Description

These Meyer Lemon Bars with Extra Buttery Shortbread Crust offer a delightful blend of tart and sweet flavors with a buttery base that’s simple to prepare. Perfect for gatherings or a cozy night in, these bars are a must-try for any dessert lover!

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
½ cup powdered sugar
pinch of salt
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon lemon zest
3 large eggs, room temperature, whisked
1¼ cup granulated sugar
½ cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon lemon zest
½ cup fresh lemon juice
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon lemon extract
powdered sugar for dusting
lemon slices for garnish or lemon zest

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare an 8×8 square baking pan with parchment paper or cooking spray.
To make the crust, whisk together sugar, flour, salt, and lemon zest in a medium bowl. Add the melted butter and vanilla, stirring until a thick dough forms.
Press the dough evenly and firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan, creating a lip along the sides, and then bake for 20-25 minutes until the edges are browned.
While the crust bakes, prepare the filling by whisking sugar, flour, and lemon zest in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, then incorporate lemon juice and any extracts if using, mixing until smooth.
Once the crust is out of the oven, reduce the temperature to 325°F. Optionally, poke shallow holes in the warm crust with a fork.
Pour the lemon filling evenly over the cooked crust and bake for an additional 20-22 minutes until the filling is set and slightly browning at the edges.
Let the lemon bars cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for 1-2 hours or overnight until fully set.
Run a knife around the edges, slice the bars, and serve dusted with powdered sugar and garnished with lemon slices or zest.

Notes

For a richer flavor, add more lemon zest to the filling.
Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing for cleaner cuts.
Store in the refrigerator for up to a week for best freshness.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 250
Sugar: 22g
Sodium: 150mg
Fat: 11g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Unsaturated Fat: 3g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 37g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 3g
Cholesterol: 50mg