We all know the deal around here.
I take classic recipes, add chocolate chips, add orange zest, bake them, brown them, stack them, and then shoot them. I can’t make banana bread without first browning the butter. I can’t make pudding without adding bourbon. I can’t make biscuits without adding bacon.
It’s ridiculous and mostly delicious.
Sometimes though… sometimes I just want a Chocolate Chip Cookie. Sometime I just want a Chocolate Walnut Brownie. Some baked good should just be exactly what they are, sans bacon, sans bourbon (gasp) (but really though, we’ll survive).
Expect to see more classic recipes on Joy the Baker in the coming weeks. I’m in the mood and here we are!
Classic Lemon Bars: bright, tart, buttery crust, aaaannnddd go!
I scooped my butter to look like ice cream. I’m sorry. Sometimes food blogging gets the best of me.
Lemon bars emerge from the oven in two parts. First there’s the buttery shortbread crust. On top of the baked shortbread crust goes a sweet egg and lemon custard. No rolling pin. No double boiler or candy thermometer. It’s an easy recipe in a manageable 8×8-inch pan. I’m trying to get you to make these along with me. Can you tell?
Butter, sugar, flour, and a pinch of salt are beaten together for the crust. Once crumbly (yea… crumbly) it is pressed into a baking pan.
Pressing a crust into a pan is validating.
Eggs are whisked with sugar and lemon. The filling is pretty simple too!
There are definitely a few seeds hiding in that unbaked filling. I’m not going to lie.
The filling is poured over the pre-baked crust and the whole shabang is baked once again. The filling will firm up and brown around the edges in no time! It really is supreme!
The edges are my favorite. They’re perfectly caramelized and chewy like brownies. The center is for suckers.
Super tart fresh lemon juice adds all of the kick to these lemon bars. Fresh lemon zest is the very hard-working backup. These bars feature a wonderfully buttery crust, and a sweet and tart lemon custard. Topped with a generous amount of powdered sugar, these bars are exactly as they should be. Classic.
One tip: don’t inhale.
Recipe adapted from my first cookbook: the Joy the Baker Cookbook.
Classic Lemon Bars
makes 9 bars
For the Crust:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
pinch of salt
For the Topping:
2 large eggs
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 8×8-inch baking pan, line with parchment paper (so that it over hangs slightly from the pan) and grease the parchment paper. Set aside.
To make the crust, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add flour and salt. Beat on low speed until dough is incorporated. Dough may come together, but if it remains shaggy, that’s fine too.
Dump the crust into the prepared pan and use your fingertips to press the dough into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until just browned around the edges.
You can make the filling while the crust is baking! In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar until well combined and slightly thick. Add the flour, lemon juice, and zest and whisk until blended.
Pour the filling over the still warm baked crust. Return to the oven and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until lightly browned on top and no longer jiggling in the center.
Allow to cool completely in the pan. Run a knife around the edges of the pan. Slice lemon bars into nine squares. Use the over hanging parchment paper to lift the squares out. To store the lemon bars, place them in an airtight container separated by wax paper layers.
Adrienne K
I feel so much better to see those bubbly wholes on the surface of your lemon bars. I thought I was doing something wrong….. Your photos are sooooo beautiful!
Kathryn Metz
Hi Joy, I have a question about the crust. Each time I’ve made it it comes out fluffy rather than crispy. Do you know what might be causing this? thanks! Kathryn Metz
Zoe
it’s because the recipe has you beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, which incorporates air into the crust and makes it more cookie than crust. if you don’t want it to be fluffy, cut the butter into the flour like you’re making a pie crust and then add a few tablespoons of sugar
Rebecca Goodrich
I also baked mine a little longer than the recipe called for and flipped the broiler on for the last couple of minutes (rack still in the middle of the oven) to make sure the crust was nicely done in the middle. It was slightly golden but still a little pale when it came out and iy turned out perfect! Somewhere between crisp and chewy.
WINNIE THURMAN
Maybe you are using too small a baking pan. This should fill a 9 X 13 pan. Also, be sure to bake the crust only for approximately 20 minute. Remove from oven and pour on lemon filling and bake another 20 minutes.
Michelle
These look amazing and I’m laughing because of your hint…don’t inhale. I made these over Xmas and my husband did exactly that, which led to massive coughing fit…and of course me cracking up! Thanks as always!
Skye
These look utterly divine and delicate. Sometimes the simplest things are the best.
Carlinne @Cook with 2 Chicks
As always, beautiful pics. I love chocolate and bourbon, but the classic lemon bar is so refreshing.
Shut Up and Cook
Your posts are truly such a feast for the eyes….thank you!
For a gluten free variety of these old standards check out http://theattainablegourmet.com/news/lemon-bars/
I am a sucker for the classic variety, but with so many friends going gluten free now, it’s nice to have these as an option, although I must confess I’ll be trying your recipe next time!
Jessica (bakecetera)
if it ain’t broke – don’t fix it! these are just amazing.
Kezia
Sometimes classic recipes really are the best. I also can’t get over how dreamy your photos are!
Belinda Lo (Moonblush Baker)
Yay for the surplus of lemons! these are definitely a must do for a sweet lazy bake! Classics never fail you; so you can never have too many recipes for these bars.
cheyenne
these look delicious! definitely going to make these, thanks for sharing :)
xo, cheyenne
Averie @ Averie Cooks
I like how you said these were adapted from your first cookbook. That would mean the next one is coming soon! So excited! And classic lemon bars rock. Yours are great! And I love that little green Depression-glass juicer. Precious! Pinned.
Betsy | JavaCupcake.com
Joy, these lemon bars are gorgeous!