meyer Lemon Tree, but Meyer lemons are slightly more on the sweet side. If you are using Meyer lemons, you might not get quite the flavor a real lemon lover is going for. The photos in this post use Meyer lemons.

    One day, my son's friend handed me a bag of huge, thick-skinned lemons that were not Meyers. They made fantastic Tart Lemon Bars. If you are unsure what is available in your area, talk to the produce clerk at your local grocery store, and they can help you pick out the best fresh lemons for you.


    These Tart Lemon Bars have a thick buttery crust and a silky tart lemon filling topped off with a sprinkle of powdered sugar.

    Other recipes you might enjoy

    • Chocolate Cherry Dessert Bars
    • Chewy Lemon Cookies
    • Cranberry Bliss Bars
    • Glazed Lemon Bread
    • Corn Flakes Cookies

    Ingredients needed

    ingredients laid out for lemon bar cookies

    For the crust

    • Flour
    • Salt
    • Powdered Sugar
    • Butter or Margarine
    • Lemon Zest

    For the filling

    • Fresh Lemon Juice
    • Lemon Zest
    • Flour
    • Granulated Sugar
    • Salt
    • Eggs

    How to prepare this recipe

    1. Pre-heat the oven to 350-degrees.
    2. Combine flour, powdered sugar, salt, butter, and lemon zest to a large mixing bowl. You can either use an electric hand mixer, food processor, or a pastry blender.
    3. Spray a 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish with non-stick spray.
    4. Press the cookie base into the baking dish using your fingers.
    5. Bake the lemon cookie base for about 20 minutes.
    6. While the crust is baking, make the lemon filling. Beat the eggs in the same bowl used for the cookie base if possible.
    7. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, flour, and salt to the beaten eggs. Mixt well.
    8. After the crust has baked for 20 minutes, remove it from the oven and slowly and carefully pour in the lemon filling.
    9. Return the lemon cookies to the oven and continue to bake for 20 - 25 minutes. The Lemon Cookie Bars are done when the center of the filling has set, and the top of the bars are just starting to turn a golden brown color.
    10. Remove from the oven and cool the cookie bars on a wire rack.

    Step by step with photos

    ingredients laid out for lemon bar cookies

    Making the cookie base

    Combine the butter or margarine with the flour, powdered sugar, salt, and lemon zest in a large mixing bowl. The butter or margarine works best at room temperature.

    You can use a pastry cutter, a fork, your fingers, or do like I do and use an electric mixer. A food processor also works well for this. I prefer the electric mixer because it is quick and easy to clean up.

    ingredients laid out for lemon bar cookies

    Mix ingredients for the crust, but do not over mix. Having little bits of butter showing through in the coarse crumbs makes for a better crust.

    lemon bar cookie crust pressed into baking dish

    Press mixture into a 13 x 9-inch glass pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake crust in a 350-degree oven for about 20 minutes.

    Making the lemon filling

    Using the same bowl you made the crust in, beat the eggs using an electric mixer. After about 30 seconds of mixing, add the granulated sugar, salt, lemon juice, and lemon zest.

    After the crust bakes for about 20 minutes, slowly and carefully pour the lemon mixture over the hot crust.

    just baked lemon bar cookies still in the baking dish

    Continue to bake for another 20 - 25 minutes. The Lemon Cookie Bars are done when the center of the filling has set, and the top of the bars are just starting to turn a golden brown color.

    3 lemon bar cookies sitting on a plate

    As you can see in the photo above, I can't wait for the cookies to cool completely before cutting them. The cut is cleaner when they are cool. However, they are yummy when they are warm too!

    Use a sharp knife to cut these cookies. Store these cookies in an airtight container or cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.


    Find all my recipes on Pinterest at Cook This Again. Or, on Facebook at Cook This Again.

    Thank you for stopping by and checking out my family's favorite recipes.

    If you tried this easy recipe for Tart Lemon Bars and liked it, please use the stars on the recipe card to rate it. If you have a question or suggestion about this or any other recipe, please leave a comment, and I will respond as soon as possible.

    Recipe

    3 lemon bar cookies sitting on a plate

    Tart Lemon Bars

    Tart Lemon Bars. A thick buttery crust, and a silky tart lemon filling, topped off with a sprinkle of powdered sugar. Heaven!
    4.72 from 14 votes
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 24 Cookie Bars
    Calories: 181kcal
    Author: Keri Hix

    Equipment

    • Electric Mixer or Food Processor

    Ingredients

    Crust

    • 1 cup Butter or Margarine, slightly softened
    • ½ cup Powdered Sugar
    • 2 Cups All-purpose Flour
    • ¼ teaspoon Salt
    • 1 Zest from 1 Lemon

    Filling

    • 4 Eggs
    • 1 ½ cups Granulated Sugar
    • ¼ cup All-purpose Flour
    • ¼ teaspoon Salt
    • 2 Zest from 2 Lemons
    • ¾ cup Lemon Juice fresh

    Instructions

    • Pre-heat the oven to 350-degrees.
    • Combine flour, powdered sugar, salt, butter, and lemon zest to a large mixing bowl. You can either use an electric hand mixer, food processor, or a pastry blender.
    • Spray a 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish with non-stick spray.
    • Press the cookie base into the baking dish using your fingers.
    • Bake the lemon cookie base for about 20 minutes.
    • While the crust is baking make the lemon filling. Beat the eggs in the same bowl used for the cookie base if possible.
    • Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, flour, and salt to the beaten eggs. Mixt well.
    • After the crust has baked for 20 minutes, remove it from the oven and slowly and carefully pour in the lemon filling.
    • Return the lemon cookies to the oven and continue to bake for 20 - 25 minutes. The Lemon Cookie Bars are done when the center of the filling has set, and the top of the bars are just starting to turn a golden brown color.
    • Remove from the oven and cool the cookie bars on a wire rack.
    Click here to add your own private notes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 181kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 127mg | Potassium: 34mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 277IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @CookThisAgain or tag #cookthisagainmom!

    More Cookie Recipes

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    • Cranberry Bliss Bars
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sheridan Pyle

      August 31, 2021 at 5:27 pm

      My family loves tart lemon bars and this recipe was a hit! I used salted butter and added a raspberry on top of each square for fun.

      Reply
    2. Sarah

      May 18, 2020 at 9:49 am

      5 stars
      Fantastic! Hard to find a tart and tangy recipe but this one is so good. The second time I made them I increased lemon juice to 1cup and 2 full tablespoons of zest as well as reducing sugar to 1cup and increased flour to 1/2 cup. Super tangy just the way we love them. They were gone by the end of the day! Wonderful original recipe

      Reply
      • Cook This Again, Mom!

        May 18, 2020 at 3:58 pm

        Awesome! I am a firm believer in adjusting a recipe to work for you. I am so glad you enjoyed the Lemon Bars!

        Reply
    3. Katherine E Wolfe

      May 09, 2020 at 10:59 am

      The best

      Reply
      • Cook This Again, Mom!

        May 09, 2020 at 3:23 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    4. Leah

      April 04, 2020 at 11:25 am

      5 stars
      Fantastic! Made once this way and once with half lemon half orange juice and zest! solid recipe! Did find though that I had to bake the crust a little longer than required as it was still pretty blonde after 20 minutes me my family likes a well done crust! (I also used salted butter for the crust but again that is a personal preference.) Thanks for a great recipe!!

      Reply
      • Cook This Again, Mom!

        April 04, 2020 at 7:38 pm

        Awesome and thank you! Take care.

        Reply

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