These Lemon Pie Bars are the perfect little treat for a sunny day. They have a tender crust on the bottom, topped by a lemony curd. They are perfectly portable to bring to a spring or summer gathering, picnic, BBQ, and more. Everyone will love the bright, tangy taste of these bars.
Want to try more lemon desserts? Try our amazing Lemon Sweet Rolls or Lemon Meringue Pie too.
These Lemon Pie Bars are so to die for!! They have a real zingy punch to them, even more so than a lemon meringue pie, and I love them!!
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8×8 Baking Pan, Ceramic for Baking, 2 Quart, Red
What are in Lemon Pie Bars?
These easy lemon pie bars are filled with creamy, lemony goodness on top of a wonderful cookie crust. The perfect balance between crust and lemon pie filling, too, with about 1/3 of the bottom a crust and 2/3 a vibrant topping. The wonderful lemony color is all natural from gorgeous egg yolks, lemon juice, and zest. The perfect color of a lemon peel.
All the ingredients are easy to find and fairly easy to use. The pie filling or curd cooks up easily on the stovetop, and then the bars bake quickly in the oven.
Ingredients
Crust
AP flour
Granulated sugar
Salted butter, softened
Filling
Large eggs
Large egg yolks
Granulated sugar
Pinch of salt
Fresh lemon juice
Lemon zest
Salted butter
Topping
Powdered sugar or confectioner’s sugar
Lemon slices
How to Make Lemon Pie Bars
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Criss-cross line an 8×8″ with parchment paper. Mix the crust ingredients together with a fork or pastry blender until it resembles coarse crumbs. Press into the prepared pan. Bake for 15 min. to 20 min. just until very lightly browned.
While the crust is baking, make the filling. Whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, sugar, lemon juice, and salt in a medium pot over medium heat. Stir constantly for 10 min. The filling will thicken like pudding. Stir in the lemon zest and the butter. Remove from heat and continue to stir until butter is melted. Pour the filling over the crust and continue to bake for 15 – 20 minutes or until the filling is set. Careful not to brown.
Let cool completely on a rack for about one hour, and refrigerate for 2 hours or more. Using the parchment paper, lift the bars out and cut them into 9 pieces. Serve with a dusting of icing (confectioner’s) sugar and a lemon slice (optional).
Recipe Pro Tips!
How do you make lemon bars not stick to the pan?
This holds true for all squares. I always line my baking pans with parchment paper, sometimes just one way, or if they are really sticky, then both ways in the pan and always with an overlap. This allows you to lift the squares out of the pan and to be able to cut them easily and nicely into squares.
How do I store lemon bars?
This lemon bar recipe is best stored in an air-tight container and in the refrigerator. Lemon bars also freeze well; just make sure to again put them in an air-tight container to preserve the lemon flavor. Just make sure they are completely cooled first.
How do you cut lemon bars smoothly?
Using a clean knife and a bowl of warm water, cut the bars out of the pan, and with each cut, clean the knife in the water and then wipe clean.
WANT EVEN MORE LEMON RECIPES?
We adore lemon in sweet desserts, drinks, and dinners! That fresh pucker can’t be beaten. Here are a few of our favorite recipes.
I am excited to be doing a Lemon Challenge here today on the site, and with that, I bring you Lemon Pie Bars. Plus, we have a bunch of other delicious lemon recipes just in time to make your senses come alive!! Spring is around the corner, and citrus recipes become very popular now after many months of soups and stews, and winter fare that have hunkered us down over the cold winter!! These meals have served their purpose, but now we want our taste buds to come alive again, and lemon brings out a new birth in flavors!
Check out all the other lovely lemon recipes below from bloggers who took part in our 30-Day Lemon Challenge.
- Buttery Lemon Garlic Rice by Hot Eats and Cool Reads
- Lemon Brulee Tart by Life Currents
- Lemon Cardamom Scones by Manila Spoon
- Lemon Garlic Chicken by Savory Experiments
- Creamy Lemon Layered Pie by Who Needs A Cape?
- Lemon Panna Cotta by Culinary Ginger
- Lemon Pie Bars by Noshing With The Nolands
- Lemon Pudding Cheesecake by Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
- No Bake Lemon Cheesecake by Num’s the Word
- Mini Meyer Lemon Loaves by Liv for Cake
- Zingy Lemon Chicken Wings by Lovefoodies
Lemon Pie Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup butter softened
Filling
- 4 large eggs
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- pinch of salt
- 3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tsp. lemon zest
- 3 Tbsp. butter
Topping
- Icing or confectioner’s sugar
- Lemon slices
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Criss-cross line an 8×8" with parchment paper. Mix the crust ingredients together with a fork or pastry blender until it resembles coarse crumbs. Press into the prepared pan. Bake for 15 min. to 20 min. just until very lightly browned.
- While the crust is baking, make the filling. Whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, sugar, lemon juice and salt in a medium pot over medium heat. Stir constantly for 10 min. The filling will thicken like pudding. Stir in the lemon zest and the butter. Remove from heat and continue to stir until butter is melted. Pour the filling over the crust and continue to bake for 15-20 min. or until the filling is set. Careful not to brown.
- Let cool on a rack for about one hour, refrigerate for 2 hours or more. Using the parchment paper, lift the bars out and cut into 9 pieces. Serve with a dusting of icing (confectioner's) sugar and a lemon wedge (optional).
Comments & Reviews
Manila Spoon says
These pie bars look absolutely scrumptious! Would love to try at least 2! 🙂
Jessica (Savory Experiments) says
Lemon Bars are my favorite! I haven’t made them in ages, but these look so good, I’m going to have to now!
Kavey says
Oh those look fabulous, I love lemony flavours and that curd-like filling looks great!
Janelle says
Be still my heart! Lemon Pie Bars sound like the best summer dessert on the planet! YUM!
Angela says
Oh Tara!!! These bars look like absolute perfection!! I adore lemon desserts and CANNOT wait to try this one!!
Manila Spoon says
These pie bars look absolutely scrumptious! Would love to try at least 2! 🙂
Theresa @DearCreatives says
I bet these are delicious. Can’t wait to make some. Pinned for later.
Megan says
I love lemon bars! So fresh, zesty, sweet, and tangy. I feel like I can reach out and taste one now.
Del's cooking twist says
Love lemons. Your recipe is beyond amazing!
peter @feedyoursoultoo says
These look perfect. Great texture. They look like they are bursting with lemon flavor.
Lovefoodies says
I want to try them all and your lemon pie bars look absolutely lush!
Lovefoodies says
I want to try them all and your lemon pie bars look absolutely lush!
Lori Vachon says
You’ve got my taste buds jumping out of my mouth just with the pictures!!! Can’t wait to give these a try!!!
Serena says
One of my favorite things in life! I love your presentation and pictures! Can’t wait to try them!
Barbara says
These are so mouth-watering! I’ll try to make a gluten-free version. 🙂
Tara Noland says
Please tell me how they turn out gluten free!!
Sheena @ Hot Eats and Cool Reads says
Pretty sure I’d have no problem eating a whole pan of these! Pretty pics and great recipe!!
Olivia @ livforcake says
These bars! Omg. I would eat the entire 8×8 pan NO problem. I love lemon desserts and lemon tarts/pies are at the top of my list. These look SO good.
Janette@CulinaryGinger says
Wow, these are so bright and pretty and very Spring-like. Delicious!
Olivia @ livforcake says
These bars! Omg. I would eat the entire 8×8 pan NO problem. I love lemon desserts and lemon tarts/pies are at the top of my list. These look SO good.
Janette@CulinaryGinger says
Wow, these are so bright and pretty and very Spring-like. Delicious!