Bright Tangy Lemon Bars (Print version)

Tangy lemon bars feature a buttery crust and a bright citrus filling, cut into elegant triangles.

# What You Need:

→ Shortbread crust

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

→ Lemon filling

05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
08 - 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
11 - 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest (about 1 lemon)

→ Finishing

12 - Powdered sugar, for dusting

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, mix flour, powdered sugar, and salt. Add cold cubed butter and cut in with a pastry cutter or fingers until coarse crumbs form.
03 - Press mixture firmly and evenly into the prepared pan's bottom. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until lightly golden.
04 - Whisk granulated sugar and eggs in a medium bowl until smooth. Incorporate flour, baking powder, salt, lemon juice, and lemon zest, whisking until combined.
05 - Pour the filling over the hot crust immediately after baking. Return pan to oven and bake 18 to 20 minutes until filling is set with slight jiggle in center.
06 - Remove from oven and cool fully in pan on a wire rack.
07 - Lift bars from pan using parchment overhang. Dust with powdered sugar. Cut into 8 squares, then slice each square diagonally to yield 16 triangles.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • Easy to make with simple ingredients
  • Perfect balance of tart lemon and buttery crust
02 -
  • Use cold butter for a flaky, tender crust
  • Chill bars before slicing for cleaner cuts
03 -
  • Add a splash of pure lemon extract to the filling for extra citrus flavor
  • Pair lemon bars with Earl Grey tea or chilled Moscato for a delightful treat
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