Old Fashioned Lemon Squares Recipe

Are you a fan of lemon desserts? If so, then this old-fashioned lemon squares recipe is just what you are looking for. It only takes 27 minutes total time to bake in the oven. Powdered sugar is sprinkled on top, making this a delightful classic recipe for you to enjoy.

The perfect balance of sweet and tart, the buttery crust, and the vibrant lemon flavor, makes this delicious treat a winner with the whole family.

Our recipe uses simple ingredients from the kitchen, and the taste is amazing. If you love lemon meringue pie, but don’t have the time to make it, these homemade lemon bars will surely satisfy your lemon craving and sweet tooth all at the same time.

🍋 Key Ingredients

Shortbread Crust

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup of unsalted melted butter (or softened)
• 1/4 cup sugar

Lemon Filling

• 3/4 cup of sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons of lemon juice – 100% real lemon juice from a bottle or freshly squeezed lemon juice from fresh lemons
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder

Topping

• 1/2 cup Confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar)

👩‍🍳 How to Make Old-Fashioned Lemon Squares

These step-by-step instructions are accompanied by detailed photos for enhanced clarity and guidance.

Step 1. Preheat the Oven

Set the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2. Make the Buttery Shortbread Crust

Take the cold butter out of the refrigerator and put it in a microwave-safe bowl, then put it in the microwave for about 15 seconds or so until partially melted. Or, you can let the butter sit on the countertop at room temperature for about 15 minutes until it is soft.

In a large bowl, mix 1/2 cup of the partially melted butter altogether with 1/4 cup of sugar.

Step 3. Add Flour, Butter, and Sugar

Gradually add one cup of flour to the mixing bowl together with the butter and sugar. This will form a kind of crumbly mixture.

Step 4. Place Shortbread Crust in Prepared Baking Pan

Overlap a piece of parchment paper into an 8×8-inch baking pan or baking dish. We used a metal pan. After that, press the shortbread crust mixture on the parchment paper that is in the baking pan. However, if you don’t have parchment paper, go ahead and use cooking spray all around the inside of the pan.

Step 5. Bake the Shortbread Crust

Place the baking pan with the shortbread crust mixture into the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, or until the outer edges of the shortbread crust are lightly browned. After the 15 minutes are up, take the baked shortbread crust out of the oven, then set it aside for now on a cooling rack, pot holder, or oven mitt.

Step 6. Prepare the Lemon Filling

In a medium bowl, put 3/4 cup of sugar together with 2 eggs, 3 tablespoons of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons flour, and 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder. Mix the lemon mixture until thoroughly blended.

Note: You can use 100% real lemon juice from a bottle for this recipe, or you can squeeze the juice from real lemons if you prefer. It’s much quicker to use bottled lemon juice, and these lemon bars taste fantastic, but nothing compares to fresh lemon juice either.

Step 7. Pour the Lemon Filling on the Baked Crust

After you are finished mixing the lemon filling, slowly pour it on top of the baked shortbread crust we set aside earlier.

Step 8. Put it Back into the Oven

Bake for 12 minutes until the top of the crust is golden brown. After 12 minutes of baking time, the lemon filling will be lightly browned on the top and the inside will be slightly set but still a bit gooey. Let the baked lemon squares cool completely before going on to the next step.

Tip: You can put the pan in the refrigerator to speed up the cooling process.

Step 9. Sprinkle Powdered Sugar on Top

Sprinkle about 1/2 cup of powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar) on top of the lemon filling, then chill it in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes. This is a must, so that the firmness of the lemon filling can set as it cools in the refrigerator.

Step 10. Cut into Square or Bar Shapes

After the lemon squares are chilled, remove the cooled bars from the refrigerator, and then the last step is to cut them with a sharp knife into square shapes or bar shapes, whichever you prefer. They are now ready to serve.

⭐️ Recipe Variations for Old-Fashioned Lemon Squares

• You can add a little bit of lemon zest to the lemon filling, if you prefer, or sprinkle some on top of the lemon squares after they are done baking in the oven, and before you sprinkle on the powdered sugar.
• Sprinkle extra powdered sugar on top of the bars. The powdered sugar on these lemon bars is really yummy!

❓ FAQs

✍️ Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoy this easy lemon bars recipe as much as our family does. They are super simple to make, and they taste so much better than any boxed lemon bars mix you can buy at the grocery store.

These old-fashioned lemon bars are a delicious treat to take to bridal showers, baby showers, bake sales, as well as potlucks, and picnics.

🗂️ Recipe Card

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