The Ultimate Lemon Bars Guide: Classic & Creative Variations

When life gives you lemons, make lemon bars—then make lemon cheesecake bars, lemon blueberry bars, and maybe even keto lemon bars if you’re feeling fancy. These sunny squares are the perfect summer desserts, guaranteed to outshine any fruit salad at your next picnic.

Prep Time

• 15 minutes (plus 1 hour chilling)

Cook Time

• 35 minutes

Servings

• 12 dessert bars

Nutrition (per bar)

• Calories: 220
• Fat: 10g
• Carbs: 30g
• Protein: 3g

Classic Lemon Bars Recipe

Ingredients

Crust

• 1 cup all-purpose flour (or almond flour for gluten-free lemon bars)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar (or erythritol for keto lemon bars)
• 1/2 cup cold butter (or coconut oil for vegan lemon bars)
• 1/4 tsp salt

Filling

• 3 large eggs (or flax eggs for vegan version)
• 1 cup sugar (adjust for dietary needs)
• 2 tbsp flour (or cornstarch for GF)
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp lemon zest

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8 pan with parchment.
2. Mix crust ingredients until crumbly, then press into pan. Bake 15 minutes.
3. Whisk filling ingredients, pour over crust, and bake 20 more minutes.
4. Cool completely before cutting into squares.

Pro Tips & FAQs

Do lemon bars need to be refrigerated?
Yes! Store them in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Can you freeze lemon bars?
Absolutely – freeze for up to 3 months (thaw in fridge).

Fun Variations

• Lemon cheesecake bars: Add 8oz cream cheese to filling
• Lemon blueberry bars: Top with 1 cup fresh blueberries before baking
• Keto lemon bars: Use almond flour and sugar substitute
• Vegan lemon bars: Swap eggs for flax eggs and use plant-based butter

Serving Suggestion

Dust with powdered sugar and serve with iced tea for the ultimate summer desserts experience. These dessert bars taste even better when shared (or not – we won’t judge).

Final Thought
Whether you want classic lemon bars or creative twists, this recipe has you covered. Now go forth and make that citrus magic happen!

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Lemon Bars

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Additional Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Pure bliss—a buttery, crumbly shortbread crust topped with a luscious, velvety lemon filling that’s just the right balance of tart and sweet. Each bite melts on your tongue, with a zesty punch and a delicate dusting of powdered sugar that makes them impossible to resist. Crisp, creamy, and bursting with bright citrus flavor, they’re the ultimate sweet-tart indulgence. ☀️🍋

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Ingredients

Crust

• 1 cup all-purpose flour (or almond flour for gluten-free lemon bars)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar (or erythritol for keto lemon bars)
• 1/2 cup cold butter (or coconut oil for vegan lemon bars)
• 1/4 tsp salt

Filling

• 3 large eggs (or flax eggs for vegan version)
• 1 cup sugar (adjust for dietary needs)
• 2 tbsp flour (or cornstarch for GF)
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp lemon zest

Instructions

1. Prep – Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8 pan with parchment.
2. Crust – Mix crust until crumbly, press into pan, bake 15 min.
3. Filling – Whisk filling, pour over crust, bake 20 min.
4. Set – Cool completely, then slice into squares.

Notes

Pro Tip: Chill before cutting for cleaner edges!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 220Total Fat: 10gCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 3g