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Ina Garten’s Lemon Bars

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Ina Garten's Lemon Bars are hands down the most delicious and decadent dessert I've ever made. Keep reading to get the recipe.

Yesterday, Kayla was in the mood to cook. It was a lazy Sunday, so we pulled up our Pinterest app and started searching for Ina Garten recipes.

Lately, we are obsessed with her! I have no clue why. Her food seems so beautiful and fancy, but so easy to make.

For example — these lemon bars.

How to Make Ina Garten's Lemon Bars

This recipe whips up in no time flat. While Kayla was working on our Homemade cold brew coffee concentrate, I made the shortbread crust, baked it in the oven, and then made the lemon filling — which by the way is the most amazing filling I have ever tasted.

You do need to make sure you use fresh lemon juice — not that concentrate in the bottle. That stuff is just nasty! Once you use fresh lemons, you will never want to use the bottled stuff again.

Look at how beautiful and creamy the middle of these Lemon Bars turned out.

The shortbread crust is soft and delicate, and then once you top it with powdered sugar, you have reached sweet perfection.

Be sure and follow the recipe to the tee. Don't try to add the lemon filling while the crust is hot.

When you pull it from the oven, let it sit, and then go throw on some Netflix or Hulu and watch a couple of episodes of something. Then, when you come back, fill the crust and finish baking.

Once it comes out of the oven, let it cool completely before cutting. The first bite is very tart until you get used to the lemon taste. The powdered sugar on top cuts down on that.

If you want to try another variation on a lemon bar recipe, be sure to check out my Pioneer Woman Lemon Bars recipe. It is pure perfection as well.

Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did! For my next lemon recipe, I am going to give these Eggless Lemon Drizzle Mini Loaf Cakes a try, or maybe this delicious Vibrant Lemon Polenta Cake. Both look equally delicious.

Check out these other Lemon recipes on the site!

Recipe adapted from Ina Garten's Lemon Bars recipe.

Yield: 18 bars

Ina Garten’s Lemon Bars

Ina Garten’s Lemon Bars

This recipe is so delicious and so easy to make. The Lemon flavor is front and center in these bars.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Additional Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

For the Crust:

  • 1/2 pound unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

For the Filling:

  • 6 large eggs at room temperature
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest, 4 to 6 lemons
  • 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. For the crust, cream the butter and sugar until light in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer on low, add to the butter until just mixed. Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and gather into a ball. Flatten the dough with floured hands and press it into a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking sheet, building up a 1/2-inch edge on all sides. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  3. Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned. Let it cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes.
  4. For the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour. Pour over the crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the filling is set. The filling should not be runny at all. It should have very little jiggle to it when touched. Let cool to room temperature.
  5. Cut into squares and dust with confectioners’ sugar.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

18

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 377Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 89mgSodium: 44mgCarbohydrates: 65gFiber: 2gSugar: 46gProtein: 5g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Julia Librone

Wednesday 5th of November 2025

I just made these this morning. Absolutely delicious. I’m addicted.

Jennifer Sikora

Wednesday 5th of November 2025

They are very addictive!

Sue

Tuesday 6th of May 2025

The first time I made these I took them to a club meeting. One member there, who was an excellent cook, said lemon bars are her favorite, and these were the best she had ever had! I agree!

Jennifer Sikora

Wednesday 7th of May 2025

Oh I love hearing that! Thank you for sharing with me

Julie

Monday 31st of March 2025

Just made these & they’re amazing!! Baked for 35 minutes & they’re perfect! I did cut down the sugar to 2 1/2 cups-3 seemed like a little much…

Jennifer Sikora

Tuesday 1st of April 2025

Glad they turned out and you loved them as much as we do!

Lee

Sunday 8th of December 2024

This is my go-to recipe with the Meyer Lemons from my own patio-size tree. I harvest the juice and zest to have them all year. The flavor of the Meyer Lemon is incredible with this recipe.

Jennifer Sikora

Monday 9th of December 2024

That sounds amazing!

Brooke

Monday 19th of August 2024

Can I make the crust a day early, and keep it in the fridge until baking the next day?

Jennifer Sikora

Wednesday 21st of August 2024

I am sure you could? I have never done that before so I cannot give you a definite yes or no.

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