Simple Paula Deen Lemon Bars Recipe for Zesty Sweet Treats

Paula Deen’s lemon bars represent a delightful dessert that captures sunshine in every zesty bite.

Southern baking traditions shine through this classic sweet treat with its perfect balance of tartness and richness.

Bright, citrusy flavors dance across a tender shortbread-style crust, creating a harmonious contrast of textures.

Smooth, silky lemon filling provides a refreshing counterpoint to the buttery base, making each bar incredibly satisfying.

Home bakers adore how quickly these bars come together, requiring minimal effort for maximum deliciousness.

Surprisingly simple ingredients transform into an elegant dessert that impresses friends and family.

Prepare to fall in love with this crowd-pleasing recipe that promises pure culinary joy:

Why Paula Deen’s Lemon Bars Are a Refreshing Treat

• Burst with Tangy Citrus Delight: These lemon bars deliver a perfect balance of sweet and zesty flavors that dance on your taste buds, creating an instant mood lifter with each bright, refreshing bite.
• Melt-in-Your-Mouth Texture Magic: The velvety smooth lemon filling nestled on a crumbly, buttery shortbread-like crust offers an irresistible contrast that makes each square a textural adventure.
• Quick and Foolproof Baking Experience: With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, even novice bakers can whip up these impressive dessert squares in under an hour, making them ideal for spontaneous sweet cravings or last-minute gatherings.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleasing Treat: Perfect for potlucks, afternoon tea, summer picnics, or as a delightful homemade dessert that brings smiles to family and friends' faces with minimal effort and maximum flavor.

Ingredients for Paula Deen’s Lemon Bars

• Flour: Base of the crust, all-purpose works best for a tender texture.
• Confectioner's Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a delicate crumbly crust.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.
• Butter: Provides rich flavor and helps bind the crust together, cold butter works best.

• Eggs: Crucial for setting the lemon filling and creating a smooth texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the filling and helps create a silky consistency.
• Flour: Helps thicken and stabilize the lemon filling.
• Lemon Juice: Provides bright, tangy flavor and signature citrus taste, fresh lemons recommended.

• Confectioner's Sugar: Final dusting for a sweet, decorative touch and elegant presentation.

How to Make Paula Deen’s Lemon Bars

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

Warm up your oven to 350°F. Grab a 9x13x2-inch baking pan and give it a light coating of cooking spray or butter to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Create the Crumbly Crust

• All-purpose flour
• Confectioner's sugar
• Pinch of salt

Mix these ingredients in a large bowl. Cut cold butter into the mixture until it looks like coarse crumbs. Press the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. If the mixture sticks to your fingers, dust them with a bit of flour. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the edges turn a gentle golden brown.

Step 3: Whip Up the Tangy Filling

• 4 large eggs
• Granulated sugar
• All-purpose flour
• Fresh lemon juice
• Zest of 1 lemon (optional for extra zing)

Whisk all ingredients together until the mixture is smooth and well combined.

Step 4: Combine and Bake

Pour the lemon filling over the hot crust, spreading it evenly. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 25 minutes. The filling should be set but still have a slight jiggle in the center.

Step 5: Cool and Dust

Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool completely at room temperature. This typically takes about 1-2 hours. Once cooled, dust the top generously with confectioner’s sugar using a fine-mesh sieve. Slice into square or rectangular pieces.

Pro Tips for Paula Deen’s Lemon Bars

• Slice Like a Pro: Warm bars crumble easily, so refrigerate for 30 minutes after cooling completely to get sharp, clean cuts.
• Customize Citrus Punch: Experiment with lemon-to-sugar ratio by tasting filling before pouring into crust. Some lemons are more tart than others, so adjust sweetness to personal preference.
• Master Whisking Technique: Combine eggs and sugar thoroughly to eliminate lumps. Smooth filling ensures silky, creamy texture that melts in your mouth.
• Create Flaky Foundation: Cold butter is crucial for crust's crumbly consistency. Grate chilled butter directly into flour mixture for even distribution and perfect crispness.
• Prevent Soggy Bottom: Fully pre-bake crust until golden edges appear. This critical step guarantees crisp base that won't turn mushy under zesty lemon filling.

How to Store Paula Deen’s Lemon Bars

• Preserve Freshness: Seal completely cooled lemon bars in an airtight glass container to maintain optimal texture and prevent moisture absorption. Glass containers create a better seal than plastic, keeping bars crisp and preventing potential flavor contamination.
• Freezer Storage: Individually wrap each lemon bar in parchment paper before placing in a freezer-safe container. This prevents bars from sticking together and allows easy removal of single servings. Frozen lemon bars remain delicious for up to 3 months when properly wrapped.
• Quick Thawing: Remove frozen lemon bars from the freezer and place in the refrigerator 6-8 hours before serving. Avoid room temperature thawing to prevent potential bacterial growth and maintain the delicate powdered sugar coating's pristine appearance.

Creative Twists on Paula Deen’s Lemon Bars

• Lavender Lemon Elegance: Infuse the lemon filling with dried lavender buds for a floral, sophisticated flavor profile. Steep lavender in warm lemon juice before mixing the filling to enhance the aromatic experience.
• Coconut Tropical Remix: Replace half the flour in the crust with shredded coconut for a tropical crunch. Sprinkle toasted coconut flakes on top after dusting with powdered sugar for extra texture and island-inspired flair.
• Berry Burst Edition: Swirl fresh raspberry or blueberry puree into the lemon filling before baking. Create a marbled effect by gently dragging a knife through the filling, adding vibrant color and fruity complexity to the classic lemon bars.
• Almond Crunch Variation: Mix ground almonds into the crust for a nutty base. Garnish the finished bars with sliced toasted almonds, providing a delightful crunch and subtle nuttiness that complements the bright lemon flavor.

Final Thoughts on Paula Deen’s Lemon Bars

Lemon bars embody Paula Deen’s southern culinary charm, blending tangy citrus with sweet comfort.

Delicate shortbread crusts provide a buttery foundation for zesty lemon filling that dances across taste buds.

Classic recipes like these connect generations through shared kitchen memories.

Fragrant lemon essence transforms simple ingredients into an elegant dessert experience.

Family gatherings sparkle with joy when these bars appear on dessert platters.

Passionate bakers who create these treats spread happiness through each carefully crafted square – so grab your mixing bowl, share this recipe, leave a comment celebrating its deliciousness, and let sweet memories begin.

Paula Deen Lemon Bars Recipe

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4.7 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Zesty Paula Deen Lemon Bars deliver sunshine on a plate with their perfect balance of tangy citrus and buttery shortbread crust. Creamy lemon filling nestled atop a golden base promises pure dessert bliss you’ll savor down to the last crumbly bite.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 2 cups (473 ml) granulated sugar
• 6 tablespoons (90 ml) fresh lemon juice

Flour and Dry Ingredients:

• 2 cups (240 g) all purpose flour
• 1 cup (120 g) confectioner’s sugar
• 1 pinch salt

Fat and Preparation Ingredients:

• 2 sticks (226 g) butter, at room temperature
• Butter (additional amount) for greasing

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven environment by heating to 350°F (175°C) and coating a 9x13x2-inch (23x33x5 centimeters) baking pan with a light layer of grease to prevent sticking.
2. Create the foundational crust by blending 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour, 1 cup (125 grams) powdered sugar, and a delicate pinch of salt in a spacious mixing bowl. Methodically incorporate cold butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse, crumbly texture. Gently press the mixture into the prepared pan, using flour-dusted fingers to ensure even distribution and prevent adhesion.
3. Bake the initial crust layer for 15-20 minutes, watching for a gentle golden hue that indicates perfect doneness. Remove from the oven and allow a brief moment to rest while preparing the zesty filling.
4. Construct the lemon filling by whisking together whole eggs, 2 cups (400 grams) granulated sugar, 6 tablespoons (50 grams) all-purpose flour, and freshly squeezed lemon juice until the mixture achieves a silky, uniform consistency.
5. Pour the vibrant lemon mixture evenly over the pre-baked crust, ensuring complete coverage and a smooth surface. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 25 minutes, monitoring until the filling sets and loses its wobble.
6. After removing from the oven, allow the lemon bars to cool completely within the pan, which helps the filling stabilize and maintain its structure. Once thoroughly cooled, dust the surface generously with additional powdered sugar.
7. Slice into neat squares, creating uniform portions that showcase the layers of buttery crust and tangy lemon filling.

Notes

• Cold butter creates a magical, flaky crust that crumbles perfectly in your mouth.
• Fully pre-baking the crust prevents soggy bottoms and locks in that crisp, golden texture.
• Vigorous whisking eliminates egg lumps, transforming the filling into silky smooth perfection.
• Taste-testing allows you to balance the lemon’s zesty punch according to your personal preference.
• Patience during cooling ensures clean, beautiful slices that showcase your baking skills.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 340
• Sugar: 39.7g
• Sodium: 24mg
• Fat: 12.7g
• Saturated Fat: 7.9g
• Carbohydrates: 54.4g
• Fiber: 0.6g
• Protein: 3.4g
• Cholesterol: 71mg