The Best Lemon Bars

This top-rated lemon bar recipe features a rich and flavorful filling and a sweet, crumbly cookie crust.

How to Make Lemon Bars

You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics:

Lemon Bar Ingredients

These are the ingredients you'll need to make this top-rated lemon bar recipe:

· Flour: The cookie crust starts with all-purpose flour, which also gives the filling structure.
· Butter: Two sticks of softened butter lends richness and flavor to the lemon bar crust.
· Sugar: You'll need two cups of white sugar (½ cup for the crust and 1 ½ cups for the filling). For a stunning finishing touch, dust the bars with powdered sugar before serving.
· Eggs: Four whole eggs ensure a rich and velvety lemon filling.
· Lemons: You'll need the juice of two fresh lemons for this sweet treat.

How to Make Homemade Lemon Bars

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make homemade lemon bars:

1. Make the crust, press it into a prepared pan, and bake until firm and golden.
2. Make the filling, then pour it over the baked crust.
3. Bake in the preheated oven, let cool, and slice the lemon bars when set.

Tip from recipe creator Patty Schenck: For a festive tray, make another pan using limes instead of lemons and add a drop of green food coloring to create a very pale green. After the bars have cooled, arrange them in a checkerboard fashion.

Do Lemon Bars Need to Be Refrigerated?

Since the filling is egg-rich, these lemon bars should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. They should last for up to seven days.

Learn more: Do Lemon Bars Need to Be Refrigerated?

Can You Freeze Lemon Bars?

If you'd like to keep your lemon bars for more than one week, you should consider freezing them. Wrap them in one layer of storage wrap, then follow it up with a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze the lemon bars for up to four months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"My family always requests my famous lemon bars," says one Allrecipes community member. "This is my go-to recipe. My secret ingredient is I zest the lemons and add the zest to the lemon mixture. It really adds a kick."

"The name of these bars is definitely accurate," according to another Allrecipes community member. "The lemon juice gives the right amount of tartness. Everyone I served agreed — they are the best."

"These were so easy and delicious," raves yet another Allrecipes community member. "I dusted mine with powdered sugar and served them chilled with whipped cream. Amazing!"

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams