Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust

646

These easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust are refreshing and so satisfying. They are made out of a few simple ingredients and prepared so easy. The perfect dessert for everyone who likes lemons and fruity cakes.

These delicious lemon bars deserve their own song. They are SO good.

The shortbread crust is slightly crunchy and melts in your mouth at the same time. It is buttery, with a hint of salt and it goes so well with the sweet lemon topping.

The lemon cream has a pudding like consistency and will make you fall in love with this easy lemon bars recipe bite after bite.

Usually I prefer chocolatey desserts and cakes. My Chocolate Tart, one of my and even my kids favorites - moist Bean Brownies, Brownie Energy Balls,... Anything chocolate is on my top list of favorite treats.

BUT these Lemon Bars are a complete exception.

This is why this easy Lemon Bars recipe is amazing

• The Lemon Bars have both shortbread. The combination of those two textures is so good.
• Because of this texture they are ideal to bring on the go, take with you to a friend's or family BBQ or to a trip. They don't melt and neither are they sticky or messy.
• The Lemon Bars are made quick and very simple and they last cooled in the fridge for up to 5 days. They are ideal for making ahead of time, too!
• Most importantly - these easy lemon bars are DELICIOUS and a great alternative to chocolatey dessert.

Perfect Lemon Bars - Ingredients

These easy lemon bars are made with just 6 simple ingredients that you can have at home at any time:

• Flour. All-purpose flour is ideal for this lemon bars recipe. It goes into both the crust and the lemon cream.
  
• Sugar. For this recipe you will need both icing sugar and regular granulated sugar.
  
• Lemons. Be sure to use fresh lemons. This lemon juice tastes refreshing and fruity and makes the Lemon Bars so unique. You also need the finely grated zest of two lemons.
  
• Butter. Unsalted, cold butter. It gives the crust a great texture and makes it very tasty.
  
• Eggs. These ensure that the cream binds and sets during baking.
  
• Salt. The salt goes into the crust and is a great balance to the sweetness of the cream.

How to make easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust

1. To make the crust, mix the flour, powdered sugar and salt in a bowl. Then cut the cold butter into pieces. Crumble the mixture between your fingers until it has a sand-like consistency. Alternatively, you can also mix all the ingredients in a blender. Press the dough into a baking pan and bake for 20 minutes.
2. In the meanwhile prepare the lemon cream:
   Sugar and lemon zest are placed in a blender and mixed until the zest is very fine and has combined with the sugar.
3. Mix flour, lemon sugar, eggs and lemon juice in a large bowl. Mix the mixture very well into a smooth cream.
4. Pour this cream onto the baked, still hot crust. Then you have to bake the lemon bars for another 20 minutes until the cream in the middle has set.
5. The baked lemon bars must then cool to room temperature in the mold before they set in the fridge for at least 1 hour or best over night.

Easy Lemon Bars Recipe - Tips & FAQ:

• Use juice from freshly squeezed lemons. You can also buy it bottled in the supermarket, but you only get the fresh, fruity taste from fresh lemons.
  
• Use a closed baking pan. Since the cream is liquid before baking, it would otherwise leak out of the mold. You can also line your baking pan with baking paper (up the edge too).
  
• Make sure that you do not bake both the base and the cream for too long. The lemon layer will have an almost sticky consistency when eaten. This is typical for the lemon bars and makes them so irresistibly good.
  
• Let the baked lemon bars cool in the baking tin and only put them out AFTER they have cooled in the fridge for at least an hour.
  
• The baked lemon bars must be completely cooled. Otherwise they may fall apart.

Is it normal for the cream to be so runny before baking?

Yes, the lemon cream is just right like that. It only sets during baking.

How do I know that the lemon bars are finished baking?

The cream should be just firm enough. It's okay if it wobbles a little like pudding when you take it out of the oven. When it cools it sets and becomes solid.

How long do the lemon bars last? How are they stored?

The lemon bars can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. They taste even better the next day! 🙂 You can also freeze them in pieces and let them thaw at room temperature for about 4 hours before eating.

Once you've made these refreshingly delicious easy lemon bars, you'll most likely add them to your regular recipe repertoire. 🙂

If you have made this Lemon Bars recipe or another dish from Flowers in the Salad, please give a star rating or leave a comment here! Thanks!

You can also send me a message and please link me on instagram!

Here's more delicious lemon recipes for you:

• No Fuss Poppy Seed Sour Cream Cake
• Easy Avocado Hummus with Spinach