Soft Lemon Squares
These soft lemon squares have a buttery shortbread crust and a smooth, tangy lemon topping made with fresh lemon juice and zest. They bake into clean, bright dessert bars that are simple to prepare and perfect for making ahead.
Ingredients
Shortbread Crust
- 225 g all-purpose flour
- 85 g brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 120 g unsalted butter melted
Lemon Topping
- 3 tablespoon lemon zest
- 200 g granulated sugar
- 25 g all-purpose flour
- 200 ml fresh lemon juice
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 374°F (190°C). Line an 8x8-inch (20x20 cm) baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, combine 225 g all-purpose flour, 85 g brown sugar, ½ tsp salt, and 120 g unsalted butter, melted. Mix until fine crumbs form.
- Press the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove and let cool slightly.
- In a bowl, whisk 3 tbsp lemon zest , 200 g granulated sugar , and 25 g all-purpose flour . In another bowl, whisk 4 large eggs with 200 ml fresh lemon juice .
- Strain the egg mixture into the sugar mixture and whisk until smooth. Pour over the warm crust.
- Bake at 335°F (170°C) for 15 minutes, or until the filling is set and no longer jiggles.
- Cool completely, then refrigerate for 2 hours. Dust with powdered sugar, slice into squares, and serve.
Notes
Use Fresh Lemon Juice: I always use fresh juice here because it gives the lemon topping a brighter, cleaner flavor.
Bake Until Just Set: Remove the pan when the center no longer jiggles; I find this keeps the filling smooth instead of rubbery.
Storage: I keep the squares covered in the fridge for up to 3 days because they slice cleaner and taste even better chilled.
Nutrition
Calories: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 91mg | Potassium: 56mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 248IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
