Easy Lemon Squares Recipe
These Easy Lemon Squares are a delightful, tangy dessert featuring a buttery shortbread base topped with a luscious lemon filling. Perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, they’re simple to prepare and ideal for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes (plus 1 hour chilling time)
- Yield: 16 squares 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Shortbread Base
- ½ cup butter (softened)
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup flour
- 1 pinch salt
Lemon Filling
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 pinch salt
- Zest of ½–1 lemon (½ – 1 tablespoon)
- Optional: 3-4 tablespoons all-purpose flour (to prevent sinking filling)
Instructions
- Prepare the Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly grease and flour an 8×8 inch (20×20 cm) square baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Make the Shortbread Base: In a medium bowl, beat the softened butter and powdered sugar on medium speed until well combined. Add the flour and salt, and beat until a soft dough forms, about 1 ½ minutes. Spread and pat this dough evenly across the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Bake the Base: Bake the shortbread crust in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let it cool while you prepare the filling, but keep the oven on.
- Prepare the Lemon Filling: In another bowl, beat together the eggs, granulated sugar, baking powder, lemon juice, a pinch of salt, and lemon zest until well combined. If concerned about the filling sinking, stir in 3-4 tablespoons of all-purpose flour at this stage.
- Assemble and Bake: Pour the lemon filling over the cooled shortbread crust. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the center is set. The top should be firm but slightly jiggly in the middle.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the lemon squares to cool completely in the pan. For easier cutting, chill the baked squares in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Cut into squares, dust with powdered sugar, remove from the pan, and serve. Enjoy your tangy and sweet lemon squares!
Notes
- To prevent the filling from sinking, adding 3-4 tablespoons of flour to the lemon mixture is recommended.
- Using fresh lemons for juice and zest greatly enhances the flavor.
- Chilling the lemon squares before cutting makes slicing cleaner and easier.
- Ensure the shortbread crust is fully cooled before adding the filling to avoid mixing or soggy texture.
- These squares can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Keywords: lemon squares, lemon bars, easy dessert, shortbread, lemon dessert, citrus dessert, baked lemon squares
Find it online: https://cheframiflavor.com/easy-lemon-squares-recipe/
