How to Make Lemon Bars is the perfect recipe everyone loves and is easy to prepare. These lemon desserts are made with just a few ingredients and are wonderful for picnics, bake sales, and potlucks.

If you’re looking for more simple recipes, Homemade Lemon Ice and Easy Candied Ginger will make your taste buds happy.

I grew up on this recipe for How to Make Lemon Bars. My mom found it in a church cookbook filled with members’ favorite recipes. She had tried several other lemon bar recipes from other sources before finding the one she liked the best.

Complicated recipes aren’t my style – and I’m guessing not yours, either. This traditional lemon bar recipe is one of the easiest desserts. It will surely be one of your most requested recipes from family and friends.

The powdered sugar in the crust is what makes these bars so special. You also don’t want a bar with a thick crust. These are the perfect way to make them.

Serve traditional lemon bars with coffee for the perfect combination.

Creating a Cozy Life Group: 

Since you clicked on this recipe for How to Make Lemon Bars, I’m guessing you like all things cozy living. I created a Facebook group called Creating a Cozy Life with over 116,000 like-minded souls.

It’s a group where we share recipes, pictures of things that leave you in awe, and ideas on how to make your life just a little bit more snug. Join here to be part of the virtual cozy cabin.

Fun Facts About Lemons:

I like to add a bit of trivia to my recipes because it adds a little fun to dinner table conversations. I’ve gone throughout my life not knowing if lemons are native to America. Now I know.  

• According to contemporaryfoodlab.com, lemons were brought to the Americas by Christopher Columbus in 1493.  
• Lemons are grown primarily in California and Arizona.  (My guess would have been Florida – but they weren’t even close to the number of acres the other two states have dedicated to lemons.)  They produce 95% of the lemons consumed in the United States.  
• On average, the US consumes three pounds of lemons per person.  
• The top two countries we export our lemons to are Japan and Canada.  
• Each lemon holds, on average, three tablespoons of juice.  
• Lemon trees can produce lemons all year round.  
• You can get 500-600 pounds of lemons from a single tree every year.  
• Miners in the gold rush of 1849 paid a premium price for lemons because they helped prevent scurvy.  This demand makes California one of the top producing states.

Best Way to Store Lemons

You can leave your lemons on your counter or in a bowl on your dining room table.  

If you want to keep them fresher longer, store them in the refrigerator in a plastic bag. Properly stored, lemons will last from 3 to 4 weeks.  

How to Make the Best Lemon Bars

Simple Ingredients

1 1/2 sticks of butter, room temperature

1/3 cup powdered sugar

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, plus 3 tablespoons

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

3 eggs

Juice of two lemons

Directions for Making Lemon Bars

Mix butter, powdered sugar, and 1 1/2 cups of flour in a large bowl with a hand mixer until it resembles pie dough. Pat shortbread crust mixture into a 9×13-inch baking pan.

Bake crust for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Mix the white sugar, eggs, and fresh lemon juice in a medium bowl. Pour lemon mixture over baked buttery shortbread crust. Bake 20 minutes more until bubbly.

Sift additional confectioners’ sugar over the top of the lemon bars. Give a generous dusting. Cool on a wire rack or parchment paper.

Cut the cooled bars into squares with a sharp knife for clean slices.

Printable Recipe Card for Classic Lemon Bars

Tips for making Homemade Lemon Bars

• You can substitute Meyer lemons for regular lemons in this recipe.
• This is the handy gadget I use to squeeze lemon or lime juice. I found it on Amazon here.
• For more lemon flavor, add lemon zest.
• You can substitute almond flour for all purpose flour.

How should you store lemon bars?

You can store your lemon bars in an airtight container if you eat them within a day or two. Lemon bars will stay fresh up until one week in the refrigerator when properly stored.

Can you freeze lemon bars?

You can freeze lemon bars for up until 3-4 months when stored correctly in a covered container.

We’ve reached the end of How to Make Lemon Bars. I hope you enjoyed this childhood favorite recipe.

Let me know in the comments below how you liked this easy lemon bars recipe. 

Make sure you join our Creating a Cozy Life – Hygge Style Facebook group. You’re not going to believe how amazing it is.

Pin this easy recipe below on your lemon desserts board on Pinterest so you can refer back to it.

You can join me here on PINTEREST. If you make a batch of these easy lemon bars and take a photo, be sure to tag me here on INSTAGRAM.

Thanks for stopping by. I’m so happy you found us!  

More Lemon Recipes You’ll Love!

• Detoxing Homemade Lemon Ginger Tea 
• Creamy Baked Lemon Noodles 
• Top Baking Secrets You Need to Know

Dessert Recipes to Try

• The Best Chocolate Fondue
• Chocolate Fondue Dippers
• Homemade Vanilla Pudding
• How to Make Chocolate Pudding
• The Best Butterscotch Recipes
• Wine Soaked White Peaches