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Four Tart Lemon Bars dusted with powdered sugar on a blue plate with a decorative paper doily.
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4.64 from 22 votes

Tart Lemon Bars

Tart Lemon Bars. A thick lemony and buttery crust, and a silky tart lemon filling, topped off with a sprinkle of powdered sugar. Heaven!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24 Cookie Bars
Calories: 181kcal
Author: Keri

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 tablespoon Zest from 1 Lemon

Filling

  • 4 Eggs
  • 1 ½ cups Granulated Sugar
  • ¼ cup All-purpose Flour
  • ¼ teaspoon Salt
  • 2 tablespoons Zest from 2 Lemons
  • ¾ cup Lemon Juice approximately 3 lemons

Instructions

  • Pre-heat the oven to 350° F.
  • Spray a 13 by 9-inch baking dish with non-stick spray.
  • 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.
  • Press the cookie base into the baking dish using your fingers.
  • Bake the lemon cookie base for about 20 minutes until golden brown.
  • While the crust is baking make the lemon filling. Beat the eggs, lemon juice, lemon zest, granulated sugar, flour, and salt. Mix 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.

Notes

 
Cool completely before cutting the cookie bars. Using a sharp knife helps make clean lines. 
Store the cookies in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 5 days. 
Remember to use fresh lemon juice. It along with the lemon zest makes all the difference. 
It's hard to judge how much juice you will get from each lemon, but on average you will get about ¼ cup of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of zest. 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 181kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 120mg | Potassium: 34mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 277IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg