This is the BEST recipe for Lemon Squares I have EVER tried! The shortbread crust is thick and tender, and the lemon custard on top is super tart and creamy. You will never go back!! Originally published January 20, 2012.
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The other day I casually mentioned to my friend Tawna that I made gluten free lemon squares. “Oh really?” she said. “I’ve never had a lemon square.”
And then my brain EXPLODED.
Okay not really, but GAH!!! The thought of life without lemon squares. If I could only eat one dessert for the rest of my life, it would be this recipe for lemon squares, no lie. (Okay. I’m lying. If in some sick world I really did have to choose, I would flip a coin between these lemon bars and The Best Chocolate Cake I’ve Ever Had.)
Tawna can’t eat gluten. I saw her again last weekend at a church breakfast event where I was loading up on doughnuts. She (again, so casually) mentioned that she’d never had a doughnut. I’M ON A MISSION, GUYS.
Although really I should just go to Sarah from Snixy Kitchen. Gluten-free baking definitely takes some practice and this girl has got it DOWN. Got any doughnut recipes up your sleeve, Sarah?? Spill!
Sarah and I met at a blogging conference a couple years ago and since then she has literally saved my blog from the jaws of technical difficulties on a number of occasions. She also happens to be one of the most gifted photographers I know and even does food styling for the NY Times. She is crazy talented!!
I was at her house the other day and she showed me all the clothes that her mom has sewn for her baby. We are talking like an entire dresser-full, people, along with several blankets and knits. (Sherry, you are a master seamstress!) This kid is totally going to be better dressed than me, that is for sure.
The Best Lemon Square Recipe
This lemon bar recipe is an oooold favorite of mine. I perfected the recipe back in 2012 and published it here on the blog, but I love the recipe so much that I wanted to update the photos and tell all you lovely new people about it (since basically it was Eric and my mom reading back then.) I haven’t changed the recipe at all, and it’s too good to remain hidden in my archives.
Lemon Bar Ingredients
Here’s a quick shopping list to help you gather your ingredients. See the recipe card below for the full ingredients and instructions!
- Butter
- White sugar
- Flour (all purpose or gluten free)
- Lemons (about 4)
- Eggs
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Thick Shortbread: The key to a Perfect Lemon Bar
You MUST make these in a 2-quart, 8×11 inch pan if you want the crust-to-custard ratio you see in the photos. It will definitely work in a 9×13 but the layers will be thinner, which in my opinion, ruins the lemon bars. I want a THICK layer of shortbread and a THICK layer of custard. If you do make these in a 9×13, make sure you lower the baking times.
How to make the Best Lemon Bars
Here’s a quick overview of how to make this recipe. Full instructions can be found in the recipe card below!
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare an 8×11 inch pan by lining it with parchment paper or spraying with nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl (or stand-mixer), beat together softened butter with 1/2 cup sugar, salt and zest.
- Add 2 cups of flour, either all-purpose or a gluten-free blend, and mix in well.
- Press into the bottom of the prepared 8×11 inch pan. Wet your fingers a little if the dough sticks to your hands.
- Bake at 350 for 24-26 minutes, or until golden around the edges.
- In a bowl (or using a stand mixer), whisk together the remaining sugar and flour. Then whisk in the lemon juice, eggs, and zest.
- When the crust is done, pour the custard over the top. You don’t have to wait for the crust to cool.
- Bake for an additional 26-28 minutes in the preheated oven.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours until they are cold, then dust with powdered sugar right before serving.
Here’s one of my photos from when I originally posted this. I was soooooo proud of it. *pinches cheek of former self*
How to make Lemon Squares Gluten Free
I always make these lemon bars with regular all-purpose flour but since I made these for Sarah and she does not eat gluten (and this is her baby shower after all), I tried these with a gluten-free flour blend. It worked beautifully! I didn’t change the recipe at all besides swapping flours. Score! I love having an easy and delicious recipe on hand for gluten-free friends. Here’s the kind I used:
How to serve Lemon Squares
I love serving lemon squares at occasions where many lemon lovers will be present. And by lemon lovers, I do mean adult women. Seriously, what is it about men and children and their obsession with chocolate to the exclusion of all other desserts? I mean. Women love chocolate too. But if you want your lemon squares to disappear, take them to a baby shower, a book club, or a girls night in. (And if you’re a man who loves lemon comment and tell us if you try these!!)
How to store your leftover Lemon Squares
Lemon bars should be stored, covered, in the fridge.
Can you freeze a Lemon Bar?
Yes! Lemon bars freeze really well for up to three months. You can freeze the whole pan or freeze individual lemon bars. They are basically still amazing straight out of the freezer, so if you are trying to keep yourself from eating them all…the freezer may not be your best strategy. Haha.
If you try out this recipe (DO IT!), snap a photo and share on social using #TheFoodCharlatan. I’d love to see what you are making!
Other Lemon Recipes You’ll Love:
Lemon Curd Sugar Cookie Sandwich << only true lemon lovers need apply.
Meyer Lemon Tart << Have you tried Meyer lemons yet? They are a little sweeter and more orange-y than a regular lemon and have such amazing flavor. Try this one out!
Lemon Lush Dessert << perfect for summer, this is smooth, light, and luxurious.
Lemon Crinkle Cookies with Lemon Frosting. These are SO LEMONY! I love them.
The Best Lemon Curd << no lie, guys. Put this in the Lemon Curd Sugar Cookie Sandwich!
Lemon Cake with Lemon Frosting << It’s one of my favorite cakes!
Lemon Bar Muddy Buddies from Lemon Tree Dwelling
Lemon Crumble Bars from House of Yumm
Lemon Ice Box Pie from Life, Love, and Sugar
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Lemon Square Recipe
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour OR a gluten-free blend, I used Bob’s Red Mill, spooned and leveled
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or a few shakes more, to taste
- zest of one lemon
For the custard:
- 1 & 1/2 cups white sugar
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour OR a gluten-free blend, I used Bob’s Red Mill, spooned and leveled
- 3/4 cup fresh lemon juice, about 4 medium lemons
- 4 large eggs
- zest of 2-3 lemons, more zest=more tart. I add tons.
- powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- For the crust:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare an 8×11 inch pan by lining it with parchment paper or spraying with nonstick spray. Or you could use foil, make sure you spray it with nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl (or stand-mixer), beat together softened butter with 1/2 cup sugar, salt and zest.
- Add 2 cups flour, either all-purpose or a gluten-free blend. Make sure you use a scoop or spoon to place the flour in your measuring cup, then level it off. You don’t want to pack your flour.
- Beat in the flour. It won’t come together in a ball probably, but you want to get big clumps that are sticking together. Make sure the butter and flour are incorporated.
- Press into the bottom of the prepared 8×11 inch pan. Wet your fingers a little if the dough sticks to your hands.
- Bake at 350 for 24-26 minutes, or until golden around the edges.
For the Custard:
- In a bowl (or using stand mixer), whisk together the remaining 1 and 1/2 cups sugar and 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons flour. You can use the unwashed bowl you just used for the crust, but only if you scrape it out pretty well. You don’t want clumps in your custard.
- After whisking the flour and sugar, whisk in the lemon juice, eggs, and zest.
- When the crust is done, pour the custard over the top. You don’t have to wait for the crust to cool.
- Bake for an additional 26-28 minutes in the preheated oven. The edges should be set with the center still a little wiggly (just a little). The bars will firm up as they cool.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours until they are cold, then dust with powdered sugar right before serving. Don’t bother doing it before because it will just seep into the custard and you won’t see it.
- Store covered in the fridge.
I made these yesterday. They really are the best!!! I find many other recipes to be thin, runny, and sad. These bars were firm and thick, something you could really sink your teeth into.
Yes yes yes! I’m so happy you made them Laura! I too have had many a sad runny lemon bar. No more!
aww, congrats to Sarah! These lemon bars are gorgeous!!
KAREN! I am obsessed with finding the perfect lemon bar. I’ve (unfortunately) eaten way too many that just aren’t right and even have an egg-y quality to the custard. Yuck. I can’t deal. So I am PUMPED to try your version. I know they’ll be perfect! Cheers to Sarah and her babe!
I was obsessed too back in 2012! Until I came up with this version from all the recipes I tried!! I hope you love it Liz, you have to let me know how it goes if you get a chance to make it!
Lemon squares!!! It has been ages since I’ve had a lemony dessert and for the life of me I can’t think of a reason, especially considering I could probably eat an entire lemon meringue pie to myself. Yours look so perfect, and it’s so nice to see that the Bob’s AP you used worked so well!
I could probably eat an entire lemon meringue pie too, Christine. We must be kindred spirits. :) Or at least well on our way to getting diabetes.
i DID go on a lemon bar diet after you left the rest at my house this weekend and it was GLORIOUS! I’m glad I have you to answer my late-night “omg how do you organize baby clothes” calls and talk me down from the ledge! I think this lil’ cheesebaby will be super well dressed, but only because of my mama;) Thank you for making and SHARING WITH ME IRL these amazing lemon squares for my virtual baby shower! I must say that once again, your dessert was one of the top crowd choices…
I was on a lemon bar diet too because I made these again after your party so that I could shoot them, and then there I was with an entire pan of bars and nothing to do but shove them in my face. Life is so hard.
I believe that these are the best- they look incredible! I LOVE lemon bars :) Pinning!
Thank you Medha! You are so sweet!
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS LEMON BARS! 100% going to make these soon, for myself. No sharing.
Seriously though. Sharing is totes overrated.
ANYTHING lemon. It’s like my kryptonite. I desperately want these. Also? Sarah is a.ma.zing. I love her.
I’m so glad I know how to defeat you now Amy. I WILL DESTROY YOU. One lemon bar at a time.
(I didn’t like the fact that I just weirdly left a Facebook comment on your post accidentally, so am re-posting here)
I am such a bad blogger friend. I want to make a comment about how lovely your new blog layout is, but I haven’t been reading around the blogosphere in so long that this is probably like a year-old layout update.
…
IT STILL LOOKS BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Couldn’t resist. Also, these lemon bars. HOW HAD YOUR FRIEND NEVER HAD A LEMON BAR?! Thank the heaven she has you to enlighten/bake for her. She is a lucky duck. And now I want a lemon bar, thanks.
Aw thank you Erika!! My sister in law designed it, she is so talented. And the reason Tawna hadn’t had a lemon bar is because she has Celiac’s. She tried to bake her own but they didn’t work out. TRAGIC. so i fixed it. next im tackling donuts, she told me the only ones she’s had were frozen gf donuts that you microwave. shudder. wish me luck…I’m gonna need it.
Since your subbing stuff Karen, can you come up with a way to make these taste amazing with no carbs and no sugar? It’s really difficult reading all your delicious recipes, but knowing that i can’t make them and then stuff my face like when I was 30 and still keep my girlish figure. Getting old is the pits . . . I’m imagining eating these but it’s not the same. . .
Oh yeah sure Kris I’ll get right to work on that. Be sure to stay on my good side, because you will want to be on my A-list when I make billions for finding the solution to life’s greatest problem: why can’t I eat whatever I want?
Yum! Lemon bars make me thing of spring :). I can’t even imagine not being able to eat gluten.
Me too Laura! Just what I need for the gloomy weather we’ve been having around here! :)
How many lemons would you say that you used? I have so many fond memories of lemon bar eating…with my grandmother; at a bakery in Amish country in Pennsylvania; with you…oh no wait, that was lemon slurp.
Hmmm I think I used 3 or 4 very large lemons. Just buy a few, and if it’s not quite enough you could throw in a few squirts of refrigerated lemon juice to make up for it. Long live lemon slurp!!
Can you fill us in on the “center layer of leftovers”? It sounds yummy! (smirk)
It’s in the last picture, can’t you see it? Little bits of rice and chicken in between the crust and custard? Yum.
(I’m totally lying)
My husband does the exact same excessive shopping thing, which is why I try not to send him to the store often.
I want to make them at your house just to watch your face sweat Karen!