Lemon Bars Recipe – WellPlated.com (2024)

FAQs

What is lemon bar filling made of? ›

Lemon filling: Mix lemon zest and sugar in a mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice, flour, baking powder, and eggs. Mix until well combined and the sugar is dissolved. Pour mixture over the baked crust.

There are a couple of things that can impact the integrity of your lemon bars. The first is if your crust has cracks in it and the lemon curd fills in the cracks. This can cause your lemon bar to break! It may also break if you don't bake the crust long enough or the lemon layer is underbaked.

Lemon bars should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated in order to prevent bacterial growth or foodborne illness. The filling in lemon bars is made with eggs and can become a breeding ground for bacteria if it's kept in the danger zone (between 41 and 153 degrees F).

Don't Over-Bake.

If you leave them in the oven too long, it can cause your bars to crack.

Lemon curd is a spread made out of fresh lemon juice, eggs, sugar, zest, and butter. The eggs in the recipe thicken the mixture, giving it a custard-like consistency.

To Keep Powdered Sugar from Melting, Add Cornstarch

So go slow and be conservative with the amount of cornstarch you add. A good rule of thumb is 1 teaspoon of cornstarch for every 1/4 cup of powdered sugar used.

If your lemon bars are brown on top, you cooked them too long. To avoid burning and turning brown, remove the bars from the oven sooner, right when the filling is firm.

Underbaking: This is the most common reason for gooey lemon bars. The filling needs enough time to set, which can be tricky since oven temperatures can vary and the visual cues for doneness are subtle. Solution: Bake the bars until the filling is just set and no longer wobbles when you gently shake the pan.

Set a timer for 5 minutes after pulling the crust from the oven to ensure it doesn't cool too much—if the shortbread is allowed to reach room temperature, the uncooked lemon curd will slip off the top and pool in the bottom of the dish, turning your lemon bars upside down (sounds bananas until it happens to you!).

It is the air bubbles created from whisking the eggs rising to the surface during baking. Lemon bars taste the same with or without that layer and a dusting of icing sugar covers it right up!

Is it OK to freeze lemon bars? ›

Yes, lemon bars freeze beautifully—they are even good frozen! To freeze the bars, let them cool completely and freeze the batch whole, covered tightly with aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap, for up to three months. (The cut bars can also be frozen in a single layer.)

Dusting the knife with powdered sugar before cutting lemon bars can help to reduce sticking and create cleaner cuts. However, this is optional and depends on personal preference. If you prefer a more polished appearance on the bars, you can lightly dust the knife before each cut.

If your lemon bars have a strong eggy taste/smell, it's likely due to the lemon curd being overbaked. Be sure to take the lemon bars out of the oven as soon as they're done. Your oven may also be running a little hot.

A thin crust on top of lemon bars is a common feature and is usually formed as a result of the baking process.

Remove your lemon bars from the oven before they turn brown on top. Browning means they're over-cooked, and the custard mixture can curdle.

To make the filling: Whisk 1 cup sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt together in a medium saucepan; stir in water, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in butter.

It is generally divided into segments that contain elongated cells where water, carbohydrates, and citric acid accumulate, known as the juice sacs. Each slice contains hundreds of sacs, and occasionally there may be a seed.

A lemon drop co*cktail is simple to make at home. I like to use lemon vodka, triple sec orange liqueur, lemon juice (fresh squeezed), and lemonade for built in sweetness! Give it a shake with crushed ice, strain into a sugar rimmed martini glass, and enjoy!

Very basic ingredients including a base of creamed butter + sugar, eggs, lemon, milk, and flour. We left out the brown sugar and replaced with more granulated sugar. No rhyme or reason here—just didn't feel like reaching for both types of sugar this time. Between the cake and frosting, you'll need 2-3 lemons.