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Desserts

Reddit lemon bars.

The lemon bars shared by Reddit user JustHood: a buttery base with a sweet lemon-and-egg topping.

Makes
24 small bars
Hands-on
20 minutes
Total time
About 3 hours, including cooling
Effort
Easy
Make it yourself ↓Buy premade ↓

GET WHAT YOU NEED

Your shopping list

For 24 small bars.

All-purpose flour

2 cups for crust, plus 4 tablespoons for filling

Amazon Grocery all-purpose flour, 2 lb

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Starting a sourdough culture requires extra flour for repeated feeds; buy enough beyond the bread dough quantity.

Butter, softened

1 cup

365 unsalted butter sticks, 16 oz

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Soften the butter before mixing; avoid whipped butter or spread.

Powdered sugar

1/2 cup, plus a little for dusting

Amazon Grocery powdered sugar, 2 lb

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Amounts are what the recipe uses, not package sizes. Compare quantities and product details before buying.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Tools & supplies

Rectangular baking pan, about 9 × 12 inches

Use a similar-size deep baking pan; avoid a shallow toaster tray.

E-far stainless rectangular baking pans with lids, about 12 inches, set of 2

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The listing gives 12⅓ in length and 2 in depth; width differs between 9¼ in and 9¾ in in its text. This is an approximate-size alternative. Slightly larger pans make thinner bars; check the filling early. Keep plastic lids out of the oven.

Mixing bowls and whisk

Mixes crust and filling separately.

WEPSEN mixing bowls and whisk set

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STEP BY STEP

Make it

  1. Make crust

    Heat oven to 350°F. Cream butter with powdered sugar, then mix in 2 cups flour. Press evenly into the ungreased pan.

  2. Bake base

    Bake 20 minutes.

  3. Mix topping

    Whisk eggs, lemon juice, granulated sugar, remaining 4 tablespoons flour and salt until smooth.

  4. Bake again

    Pour onto the hot crust. Bake about 25 minutes until the filling is set rather than liquid.

  5. Cool and cut

    Dust lightly with powdered sugar. Cool completely, then chill for clean cuts and divide into 24 bars.

Good to know

  • The original allows 5–7 tablespoons juice; this version chooses the upper amount.
  • A slightly larger pan makes thinner bars. Check the filling early and remove it when set, rather than relying only on the timer.
  • Refrigerate perishable leftovers promptly.

SAVE THE MAKING

Prefer it ready-made?

Compare these finished options with making your own.

Ready-made lemon pies

A baked lemon-filled dessert alternative.

JJ’s Bakery Lemon Snack Pies, six 4 oz pies

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A filled lemon snack pie, rather than a lemon bar.

Links go to the selected products. Availability and delivery vary by location; check the current listing and package size before ordering.

Sources & further reading

Independent instructions informed by the sources below. No affiliation or endorsement is implied. These instructions have not been kitchen- or workshop-tested by DIBuyIt.

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