Soft Lemon Bars Zesty Glaze (Printable Version)
Buttery shortbread beneath velvety lemon filling, finished with a bright citrus glaze for the perfect sweet-tart balance.
# The Ingredients You'll Need:
→ For the Shortbread Crust
01 - 170 g unsalted butter, melted
02 - 60 g powdered sugar
03 - 200 g all-purpose flour
04 - ¼ tsp salt
→ For the Lemon Filling
05 - 4 large eggs
06 - 300 g granulated sugar
07 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
08 - 1 tbsp lemon zest
09 - 120 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
10 - ½ tsp baking powder
11 - Pinch of salt
→ For the Zesty Lemon Glaze
12 - 120 g powdered sugar
13 - 2–3 tbsp lemon juice
14 - ½ tsp lemon zest
# Step-by-Step Instructions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Line a 23×23 cm (9×9 inch) pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a bowl, combine melted butter, powdered sugar, flour, and salt. Mix until a soft dough forms. Press evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15–18 minutes, until lightly golden. Remove from oven and set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, flour, zest, lemon juice, baking powder, and salt until smooth. Pour the filling over the warm crust and return to the oven. Bake for 20–22 minutes, until the center is just set and doesn't jiggle.
04 - Let cool completely at room temperature, then chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour before glazing.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk powdered sugar with lemon juice and zest until smooth and pourable. Spread the glaze evenly over the chilled lemon bars. Let set for 10–15 minutes before slicing into squares.
# Additional Tips::
01 -
- Ready in under 3 hours with mostly hands-off time
- Uses simple pantry ingredients you likely already have
- Perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors
- Impressive enough for guests but easy enough for weeknights
02 -
- Makes an excellent make ahead dessert as flavors deepen overnight
- Can be frozen without the glaze for up to 2 months
- The crust to filling ratio in this recipe creates the perfect bite
- Each serving provides a good dose of vitamin C from fresh lemons
03 -
- Always zest your lemons before juicing them as it's nearly impossible to zest a squeezed lemon
- Room temperature eggs incorporate more smoothly into the filling mixture
- For cleaner cuts chill the bars completely before slicing with a warm knife