Easy Ina Garten Lemon Bars Recipe: Bright & Zesty Treats

Lemon bars tantalize taste buds with their bright, zesty essence and irresistible sweetness.

These sunshine-infused treats blend tart citrus magic and delicate buttery crust into a perfect harmony of flavors.

Each bite promises a luxurious balance between sharp lemon intensity and tender, crumbly texture.

Rich golden hues and silky smooth surfaces hint at the decadent experience awaiting you.

Creamy yet crisp, these dessert squares deliver an elegant contrast that makes them impossible to resist.

Homemade lemon bars represent a simple yet sophisticated indulgence that transforms ordinary ingredients into extraordinary pleasure: get ready to create pure culinary delight.

Ina Garten’s Raisin Scones: A Sweet and Buttery Delight

• Burst with Zesty Brightness: These lemon bars deliver an explosion of tangy, citrusy flavor that awakens your taste buds with every single bite, creating a refreshing and vibrant dessert experience.
• Achieve Bakery-Worthy Texture: The recipe masterfully combines a buttery, crumbly shortbread crust with a silky-smooth, custard-like lemon filling, giving you professional-quality dessert bars right from your home kitchen.
• Master an Impressive Yet Simple Technique: Ina Garten's foolproof method breaks down complex pastry-making into easy, approachable steps that even novice bakers can confidently execute, transforming simple ingredients into a stunning dessert that looks like it came from a fancy bakery.
• Perfect for Any Celebration: These lemon bars shine as a crowd-pleasing dessert for summer parties, afternoon tea, potlucks, or as a sweet treat to brighten up an ordinary day, making them incredibly versatile and always welcome at gatherings.

What Goes Into Ina’s Luscious Lemon Bars

• Butter: Provides rich, creamy base for the crust, best when room temperature.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a light, crumbly texture.
• All-Purpose Flour: Main structure for the crust, creates a tender shortbread-like base.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness.

• Extra-Large Eggs: Binding agent that helps set the lemon filling, provides structure.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the filling and helps create smooth texture.
• Lemon Zest: Adds intense citrus flavor and aromatic notes to the filling.
• Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice: Provides bright, tangy flavor crucial for lemon bars.
• All-Purpose Flour: Helps thicken and stabilize the lemon filling.

• Confectioners' Sugar: Decorative topping that adds a sweet, elegant finish to the lemon bars.

Why Ina Garten’s Lemon Bars Are the Perfect Balance of Sweet and Tart

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Arrange the oven rack in the center position for even baking.

Step 2: Create the Crust Mixture

• Softened unsalted butter
• Granulated sugar

Cream the ingredients together until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale yellow.

Step 3: Form the Crust Dough

• All-purpose flour
• Kosher salt

Mix ingredients until they form a soft, crumbly dough that holds together when pressed.

Step 4: Shape the Crust

Press the dough evenly into a 9×13 inch baking pan, creating a 1/2-inch raised edge around the sides. Smooth the surface with the back of a spoon or your fingers.

Step 5: Chill and Partially Bake the Crust

Refrigerate the pan for 15 minutes. Then bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until the edges turn light golden brown.

Step 6: Prepare the Lemon Filling

• 6 extra-large eggs
• Granulated sugar
• Lemon zest
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice
• All-purpose flour

Blend until the mixture is completely smooth and no lumps remain.

Step 7: Complete the Baking

Pour the lemon filling over the partially baked crust, ensuring even distribution to the edges. Return to the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until the filling sets and doesn’t jiggle when shaken.

Step 8: Cool and Finish

Remove from the oven and let the lemon bars cool completely at room temperature for about 2 hours. This helps the filling firm up properly.

Step 9: Serve and Garnish

Cut into squares or triangles. Dust generously with powdered sugar using a fine-mesh sifter. Serve and enjoy these tangy, sweet lemon bars!

What You Need for Ina Garten’s Lemon Bars

• Preserve Freshness: Store lemon bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, keeping them moist and delicious.
• Cut with Clean Knife: Wipe the blade between each slice to create neat, sharp edges that showcase the dessert's beautiful layers.
• Dust Strategically: Sprinkle powdered sugar just before serving to maintain a crisp, pristine appearance and prevent sugar absorption.
• Chill for Cleaner Cuts: Refrigerate the bars for 30 minutes before slicing to help them hold their shape and create picture-perfect portions.
• Enhance Flavor Depth: Add a tiny pinch of salt to the crust or filling to balance the sweetness and intensify the lemon's bright notes.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Ina Garten’s Lemon Bars

• Sealed Container Method: Protect your zesty treats by layering them between parchment paper sheets in an airtight container. Refrigerate immediately after cooling to lock in maximum freshness and prevent moisture buildup.
• Freezer Preservation Technique: Individually wrap each lemon bar tightly in plastic wrap, ensuring no air pockets remain. Stack wrapped bars in a freezer-safe container, where they'll stay deliciously intact for up to 90 days without losing their vibrant flavor or delicate texture.
• Quick Thawing Strategy: Remove frozen bars from the freezer and let them defrost naturally at room temperature for 30-45 minutes. Transfer to the refrigerator for a perfectly chilled dessert that tastes just as wonderful as the day they were baked.

Pro Tips for Perfect Lemon Bars

• Citrus Fusion: Replace half the lemon juice with orange or grapefruit juice for a complex, tangy flavor profile that brightens the traditional recipe.
• Lavender Infusion: Add 1-2 teaspoons of dried culinary lavender to the crust or filling for a sophisticated, floral undertone that complements the zesty lemon.
• Coconut Crunch: Mix shredded unsweetened coconut into the crust and sprinkle toasted coconut flakes on top after dusting with powdered sugar for a tropical texture and nutty dimension.
• Ginger Spark: Incorporate 1 tablespoon of finely grated fresh ginger into the filling and add a pinch of ground ginger to the crust for a warm, spicy kick that enhances the citrus notes.

How to Store Ina Garten’s Lemon Bars

Culinary magic emerges from Ina Garten’s legendary lemon bars, promising pure zesty delight with each carefully crafted bite.

Silky smooth lemon filling nestles atop a buttery shortbread crust, creating Mediterranean-inspired comfort on plate and palate.

Citrus notes dance gracefully through each delectable square, whispering sophisticated flavor stories.

Delightful contrasts between tart filling and rich crust make these bars irresistible conversation starters at gatherings.

Garten’s recipe transforms simple ingredients into extraordinary dessert experiences that connect people through shared sweetness.

Sweet memories await – you’ll want to dive fork-first into these sunshine-kissed bars, share this recipe with friends, like the post, and spread delicious joy across your favorite social platforms.

Ina Garten Lemon Bars Recipe

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4.8 from 24 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 16 1x

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Description

Garten’s lemon bars embody zesty sunshine on a plate, melding buttery shortbread with silky lemon curd. Powdered sugar dusts these classic treats, inviting you to savor each tangy, sweet bite of pure culinary comfort.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 6 extra-large eggs, room temperature
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons lemon zest (from 4 to 6 lemons)

Flour and Butter:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup flour
• ½ pound (227 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

Additional Ingredients:

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• Confectioners’ sugar

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven environment by heating it to 350°F (175°C), creating the perfect baking temperature for the crust.
2. Transform softened butter and granulated sugar into a voluminous, airy mixture by vigorously creaming them together until light and fluffy.
3. Gently incorporate all-purpose flour and kosher salt into the butter-sugar emulsion, mixing until the dough just comes together without overmixing.
4. Carefully distribute the dough across a 9×13-inch (23×33 centimeters) baking pan, sculpting a precise 1/2-inch (1.3 centimeters) raised border along the edges.
5. Refrigerate the prepared pan for 15-20 minutes to allow the dough to firm and maintain its structured shape.
6. Extract the chilled crust and transfer it to the preheated oven, baking for 15-20 minutes until achieving a delicate golden-brown hue.
7. Transfer the baked crust to a wire cooling rack, maintaining the oven’s current temperature for subsequent baking.
8. Whisk extra-large eggs, granulated sugar, vibrant lemon zest, freshly extracted lemon juice, and all-purpose flour until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
9. Cascade the lemon filling evenly across the cooled crust, ensuring complete coverage to the pan’s edges.
10. Return the pan to the oven, baking for 30-35 minutes until the filling sets completely and displays minimal movement when gently nudged.
11. Allow the lemon bars to cool to room temperature, transforming them into a stable, sliceable dessert.
12. Slice the cooled bars into elegant triangles or squares, then dust generously with confectioners’ sugar, creating a sophisticated final presentation.

Notes

• Dust confectioners’ sugar just before serving to maintain the pristine white coating and prevent moisture absorption.
• Refrigerate bars for at least 2 hours to achieve the perfect smooth, sliceable texture that holds its shape beautifully.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking and preserve freshness.
• Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly, ensuring a silky filling and consistent shortbread crust texture.
• Zesting lemons before juicing maximizes the citrusy essential oils, delivering an intense, bright flavor throughout the dessert.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 55 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 16
• Calories: 270
• Sugar: 23 g
• Sodium: 10 mg
• Fat: 13 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg