Tag: lemon bars

Classic Lemon Bars Recipe – Oh Sweet Basil
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The best lemon bars are a classic spring recipe made with a buttery crust and gooey lemon filling. Top this lemon bar recipe with powdered sugar and you’ll have an easy and delicious spring dessert!

When April and May hit is just means lemon desserts like iced lemon cake, lemon meringue pie, lemon cheesecake cookies and these lemon bars! There’s nothing better than a sweet and tart lemon recipe to finish of a party or dinner as we head into the summer months.

Lemon bars are one of those classic recipes that you probably think of when you think lemon treats. For good reason! They’re delicious.

The trick to a good lemon bar? Lots of fresh lemon juice and lemon zest.

You’ll also want a soft and buttery crust for your lemon bar recipe. All that gooey filling has to top something!

Ingredients for the Best Lemon Bars

You will need a few basic baking ingredients to make these bars along with a few fresh lemons. Here is what you will need to make this delicious recipe:

Crust:
- Sugar: just regular granulated white sugar
- Unsalted Butter: needs to be softened to room temperature
- Flour: all purpose flour is all you need
- Salt: cuts through the sweetness and tartness and enhances all the flavors
- Lemon Juice: the juice of about 1 lemon
Filling:
- Eggs: creates the richness and creaminess of the filling
- Sugar: adds sweetness and balances the tartness of the lemons
- Flour: helps thicken the filling and gives it structure
- Salt: enhances all the flavors
- Lemon Juice: fresh lemon juice is preferred and you’ll need 3-4 large lemons
- Lemon Zest: you’ll need the zest from about 1 lemon
- Powdered Sugar: used for garnish to balance out the tartness and to make the bars look extra pretty
The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post. BONUS: If you want a gluten free lemon bar, check out our gf lemon bar recipe.

How to Make Lemon Bars

There are two parts to this recipe – the crust and the filling. Both parts are super simple! Here are the steps:

Crust:

Start by creaming 2 sticks of softened butter and sugar in a large bowl with a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. This will be the base of your really tender crust. Then you’ll add the flour and sugar to bring it all together to form a dough.

The dough will likely be a little crumbly at this point so add in a bit of lemon juice until it starts to come together, form a ball and pull away from the sides of the bowl.

Press the dough into a prepared baking dish lined with parchment paper and bake by itself for 15-20 minutes, or until it’s golden brown.

Filling:

Whisk all of the ingredients together in a large bowl. The mixture will be very runny, but don’t worry it will thicken up as it bakes.

Pour the lemon filling mixture over the baked crust, and then stick it in the oven to bake for another 30-35 minutes. Give the dish a little jiggle and the lemon filling shouldn’t move if it is fully baked.

Let the lemon bars cool completely to room temperature, and then dust with powdered sugar and cut them into squares to serve.

These instructions can also be found in the recipe card down at the end of the post. You can also save or print the recipe there.

Are Lemon Bars Supposed to Be Gooey?

The lemon layer of lemon bars are essentially a lemon curd baked on top of the shortbread crust. They will be soft and somewhat gooey.

To avoid them being too gooey make sure you allow them to set completely when you take them out of the oven. You know when lemon bars are done when you move the pan a bit and they don’t jiggle.

You should cut the lemon bars when they are completely cool. Even better if you allow them to set up in the refrigerator for a couple hours!

Can I Make Lemon Bars in a Muffin Pan?

You can use a muffin tin to make lemon bars, just make sure you only bake them for 12-15 minutes after baking the crust (which you can bake for around 8-10 minutes) as they can overcook.

How Should Lemon Bars Be Stored?

Once you’re done serving (and somehow have leftovers!) you can store your lemon bars either in the refrigerator or in the freezer.

Store in the refrigerator by placing the lemon bars in an airtight container using parchment or wax paper to separate layers if you have more than one. They will stay fresh for up to 3 days in the fridge.

Store in the freezer by placing each individual lemon bar on a baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 2-3 hours until they freeze all the way through. Once frozen, wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap and place them in a sealable bag or airtight container. They will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months!

Don’t forget to top them with powdered sugar when they come out of the oven! If you follow these steps you will end up with the best lemon bars recipe!

Can I Make Lemon Bars Ahead of Time?

A classic lemon bars recipe is a great option for a make ahead dessert. Just pop the lemon bars into the fridge to keep them until they’re ready for serving. Remember, this is a fresh tasting dessert unlike a baked cookie, so you should only make lemon bars about a day ahead of time.

If you love lemon desserts, then you’ll love these classic lemon bars! It’s hard to believe that the best lemon bars could be so easy to make yet still be so mouthwatering delicious! They are sweet and tart, buttery and rich, creamy and chewy…total bliss!

If you love these, then you have to try these other BAR DESSERTS:
Servings: 24

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Description

Lemon bars are a classic spring recipe made with a buttery crust and gooey lemon filling. Top this lemon bar recipe with powdered sugar and you’ll have an easy and delicious dessert!

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To make the crust:

Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl with a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for 1-2 minutes.

1 Cup Unsalted Butter, 1/2 Cup Sugar

With the mixer on low, add the flour, salt and lemon juice and beat until just mixed.

2 Cups All Purpose Flour, 1/2 teaspoon Salt, 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice

Dump the dough into the prepared baking pan and press the dough to the edges of the pan to build up 1/2 inch on the bottom of the pan.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until edges start to turn golden brown.

Remove from oven, leave the oven on and cool on a wire rack.

To make the filling:

Whisk together the eggs, sugar, flour, salt, lemon juice and lemon zest in a large bowl. Mixture will be very runny.

6 Eggs, 2 1/2 Cups Granulated Sugar, 1 Cup All Purpose Flour, 1/2 teaspoon Salt, 1 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice, 2 Tablespoon Lemon Zest

Pour over the baked crust and bake for another 30 to 35 minutes, until the filling is set and doesn’t move when shaken.

Allow to cool completely at room temperature.

Dust with powdered sugar and cut into squares before serving.

Powdered Sugar

To freeze: Lasts 3 days in fridge or 3 months in freezer. Place on baking sheet and freeze completely for 3 hours then transfer to plastic bag and store until ready. Thaw in fridge overnight.

Serving: 1barCalories: 239kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 3gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 114mgPotassium: 47mgFiber: 1gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 297IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg

Author: Sweet Basil

Course: 100 Best Brownies and Bars Recipes, America’s Best 4th of July Desserts, Recipes and Sides
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This lemon cake with lemon cream cheese frosting has a soft cake crumb and delicious lemon flavor. The cream cheese frosting is smooth & creamy for the perfect pairing.
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Sweet Basil

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March 12, 2024
Healthy Lemon Protein Bars Recipe (Grain-Free)
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These lemon protein bars are a healthy, protein-packed snack that tastes just like a lemon cake bar but delivers an impressive nutritive punch.

Having a protein snack between meals or after a workout helps fuel and sustain your body while keeping hunger at bay.

And nothing is more convenient than nibbling on a protein bar!

Making protein bars at home is very easy and puts you in control of the ingredients, so you can avoid additives and sweeteners in commercial energy bars.

In this recipe, we’ll show you how to make high-protein bars with lemon that are gluten-free, low-sugar, and grain-free. And they can even be fully plant-based if you use maple syrup!

Each healthy lemon bar packs quality protein sources from almond butter, chickpeas, and protein powder (your choice between soy/rice or whey protein powder).

And to get that sweet and bright lemon flavour in the protein bars, you’ll need just a little honey and lemon essence. Easy!

If you want more energy bar ideas for the week ahead, check out these healthy no-sugar flapjacks, matcha granola bars, or healthy passion fruit bars .
Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories are in a lemon bar?

There are 180 calories in 1 lemon protein bar, and each bar weighs about 90 grams / 3.2 oz.

Here’s a quick overview of the nutritional profile of these healthy lemon bars:

14 grams of proteins — which cover 25% of RDI, meaning each lemon bar is high-protein

over 4 grams of fibre — high-fibre

low in saturated fats — less than 1 gram per bar

6 grams of sugar — over half the sugar in classic lemon bars

How do you add protein to lemon bars?

To make lemon bars high in protein use healthy protein sources like nut butter, seeds, mashed beans, yoghurt/silken tofu, and protein powder.

If you don’t want to use protein powder, you can still prepare protein lemon bars using high-protein foods like peanut butter, hemp seeds, chickpeas/black beans, greek yoghurt or silken tofu.

Are these lemon bars healthy?

These homemade protein bars with lemon are a healthier alternative to store-bought energy bars.

They’re prepared with rice protein powder and almond butter, protein-rich ingredients that help fuel and build muscle after a workout.

In each lemon bar, a little honey adds sweetness while chickpeas bring in fibres for a steadier energy release.

How long does it take for these protein lemon bars to set?

These protein lemon bars require no baking and are ready to eat straight away.

Once you’ve compacted the lemon protein dough into a tin, leave it to set in the fridge for just 10-15 minutes so it’ll be easier to slice into single-serving protein bars.

Can you make lemon bars without flour?

You don’t need flour to make lemon bars. You can prepare healthy lemon bars without grains — so without wheat flour or oat flour.

If you make protein powder lemon bars, the protein powder itself works as a dry ingredient that replaces flour perfectly.

Also, other healthy ingredients like mashed chickpeas help add bulk to the lemon bar dough without the need for flour.

Can you make lemon protein bars without protein powder?

Yes, you can surely make protein lemon bars without protein powder and use high-protein whole foods instead.

Protein powder is nearly 90% protein, so it helps you pack more proteins in less volume easily.

To add proteins back in, you can replace protein powder in the lemon bars with the same amount of finely ground almonds, hemp seeds, or pumpkin seeds.

Alternatively, use ground oats and then add a few spoonfuls of Greek-style yoghurt (dairy or soy) to help the oats soften.

How do you make protein bars taste of lemon?

Use lemon extract to make lemon-flavoured bars, as it packs all the lemony flavour of the lemon peel without the bitterness.

As an alternative to lemon extract, you can use lemon zest, making sure not to grate the bitter, white pith.

Lemon juice, instead, is too sour and you may have to add extra sugar to the protein bar dough to compensate.

What’s the best protein powder for lemon protein bars?

We prepared these high-protein lemon bars with unflavoured brown rice protein powder.

Using plain protein powder in protein bars helps you control the sugars and avoid artificial additives.

Still, if you prefer flavoured protein powder, we recommend using vanilla flavour so as not to overpower the delicate taste of lemon in the bars.

As for the type of protein powder, rice protein powder and soy protein isolate are the best vegan options or you can opt for whey protein powder.

Ingredients

Canned Chickpeas (drained weight) 360 g

Protein Powder (Rice/Soy/Whey) 60 g

Almond Butter 75 g

Lemon Essence 2^1/2 tsp

Honey (or Maple Syrup) 50 g

Poppy Seeds (optional) 1/2 tsp

Equipment & Pantry

Step 1

Rinse the canned chickpeas a few times under running water, then drain well on a colander.

Add them to a blender with the protein powder, almond butter, lemon essence, and maple syrup/honey.

Step 2

Blitz the ingredients until they come together into a compact dough, scraping the sides of the blender a few times in between pulses.

The dough should be a little sticky but pliable and hold together when pressed.

Step 3

Transfer the protein lemon bar mixture into a loaf tin lined with baking paper — a 20 x 10 cm (8 x 4 in) loaf tin will yield 6 bars.

Press the bar dough hard with your hands to compact it and level it with the back of a spoon.

Then, sprinkle the top with poppy seeds, pressing them in with your fingertips.

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Step 4

Wrap the tin with cling film and place it in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to set.

Finally, slice into single-serving bars — 6 for the default ingredients (1).

Your healthy lemon protein bars are ready!

Enjoy them right away or store them in an air-tight container in the fridge for 4 days or freeze for 3 months (2).

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Tips

Due to the difference in nut butters and protein powders, the lemon bars dough may be a bit more moist or dry than expected. So, if needed, adjust the ingredients, adding more protein powder or a splash of milk to get the right consistency.

To make these lemon protein bars sugar-free, you can replace honey/maple syrup with erythritol or stevia and then add a few spoonfuls of milk for moisture.
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February 6, 2024

Canned Chickpeas (drained weight)	360 g
Protein Powder (Rice/Soy/Whey)	60 g
Almond Butter	75 g
Lemon Essence	2^1/2 tsp
Honey (or Maple Syrup)	50 g
Poppy Seeds (optional)	1/2 tsp

Tag: lemon bars

Classic Lemon Bars Recipe – Oh Sweet Basil

Ingredients for the Best Lemon Bars

Crust:

Filling:

How to Make Lemon Bars

Crust:

Filling:

Are Lemon Bars Supposed to Be Gooey?

Can I Make Lemon Bars in a Muffin Pan?

How Should Lemon Bars Be Stored?

Can I Make Lemon Bars Ahead of Time?

If you love these, then you have to try these other BAR DESSERTS:

Description

To make the crust:

To make the filling:

Recommended Products

Healthy Lemon Protein Bars Recipe (Grain-Free)

How many calories are in a lemon bar?

How do you add protein to lemon bars?

Are these lemon bars healthy?

How long does it take for these protein lemon bars to set?

Can you make lemon bars without flour?

Can you make lemon protein bars without protein powder?

How do you make protein bars taste of lemon?

What’s the best protein powder for lemon protein bars?

Ingredients

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Tips