Meyer lemon bars with shortbread crust are perfectly sweet and tangy, a burst of sunny lemony flavour in every bite.
(Craving for something with a bit more tang? You will love these shaker lemon bars. The recipe uses whole lemons – perfect for lemon lovers!)
I’m not a big fan of winter but Meyer lemons make everything better. They’re in season from about December to May and just the sunshine we need on gloomy winter days.
Every year, I grab a bag (ok maybe 2) of Meyer lemons as soon as I see them in-store and these bars are one of the first treats I make. They go perfectly with everything.
They’re great with tea. They’re a light and refreshing dessert after a meal. They’re also a hit at wedding showers and baby showers.
Meyer lemon bars (and lemon desserts in general) just make me really happy. Hope they make you smile too.
Difference between Meyer lemons and regular lemons
But first, what are Meyer lemons?
Meyer lemons were first introduced to the States from China in the early 20th century by Frank Meyer (thus the name). This wonderful winter citrus is a cross between regular lemons and mandarin oranges.
The main difference between Meyer lemons and regular lemons is the taste.
Meyer lemons are only moderately acidic and don’t have the same strong tang as regular lemons. They’re much sweeter and more fragrant too.
They’re also not available year-round like regular lemons. You would usually see them in stores from early winter to late spring.
They look different as well. They’re smaller, rounder and deeper yellow than regular lemons.
Why you’ll love making lemon bars with Meyer lemons
If you already have a lemon bar recipe you love, switch things up and try this recipe!
- Meyer lemons are delightful. If you’re not on the Meyer lemon train yet, these lemon squares are a delicious introduction.
- The shortbread crust makes all the difference. It pairs perfectly with the tangy lemon filling.
- This recipe is easy to make. It’s a very forgiving recipe and comes together in no time.
- They’re freezer-friendly too. So you can bake them when you have the time and bring them out when the craving hits.
What you’ll need
This recipe is straightforward and all the ingredients you need are pantry staples.
Ingredient notes
- Unsalted butter
- All purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Salt
- Eggs
- Meyer lemon juice
- Meyer lemon zest
- Powdered sugar (also called confectioner’s sugar)
If you can’t find Meyer lemons, you can use the same amount of regular lemons for a tarter but still delicious lemon treat.
Baking tools
I like using my stand mixer to make the crust because it’s faster, but a handled electric mixer will do just fine. Other than that, all you need are:
- 9×13 inch baking pan
- Parchment paper
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Whisks and spatulas
Easy recipe with step-by-step photos
Shortbread Crust
1. PREP BAKING PAN. Preheat your oven to 325F and prep a 9×13 inch baking pan by lining it with parchment paper with a slight overhang on each side. This will make it easier to lift the lemon squares out later.
2. MAKE CRUST. Using a handheld mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, flour, granulated sugar and salt until it resembles a coarse meal. Do not over beat. You’ll know you’re done when no big chunks of butter and large streaks of flour remain.
3. TRANSFER DOUGH TO PAN. Transfer the dough to your pan and, using your hands, press evenly and firmly onto the bottom. You want to be conscientious about this — make sure the crust is packed tightly and evenly so you won’t have to deal with a possible seeping situation later.
4. BAKE AND COOL. Bake for 30 minutes or until it turns a light golden brown. Take out of the oven and allow to cool while you work on your filling. Do not turn your oven off.
Lemon Filling
1. WHISK DRY INGREDIENTS. In a large bowl, whisk granulated sugar and flour until combined.
2. ADD EGGS. Add eggs to the flour mixture and whisk.
3. ADD MEYER LEMON JUICE AND ZEST. Add Meyer lemon juice and Meyer lemon zest and continue whisking. Stop when the mixture gets foamy.
4. POUR OVER COOLED CRUST AND BAKE. Pour the filling over your cooled crust and bake for an additional 30 minutes or just until the filling is set. Take the bars out of the oven and leave on the counter to cool completely before cutting into squares. Serve with a dusting of confectioner’s sugar.
Expert baking tips
Easy, right? Here are some tips for the best Meyer lemon bars every time.
The basics
- Always work with room temperature ingredients.
- It’s best to use fresh lemon juice.
- If you’re not serving the bars right away, wait until just before serving to sprinkle with powdered sugar.
How to know when bars are done
You know when your bars are done baking if the sides start to turn a light golden brown. The filling should look set as well, which means it’s not soupy or runny anymore.
Be careful not to overdo it though. Remember that your bars will continue baking as they cool in the pan. So for me, slightly wobbly is okay (think: firm Jello) but if it jiggles and moves too much in the pan, I keep it in the oven a few minutes more.
As for the shortbread crust, pre-bake just until barely golden.
The best way to have clean and neat slices
To end up with nice, cleanly cut Meyer lemon squares, make sure to cool the bars completely before cutting. You can even chill them for a few minutes for good measure.
It’s the same way I cut my crowd-favourite Pecan pie cheesecake bars (which are super ooey and gooey):
- Put hot water in a glass and dip your sharp knife into it. Wait a few seconds until the knife is warm to the touch. Dry it with a tea towel.
- Lift the lemon bars from the pan and transfer to a cutting board.
- Make your first slice then wipe your knife clean with a paper towel. Dip your knife into the glass with hot water again and dry.
- Repeat until you’ve sliced everything.
- Enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Sometimes you’ll see air bubbles on top of your bars and these are completely normal. It’s the air from the egg mixture rising to the surface.
They won’t affect the taste and it’s very easy to cover those bubbles with powdered sugar. Nobody will ever know!
Since lemon bars are basically a custard and made with eggs, they are best refrigerated if you’re not serving them the same day you baked them.
You can eat them cold, though we prefer bringing them down to room temperature and even microwaving them a few seconds if we’re in a rush!
They should keep for up to 3 days in the fridge.
If you want to keep them for longer, another option is to freeze them. And they freeze beautifully!
Freezing lemon bars is similar to how I freeze my fudgy walnut brownies — once they cool completely, slice them and wrap each piece in plastic wrap. Then wrap them in foil and place them in a freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag.
To thaw, just bring out the pieces you plan on eating or serving and leave them out on the counter to allow them to come to room temperature. That’s it!
I don’t usually sprinkle powdered sugar on bars that I plan to freeze. I do that once I’m about to serve them.
If you’re freezing leftovers though, no worries. You can place parchment paper on top of the powdered sugar before you wrap the bars in plastic wrap so you don’t get a sticky mess later.
I always make Meyer lemon bars with a shortbread crust. I love the combination of the buttery crust and the tangy filling.
I tried it with graham cracker crust once and lemme tell you, it was a soggy disaster. This buttery shortbread crust, on the other hand, is always sturdy enough to hold the filling up.
So while you can try graham crackers (I’m sure Google will turn up lots of results), I always make mine with shortbread and with great success!
I love lemons, graham crackers and coconut though so if you want to explore that flavour combination, try these recipes:
– My favourite Meyer lemon pie of all time — made with condensed milk sitting on a graham cracker and coconut cookie crust.
– The best lemon cheesecake ever — this sweet and tangy lemon cheesecake is light, lemony and complemented by a coconut graham cracker crust and lemon whipped cream.
The best Meyer lemon recipes
If you love Meyer lemons as much as I do, you’ll love these:
- Homemade Meyer lemon curd is such a delightful treat. It takes 10 minutes to make and perfect on buttermilk scones, cakes and cupcakes, your favourite waffles or simply eating straight out of the jar!
- Looking for a Meyer lemon cake recipe? Look no further than this lemon cake with lemon curd filling and lemon buttercream. It’s a cake especially made for lemon lovers!
- If you want a simple, everyday cake, this Meyer lemon ricotta pound cake is one of the easiest recipes you can make with Meyer lemons. Great on its own; no frosting or glaze necessary.
Meyer Lemon Bars
Ingredients
For the shortbread crust:
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
For the lemon filling:
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 4 pcs large eggs room temperature, lightly beaten
- ½ cup Meyer lemon juice (2-3 lemons) see note
- Meyer lemon zest use all the zest from the lemons you used
To serve:
- confectioner's or powdered sugar
Instructions
For the shortbread crust:
- Preheat your oven to 325F and prep a 9×13 inch baking pan by lining it with parchment paper with a slight overhang on each side. This will make it easier to lift the lemon squares out later.
- Using a handheld mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat 1 cup butter, 2 cups flour, ½ cup granulated sugar and ¼ tsp salt until it resembles a coarse meal. Do not over beat. You'll know you're done when no big chunks of butter and large streaks of flour remain.
- Transfer the dough to your pan and, using your hands, press evenly and firmly onto the bottom. You want to be conscientious about this — make sure the crust is packed tightly and evenly so you won't have to deal with a possible seeping situation later.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until it turns a light golden brown. Take out of the oven and allow to cool while you work on your filling. Do not turn your oven off.
For the lemon filling:
- In a large bowl, whisk ¾ cup granulated sugar and 1/ 4 cup flour until combined.
- Add the beaten eggs to the flour mixture and whisk.
- Add ½ cup Meyer lemon juice and Meyer lemon zest and continue whisking. Stop when the mixture gets foamy.
- Pour the filling over your cooled crust and bake for an additional 30 minutes or just until the filling is set. Take the bars out of the oven and leave on the counter to cool completely before cutting into squares. Serve with a dusting of confectioner's sugar.
Video
Notes
- If you can’t find Meyer lemons, you can use the same amount of regular lemon juice and zest to make classic lemon bars. Note that classic lemon bars a more tangy than Meyer lemon bars.
- See post for the complete step-by-step photos, FAQs and baking tips.
Nutrition
Nutritional information are estimates only.
Happy baking!
Did you make Meyer lemon bars? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
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Suchi
I looove lemon dessert pies, tart or bar. You are spot on with 40 60 ratio. If I want 20 80 ratio I can always eat a tart! But these bars look amazing. And everyone should have at least one citrus bar recipe.
Jolina
Hello Suchi! Haha thanks for your support on my ratio stand 🙂 And yeah, everyone – especially lemon dessert lovers like us – must have a favourite bar recipe. What’s yours?
Carrie
I love lemon bars and these look like heaven! Im going to try to make these this weekend!
Jolina
Hi Carrie! Oooh I’m excited for you! Let me know how it goes 🙂
Madi
i love lemon anything, those look amazing. thanks for sharing!
Jolina
Hi Madi! Thanks for stopping by!
Laura
These look amazing!!!!!
Jolina
Thanks very much Laura! Happy Saturday!
Angelle Marix
Those look and sound AMAZING!! I have to make these ASAP!!
Jolina
They are IMO! 🙂 Try to make them with Meyer lemons, they are awesomer. Hope you enjoy these as much as I do! Thanks for passing by Angelle
Jenny
I used to dislike combining lemons with my dessert….now I’m all about it! These look scrumptious.
By the way, I’m a late bloomer too!
Jolina
I’m glad you came over into the dark side lol. Do you mean a late bloomer baker? That’s great! I think it’s awesome how people discover things they love to do whatever stage they are in their lives 🙂 Thanks for passing by Jenny!
Christine
Meyer lemon bars might be my most favorite dessert EVER! And these look especially amazing!
Jolina
Aren’t they just the best?? Something about being both sweet and tangy 🙂 Thanks for passing by Christine!
Chandra
I am a huge fan of Meyer lemon bars! Your Photos are gorgeous! I am sharing this on my Facebook page!
Jolina
Thanks for the share Chandra! Happy Saturday!
Rachel Kaly
These look absolutely perfect! You can just see the texture is perfect in these photos! Great job!
Jolina
Thanks very much Rachel! This is one of my favourite recipes ever 🙂
Ahu
I love all things lemony – these look delicious!
Jolina
Thanks very much Ahu!
Shanna Rogers
um – THIS SOUNDS DELIC! I’m pinning for my next getting together. 🙂
Jolina
Thanks Shanna! You you guys enjoy these as much as I do!
candy
I remember my mother making these, so, so good.
Jolina
Hi Candy! Have you tried making them? If you love lemons (or just anything sweet and tangy), you will love these lemon bars 🙂
Vy
Love lemon bars! I would take them over brownies any day. Pinned.
Jolina
Oh me too! 🙂 Thanks for sharing Vy. And for passing by 🙂
gigi
oh YUMMERS! Those look awesome! Pinning!
Jolina
Hi Gigi! Thanks for sharing and for passing by. Happy Saturday!
Dawn
Well, I’d be in your lemon club too! I absolutely LOVE lemon and lemon dessert….so much! And I think it’s cute you have a girly bike 😉 I could eat these year round! That shortbread crust sounds like the perfect base for the lemon. Pinning this and trying soon! Absolutely delicious!
Jolina
Hi Dawn! Thanks for sharing 🙂 And yay! My first every member I think haha 🙂 (I love my girly girl bike but because it only has 3 speeds, the really intense bikers overtake me all the time and I can feel their judgement at my relaxed “cruising” speed lol!)