Old-Fashioned Lemon Squares Recipe

Simple, classic, and delicious! These old fashioned lemon bars feature a buttery shortbread crust and a bright, tangy lemon curd filling.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword lemon

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1

Servings 1-inch squares

Calories 74kcal

Author Sara Garska

Cost $6

Preheat oven to 325°F and grease 9x14" baking pan.
Use hand mixer to blend butter, salt, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and 2 cups of flour.
Press crust mixture into baking dish and bake for 20 minutes at 325, until lightly browned.
In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, lemon juice, sugar, 1/4 cup flour, and lemon zest.
Pour the lemon mixture on top of the crust and bake for 20 – 25 minutes, until firm.
Remove from oven and dust with powdered sugar.
Allow to cool before cutting and serving.

Nutrition is for a 1-inch square serving and is an estimate.
When you mix the shortbread it will seem very dry at first. Continue mixing and it will form little crumbs. Continue mixing until it becomes smooth.
Because the crust had so much butter and my pan was nonstick, I didn't grease it. This made it difficult to get the lemon bars out neatly. So grease your pan with butter, shortening or a nonstick spray.
Two lemons worked perfectly to make 1/4 cup of lemon juice. Zest the rind of one lemon before you cut and juice it. To get more juice out of your lemons, push on them with your palm and roll on the counter.
I used a metal strainer to dust the powdered sugar on the lemon bars. Put about 1/4 cup powdered sugar in the strainer and shake it gently over the lemon bars until you have your desired amount.
Let cool before cutting to get the best texture.