Delicious Lemon Drop Bars Recipe

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Taste the sunshine with homemade lemon drop bars! Made with lemon curd, these bars are moist, tart, and sweet - the perfect summertime treat. These bars are made with a shortbread crust, creating a delicious balance between buttery and tangy flavors.

square of lemon drop bars topped with powdered sugar

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Lemon Drop Bars
Ingredients
Handy Kitchen Tools
How to Make Lemon Drop Bars
Frequently Asked Questions
More Easy Recipes
📖 Recipe

Lemon Drop Bars

Homemade lemon drop bars are a refreshing and zesty twist on the classic dessert bar. Bursting with flavor, they’re perfect for any occasion, whether you’re hosting a party or just looking for a delicious treat.

You can make these bars at home in no time. And they’re sure to be a hit with family and friends. They make the ideal potluck dessert option and can easily be used in place of cookies or cake at a birthday party!

If you like this flavor, you might also enjoy the lemon meringue cupcakes with lemon curd filling. Another tasty but tart dish that is ideal for dessert in springtime and summer.

Ingredients

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (313g)
1 cup unsalted butter, softened (227g)
⅔ cup granulated sugar (150g)
4 sheets of graham crackers, crushed - approximately 1 cup/120g
⅓ cup brown sugar (65g)
20oz lemon curd (567g) - approximately 2 jars
Powdered sugar for dusting the top

Handy Kitchen Tools

lemon wedges by lemon drop bars on table

How to Make Lemon Drop Bars

If making your own graham cracker crumbs, do so now. You will need to crush enough to make 1 cup or 120g of crumbs. This is approximately 4 full sheets of graham crackers. You can also make homemade lemon curd if using it before you begin the rest of the process.

Preheat the oven to 350°F/190°C and then line a 9"x13" baking dish with parchment paper making sure it overlaps the ends a few inches. Then, spray the paper with non-stick cooking spray and set this aside.

Now, combine the graham cracker crumbs, flour, butter, sugar, and brown sugar together in a large bowl. Mix this until it is a moist crumble that resembles wet sand.

flour butter and graham crackers crumbs in glass bowl

Press this into the baking pan evenly and bake for 25 minutes, or until it has turned golden brown.

Pour the lemon curd into a microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir the mixture, then heat again for 30 seconds. Stir it again, and then pour it on top of the baked crust.

Bake this for 20 to 25 minutes until it is bubbling on top.

Remove this from the oven and let it cool for at least 30 minutes before lifting it out of the pan to slice and serve.

powdered sugar being dusted over lemon drop bars

Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Do My Lemon Bars Have a Skin On Top?

The thin layer of skin on the top of your lemon drop bars is completely normal. This happens when you bake them, as the sugar in the filling reacts with the heat and forms a protective crust. The result is an even more delicious combination of sweetness and tartness!

Do Lemon Bars Need to be Refrigerated?

Yes, lemon drop bars should be kept in the refrigerator. They can sit at room temperature for a day or so but refrigerating them will help keep them moist and prevent any spoilage. If you’re not planning on eating them immediately, you can freeze them for up to three months.

How Do You Cut Lemon Bars Without Making a Mess?

When it comes to cutting lemon drop bars, the key is to use a sharp knife and slice slowly. Make sure to start with a clean knife each time, as this will help you get even slices without any mess. You can also chill the bars for about 30 minutes before slicing, which will make them easier to cut.

Most importantly, make sure that you line your baking dish with parchment paper, so you can easily lift the entire thing out once it has cooled. This makes cutting even easier.

How Long Are Lemon Drop Bars Good For?

Lemon drop bars can last for up to 2 days at room temperature or up to two weeks in the refrigerator. If you’d like them to last even longer, you can freeze them for up to three months. However, I recommend eating them sooner rather than later for the best flavor!

More Easy Recipes

If you like lemon in your dessert menu, then I have a few more easy recipes you are going to love. Take a moment to bookmark the ones you like. You can also print out the recipes or pin them to Pinterest so they are handy when you need them.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 18

Delicious Lemon Drop Bars Recipe

These homemade lemon drop bars are the perfect recipe for a tasty treat that is sweet and sour and always a crowd pleaser!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (313g)
1 cup unsalted butter, softened (227g)
⅔ cup granulated sugar (150g)
4 sheets of graham crackers, crushed
⅓ cup brown sugar (65g)
20oz lemon curd (567g)

Optional topping

Powdered sugar

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F/190°C and then line a 9"x13" baking dish with parchment paper making sure it overlaps the ends a few inches. Then, spray the paper with non-stick cooking spray and set this aside.
In a large bowl, beat together the flour, butter, sugar, graham cracker crumbs, and brown sugar until it resembles wet sand in texture.
Press this mixture into the bottom of the baking dish and then bake for 25 minutes or until it is golden brown.
Pour the lemon curd into a microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir the mixture, then heat again for 30 seconds.
Stir it again, and then pour it on top of the baked crust.
Bake this for 20 to 25 minutes until it is bubbling on top.
Remove this from the oven and let it cool for at least 30 minutes before lifting it out of the pan to slice and serve.
Dust with powdered sugar before serving.