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Home » Dessert » Bars and Brownies » Mom’s Lemon Bars

Mom’s Lemon Bars

By Valerie · January 17, 2013 · Updated May 10, 2020 36 Comments

S Dessert H Holidays
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A delicate shortbread crust topped with a tart-sweet, perfectly gooey lemon custard. My Mom’s Lemon Bars are the best!

Mom's Lemon Bars served on a plate.

We’ve all eaten many lemon bars and I’m sure that many of you have baked dozens of them. The recipe I’m sharing today, however, is my mom’s recipe, and it is spectacular.

A lemon bar about to be lifted by a spatula.

Her recipe calls for powdered sugar in the base layer. I did not understand the significance of this seemingly small difference until I grew old and wise and realized I should always trust my mother. It does something magical and wondrous to the texture of the bars and I will always make them this way from this point forward, forever, and ever, amen.

Mom always used regular lemons but I highly recommend using Meyer lemons if you can get your hands on them. They are naturally sweeter and far juicier than the regular variety. Thanks to our mild California weather, my little Meyer lemon tree produces pretty much year round, so I can bake up a batch of these whenever the desire strikes.

This is a dangerous thing.

All the required ingredients to make Mom's lemon bars.

The grocery list is sweet and simple – All-purpose flour, granulated sugar, butter, salt, powdered sugar, lemons, and eggs.

The ingredients being blended together with a hand mixer.

Using an electric hand mixer, blend together the softened butter, 2 cups flour, and 1/2 cup powdered sugar.

Press the mixture down into an ungreased 13″ x 9″ baking pan. I’m using a rimmed baking sheet here but any standard 13 “x 9” pan will work just fine. Pop the pan in a 350 degree oven for 18 to 20 minutes or till lightly golden brown around the edges.

While the base layer is baking, let’s get working on the ooey gooey lemon topping.

A zester tool laying next to a lemon and pile of lemon zest.

Mom’s original recipe does not call for lemon zest but when I’m using Meyer lemons, I love to use some of the zest. Just like the juice of the Meyer, the zest is sweet and deelicious! This microplane does the job fast and easy.

Egg and sugar being whisked together in a bowl.

Grab a mixing bowl and whisk together the 4 eggs. Add the granulated sugar and salt and whisk again.

A lemon being squeezed into a measuring cup.

I’m using my handy, dandy citrus squeezer to get every last bit of juice from my lemons. Keep squeezing till you 1/2 cup of juice, or very close to it.

Lemon juice being added into the egg mixture.

Add the lemon juice to the egg mixture.

Flour is added to the mixture.

In order to add some texture to the topping, we will add some flour. Add 1/4 cup flour to the mixture and whisk to combine.

The mixture after it has been whisked.

The lemon topping is happy and complete.

The lemon mixture being poured on top of the dough.

Pour the lemon topping over the pre-baked base layer while it is still warm from the oven.

The half baked lemon bars with the lemon topping completely covering it.

Place the pan back in the oven for another 20 minutes.

The lemon bars, right after they have finished baking.

Pull it out of the oven when the topping appears to be set and it is just beginning to lightly brown. See that little blemish there? We don’t need to worry about it because once it has cooled completely, we’re going to cover the whole thing with powdered sugar.

Powdered sugar being sprinkled on top of the lemon bars with a strainer.

See? Problem solved.

Mom's Lemon Bars cut into slices.

Slice into serving sized pieces…

Mom's Lemon Bars with several slices placed on a cutting board.

A spatula lifting a slice of lemon bar.

…and consume!

Two lemon bars stacked on a china plate.

Mom’s Lemon Bars

A delicate shortbread crust topped with a tart-sweet, perfectly gooey lemon custard. My Mom's Lemon Bars are the best!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 43 minutes
Total Time: 58 minutes
Servings: 24 bars
Calories: 201kcal
Author: Valerie Brunmeier

Ingredients

Base Layer:

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered confectioners' sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

Topping:

  • 4 eggs
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 lemons juiced (approximately 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice - use Meyer lemons if available)
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest optional
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • In a medium bowl, use an electric hand mixer to blend together softened butter, 2 cups flour and 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Mix for about 3 minutes until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9" x 13" inch pan. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or till lightly golden at edges.
  • While base layer is baking prepare the topping. In medium sized mixing bowl, whisk eggs well. Add 2 cups granulated sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt and whisk to combine. Whisk in lemon juice and lemon zest (if using). Finally, whisk in 1/4 cup flour until well incorporated. Pour over the warm, baked crust. Return to the oven for an additional 18 to 20 minutes at 350 degrees until topping appears to be set and is just beginning to lightly brown.
  • Allow to cool completely then sprinkle surface liberally with powdered sugar. Cut into serving sized pieces and store in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 201kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 113mg | Potassium: 71mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 301IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg
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Categories: Bars and Brownies, Dessert, Holidays, Recipe, Valentine's Day

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Reader Interactions

Latest Comments
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  1. Eri says

    April 18, 2020 at 8:45 pm

    5 stars
    I made this for my boyfriend and his housemates. They loved it so much thank you!

    Reply
    • Valerie says

      April 19, 2020 at 8:55 am

      Hi Eri! Mika told me you made them and I’m so happy they turned out well for you. Thanks for your comment and stay well 🙂

      Reply
  2. Donna says

    March 8, 2018 at 8:16 am

    Have you ever made these using the WHOLE Meyer lemon? Or have any recipes for a Lemon Bar or Tart that utilizes the whole lemon?
    Thanks in advance!

    Reply
  3. Tina says

    December 23, 2017 at 6:40 pm

    I made these these last week with my first harvest from my Meyer lemon tree. They were a spectacular hit! Thankfully I have more lemons on the tree, so we can easily do it again soon.

    My only problem was that the bars in the center of my 9 x 13 pan were too soft, (watery, my husband said). Bars on the outer edges were perfect. I think next time I’ll use two 8 x 8 pans, and gift one to my son and his family. (They ask for these bars daily.).

    Thank you for a really wonderful recipe.

    Reply
  4. dteresa says

    December 23, 2013 at 9:23 am

    An excellent recipe! We were gifted with some Meyer lemons and this was the first thing we made with them. A big hit with everyone in the family (except for the baker because she keeps getting requests for MORE batches!) Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  5. Marie Shanahan says

    June 7, 2013 at 3:18 pm

    This looks so good! Makes me think of summer mornings.

    Reply
  6. tina says

    June 6, 2013 at 3:26 pm

    Wow their exactly like my recipe except I use 1 cup juice andsix eggs.I just made them 2 weeks ago.I’m sure there just as deliscious.I use the powdered sugar in the base also and some zest.Its almost like a shortbread base.yummy

    Reply
  7. Tasia says

    March 31, 2013 at 6:58 pm

    I found your blog last night when I was looking for a really good lemon bar recipe. I’ve made them before with other recipes. Even though they were good I wasn’t wowed by them. I’m over the moon with your mom’s recipe and my family couldn’t get enough :). My search is over, it will be my go to recipe now. Thank you for sharing it.

    Reply
    • Valerie says

      March 31, 2013 at 8:30 pm

      Thank you Tasia! We feel exactly the same way about them 🙂

      Reply
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